Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/288

 262 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon. e. l. Batchew in 1865, ami is therefore still a youn<f man. He started earning a living for himself as a pupil teacher at North Adelaide, and passed his qualifying examination at the age of 12^ years. An appointment to the North Adelaide Model School followed, and in that position he remained until 1882, passing, meantime, the periodical examinations with great success. In the year last mentioned, indifferent health compelled him to relin(|uish the arduous duties of a school teacher, and he followed a natural bent by entering the Locomotive I)ej)artment of the State railway service as an apprentice in the engineering branch. His career in the Railway Department was 'ery successful, for at the age of 26 years, when he forsook the study of engineering for politics, he had risen to a foreman's position in the Locomotive Shops. His connection with the Railway Department extended over 11 years and during the whole of that time not one single complaint of any kind was recorded against him. Under a rule of the Service he was obliged to resign his position on coming forward as a candidate for a seat in Parliament. In 1889 Mr. Batchelor joined the Adelaide Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers ; and he has been a consistent and energetic member of that powerful corporation ever since. He served as President for no less than four terms, and he has held various offices in the Society during the last ten years. He was delegate of the Adelaide Branch to the South Australian Trades and Labor Council, and was also treasurer of the latter body. For many years, too, he held the office of president of the South Australian Railway Service Mutual Association, a powerful organisation with a large membership, and he only relinquished this post on becoming a member of the Holder Ministry last year (1899). He has also filled the very responsible position of Secretary of the United Labor Party of South Australia ; and the electoral triumphs of that party during recent years were undoubtedly largely due to the energy, organising talent, and general ability he displayed in that capacity. Mr. Batchelor began his Parliamentary career on leaving the railway engineering- service in 1893. He was then only 28 years of age; but so ably had he comported himself in the various responsible offices in connection with trades and labor organisations to which he had been appointed, and no successful had he been in winning the esteem of his party, that, young as he was, he was selected at the general Parliamentary elections as a candidate in the interests of labor for the district of West Adelaide. The contest was a memorable one, and the result may be said to have once for all established the Labor interest as a determining factor in South Australian politics. The other candidates were the Hon. L. Grayson (Commissioner of Public Works) and the Hon. C. C. Kingston, O.C. Mr. Batchelor, however, was returned at the head of the poll. This young man, on his first appearance as a Parliamentary candidate, actually defeated two seasoned political warriors — the one a member of the Ministry, the other even then perhaps the strongest politician in the Province ! This triumph was no doubt mainly attributable to the splendidly organised electioneering efforts and tactics of the Labor Party. But a share of the credit is certainly due to the merits of the candidate himself The man was worthy of the occasion. No mere puppet could have met with such success. The fact that Mr. Batchelor possessed qualities of a sterling and lasting character was amply proved by his being returned at the top of the poll for the West Adelaide constituency at succeeding triennial elections, not once, not only twice, nor even thrice, but four times ; and, more remarkable still, no less a person