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Daniel (Dan) Rees (1866–1934)

The death occurred yesterday morning at his residence, 92 Catherine-street, Leichhardt, of Mr. Daniel Rees, M.L.C., former president of the Miners' Federation, at the age of 68 years.

For more than fifty years he was a member of the Miners' Federation, and for almost a quarter of a century was a prominent figure in the industrial and political Labour life of New South Wales.

The interstate council of the Miners Federation, which was in session, adjourned yesterday as a mark of respect and recommended a stoppage at all coal mines throughout the Commonwealth on the day of his funeral — Thursday — as a tribute to his memory.

Mr Rees was elected president of the Miners Federation in 1922 and held the position continuously until his resignation on the grounds of ill health in April last.

He commenced work at the old Co-operative Colliery at Wallsend and when a young man held the position of chairman of the Cooperative Colliery lodge.

At various periods he also occupied the post of president and treasurer of the northern miners. During the war Mr Rees was a member of the Hibble tribunal. He was also a director of the official organ of the Lang Labour party having played a prominent part with Mr A. C. Willis in its establishment.

Apart from his industrial activities Mr Ree was also closely associated with the political Labour movement in some of the stormiest periods of its history. For many years he was a member of the A.L.P. executive and took a leading part in the 1927 split which placed Mr Lang in control of the State Labour organisation. He was also the central figure in the crisis which developed in the Miners' Federation in connection with the Bulli byelection.

Mr Rees was elected to the Upper House in 1931 by the Lang Government and was re-elected when the Legislative Council was reconstituted last year.

Mr Rees took an active interest in sport and when a young man participated in inter-state matches as an Australian rules player.

He is survived by a widow, one daughter, Mrs R. E. Greenwell, of Leichhardt, and two sons, Mr D. Rees of Wallsend, and Mr William Rees of Leichhardt.

The funeral will take place from the residence of his son Mr D. Rees in Bottsfleldstreet, Wallsend at 3.30 p.m. to-morrow for the Wallsend cemetery.

UNION LEADER'S TRIBUTES
"We have lost a faithful servant, a very capable officer and a very dear friend" read a resolution unanimously carried by the council of the Miners Federation yesterday.

The secretary of the northern miners, Mr L. Halliday, said that the typically unostentatious work of Mr Rees for the northern miners during the long Associated collieries dispute of 1929-30 had been beyond all praise.

TRIBUTES IN PARLIAMENT
The Legislative Council before proceeding with business yesterday carried a resolution submitted by the Attorney-General (Mr Manning) placing on record its deep sense of the loss sustained by the State and by the House in the death of Mr Daniel Rees. It also decided to forward the resolution to Mr Rees's relatives.

A similar resolution was passed by the Legislative Assembly.

Original publication

Additional Resources

  • funeral, Newcastle Sun (NSW), 21 June 1934, p 14

Citation details

'Rees, Daniel (Dan) (1866–1934)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/rees-daniel-dan-32111/text39680, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

10 March, 1866
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Death

19 June, 1934 (aged 68)
Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

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Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

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