Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/358

 332 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Hon. David Morley Charleston, M.L.C. THIS oentleman was one of the earliest members of the Parliamentary Labor Party in South Australia, which has since become a powerful political organisation ; and even those whose political views have been in direct and somewhat bitter opposition to his, admire his ability equally with his tolerance. He was born in Cornwall on May 27, 1848, was educated at the National Schools, and also received a certain amount of private tuition. He served an apprenticeship to engineering," in his native town of Hayle, with a well-known firm of engineers ; and in 1870 he became a member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. Between that year and 1874 he was associated with labor reform move- ments in London. In the latter year he proceeded to San Francisco, where he entered the service of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company as a marine engineer. In 1884 he came to South Australia, and was ap- pointed Clerk of Works at the new Hackney Bridge, subsequently joining the Adelaide Steamship Company. In 1887 he was engaged as engineer at the English and Australian Copper Company's works, and superintended the erection of their machinery. In 1887 he began to take an active part in local labor reform movements, and in December, 1888, he was one of the first trades and labor representatives to be gazetted by the Government a Justice of the Peace. He was largely associated with the settlement of important labor disputes while occupying the position of Chairman of the Eight Hours Protective Society and President of the United Trades and Labor Council of South Australia. Charleston Studios In May, 1891, Mr. Charleston was elected by the Central District to the Legislative Council, and here the clearne.ss, earnestness, and comprehension shown in his speeches, and the intellectual standard of the man, .secured respectful attention and consideration. He has been the mainstay of the Reform Party in the Upper House, and has also travelled widely