19 Facts About Paddy Webb

Patrick Charles Webb was a New Zealand trade unionist and politician.

Paddy Webb was born in Rutherglen, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria.

Paddy Webb's father, George Webb, was a miner, and Paddy Webb eventually worked in the mines himself.

Paddy Webb quickly became active in the mining unions, becoming head of the local Amalgamated Miners' Association branch by 1904.

Paddy Webb became involved with the New Zealand Socialist Party, and was an advocate for socialist ideals.

Paddy Webb scored a considerable victory when he organised a successful strike in 1908 at a mine in Blackball, and became prominent in the labour movement nationally.

Paddy Webb was one of the more radical figures in the unions.

Many of the older leaders continued to support the loose alliance between the labour movement and the Liberal Party, but Paddy Webb believed that only independent action could advance workers' interests.

Paddy Webb was involved in founding the radical New Zealand Federation of Labour, and in the 1911 election, he stood unsuccessfully in the Grey electorate in Parliament.

Paddy Webb then played a major role in the 1913 "unity conference", in which the Socialist Party and the more moderate United Labour Party merged to form the Social Democratic Party.

In World War I, Paddy Webb became a prominent critic of conscription, and in April 1917, he was briefly jailed on charges of sedition.

The government refused, and Paddy Webb was returned to Parliament unopposed.

Paddy Webb was offered a non-combat role, but again refused.

Paddy Webb was then sentenced to two years hard labour, and was barred from political office for ten years.

Paddy Webb eventually established a cooperative coal depot in Christchurch.

Paddy Webb was given the position of Minister of Mines, a role in which he pressed for the nationalisation of the mining industry.

Gradually, assisted by the heightened demand for coal during World War II, Paddy Webb oversaw the purchase of many major operations.

Paddy Webb had a reputation as Parliament's Lothario, and in mid-1939 he was being pursued by a woman for breach of promise to marry; the Hon Mark Fagan got Colin Scrimgeour then the head of commercial broadcasting to give her a job with radio station 1ZB in Auckland.

Paddy Webb died in Christchurch on 23 March 1950, and was buried at Bromley Cemetery.