Obituaries Australia

Mr. Daniel Wallwork died at his residence, Young street, Carrington, shortly after eleven o'clock on Tuesday night.

The deceased gentleman was 84 years of age, and had resided in Carrington for fourteen years. He is survived by his widow, and one son. Up to the time he was seized with illness, thirteen weeks ago, he acted as librarian of the Carrington School of Arts, and even as late as last season he was a playing member of the Carrington Cricket Club.

The late Mr D. Wallwork was a native of Yorkshire, and was born on December 5th, 1824. He was one of a large family and after receiving a very elementary education at the village school, he went to work at the age of twelve years. In relating the reminiscences of his life, he used to tell of the long hours of labour in those days. Factory operatives and others worked for twelve hours, namely, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m, with two hours off for meals. As a lad he attended Sunday school, and subsequently became a Sunday-school teacher and member of the church. In early life he began to take an interest in the politics of the country, and also the cause of temperance. He remembered the commencement of the temperance movement in 1832-3, inaugurated by the "Seven Men of Preston." These men, led by Mr. Joseph Livesey, seeing the havoc among the working classes caused by drink, resolved that something should be done to find a remedy for such a deplorable state of things. Strong drink was then looked upon as really one of the necessaries of life, and that if a person gave up his beer it would be the ultimate end of him. Hence this party were afraid of making the proposals that total abstinence should be adopted, but decided that the best way to cure drunkenness was by the "moderation" plan, and they then resolved to form "Moderation Societies," the members of which signed a pledge to take no more than two half-pints of beer per day. Quite a number of such societies were formed, and thousands of members enrolled and duly signed this pledge. This system continued for some years, but it was apparent that the appetite for drink was not cured, and many broke away from their vows of partial abstinence. The one pint per day system became abused by many, who, if they missed one day's allowance, often made up for it on the next with bad results. The societies were thus reduced to ridicule, and this attempt to cure drunkenness by moderation became a signal failure, and was abandoned. Upon the ruins of these societies was founded total abstinence societies when it gradually became apparent that beer could be done without, and good health enjoyed by those who had adopted this latter system, as a means of reducing the consumption of beer. This was something of a revelation to many, and became the commencement of a revolution in the cure of drunkenness. In early youth he signed the improved pledge. This was in 1841, and at about this time was appointed secretary to the Perseverance Tent of Friendly Societies in Heywood, and hold the position for some years.

During this same period a continued agitation was kept up to secure a reduction in the hours of labour in the factories, viz. from 12 to 10 hours daily. With his usual inclination towards reform, Mr. Wallwork became agent for the "Ten Hours' Advocate". This fact became known to his then employer, and not long afterwards an opportunity was found of finding fault with some of his work by the foreman, and he received his discharge in consequence. Having gradually gained education by attendance at Sunday and night schools, he became better prepared for the future. He procured his "travelling card" from the "Perseverance Tent," and set out to fight the battle of life away from the scenes of his childhood and youth, and passed through the principal cities of Yorkshire on to Dudley, in search of employment. It was there he met with an active temperance advocate, in a Mr. Trueman, a locksmith and sheet iron worker, by trade, who undertook to teach him those branches of trade. During fifteen years' stay in Dudley he became secretary to the temperance society in that town. The late Mr. George Bewick, of Newcastle (N.S.W.), was a member of the committee, and they thus became acquainted with each other, which acquaintance ripened into one of life-long friendship. It was from Dudley that Mr. Bewick was invited to come to Australia, he then being inspector of the Worcester and Wolverhampton railway. Mr. Whitton, of the New South Wales Government railways, knowing Mr. Bewick's capacity for railway construction, offered him inducement to take up the position of inspector on the railway, making from Newcastle to Maitland. During the close of Mr. Wallwork's stay in Dudley the town was visited by a spell of very depressed times, which prompted him to try and improve himself by following in his friend's footsteps to Australia, and at the age of 38 he sailed for Australia in 1863. On the second day after he arrived in Newcastle he was taken on with the men working on the Hexham length of the railway, and was subsequently appointed to a position in the locomotive yards, Newcastle.

During his service in the Railway Department Mr. Wallwork took the initiative in the matter of seeking a reduction of the hours of labour. He was appointed secretary to the Newcastle men, and opened up a correspondence with their fellows in Sydney with a view to united efforts to petition the Government to gain their desire. A conference of the men's representatives was held in the Temperance Hall, Sydney. The meeting was a very large and enthusiastic one, and Mr Wallwork, as the Newcastle delegate, spoke and seconded the motion in favour of the eight hour system in the works. As a result of this combined movement, the Government, without waiting the sanction of Parliament, granted the request for an eight hour work day. As Mr Wallwork was a prime mover in this question, it is claimed that he was the originator of the eight hour system in New South Wales. During the time that the late Mr. John Sutherland was Minister for Works, it was enacted that civil servants, such as clerks, foremen, and other officers who were in receipt of monthly wages, on paying 4 per cent of their salaries should be placed on the superannuation fund list, and that they were to be paid for all holidays during the time of service. This was good for the civil servants, and it occurred to the Minister that those who were in receipt of fortnightly wages should also share in the payment for holidays. This resolution was published in the "Government Gazette", and as the holidays came and went these men looked for payment for these days, but no payment came. The Newcastle men asked for the reason and requested Mr. Wallwork to write to the Minister to point out the state of affairs. Seven holidays had been passed over in this manner. The reason turned out to be neglect on the part of the local time-keeper in not including the holidays when sending the time sheets to Sydney. The responsible officer was interviewed on the matter with the result that at the next pay-day some hundreds of these railway men received amounts ranging from £2 10s to £4 each back money. In appreciation for Mr. Wallwork's actions on their behalf the men of the Newcastle Locomotive Department presented him with a valuable watch and gold chain, and the Permanant Way men gave him a purse of sovereigns.

In April, 1892, Mr. Wallwork, after 20 years service, received notice that having arrived at the retiring age, his services would no longer be required, and that "£50 had been voted for him on his retirement." He acknowledged the receipt of his communication and said he would be pleased to receive the sum of money so voted, but he stated that his name was on the superannuation list. The was found to be so, and nothing more was heard of the £50. Mr Wallwork was one of about twenty who were retired at the same time and whose pensions accordingly commenced to become due for payment at the same date, but for month after month they received nothing, and so wrote to the Minister for Works pointing out that they had been deprived of their work and were out of employment. A long delay ensued, but eventually the Acting Premier, then Mr. Edmund Barton, referred the matter to the Cabinet. It was held that a number of these men had been retired unduly, but their pensions must be paid, and so in a day or two they each received about £30 or so.

In 1893, the year after his retirement from active work, Mr. Wallwork left Newcastle on a visit to the scenes among which he spent his early days, and returned via America, being absent from Newcastle for about twelve months. Seven years later he again visited Europe, the trip again extending over a year. In 1897 he took up his residence in Carrington, and was one of the most active supporters of the movement for the establishment of a school of arts in that town, and he always took a very active interest in the institution. He was a warm advocate of any movement for the betterment of the condition of his fellow-men, and was a frequent contributor to the columns of the "Newcastle Morning Herald" on the temperance question, in support of which he was an able and persistent advocate. For nearly 40 years he was a member of the local lodge of the Sons of Temperance. He was honorary secretary of the committee which brought about the bridge across Throsby's Creek to connect Carrington, then known as Bullock Island, with the mainland. The work was not brought to completion without a great deal of agitation, extending over a period of eight years, and the success of the movement was largely due to the persistent efforts of its secretary. About three months ago Mr Wallwork was seized with a paralytic stroke. From the first no hope of ultimate recovery was entertained, and it was only his wonderful vitality which sustained him. He knew no creed in the ordinary acceptation of the term. According to his lights, however, he was not an irreligious man. He asserted his belief in the religion of love, and service to fellow-men. His was in many respects a notable career, characterised by his very strong sense of duty.

The funeral will take place this after-noon, the interment being in Sandgate Cemetery.