Frederick Carl Katz (21 May 1877 – 13 December 1960) was an Australian trade unionist and politician. He had a long association with the

Australian labour movement The Australian labour movement began in the early 19th century and since the late 19th century has included industrial (Australian unions) and political wings (Australian Labor Party). Trade unions in Australia may be organised (i.e., formed) o ...

, holding senior leadership positions with the

Federated Clerks' Union The Federated Clerks Union of Australia (FCU) was an Australian trade union representing clerical workers, in existence from 1911 to 1993, when it amalgamated with the Australian Services Union. History Between 1900 and 1907, attempts were made to ...

, Federal Miscellaneous Workers' Union, and the

Melbourne Trades Hall Victorian Trades Hall is the headquarters of the Victorian Trades Hall Council. It is located on the corner of Lygon Street and Victoria Street, just north of the Melbourne central business district, in the suburb of Carlton, Melbourne, Victor ...

. He served as a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

for

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

from 1947 to 1951, representing the

Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party (ALP), also simply known as Labor, is the major centre-left political party in Australia, one of two major parties in Australian politics, along with the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. The party forms the f ...

(ALP).

Early life

Katz was born on 21 May 1877 in

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. He was the son of Jane (née Wiltshire) and Carl August Katz. His father was a goldsmith and jeweller of German ethnicity, although he was born in France; he had arrived in Australia in 1876. Katz and his family moved to

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

when he was a boy. By 1899 he was living in

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

and working as a packer. He married Alicia Watkins in April 1900, with whom he had one daughter.

Labour movement

Katz was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Victoria before joining the

Victorian Socialist Party The Victorian Socialist Party (VSP) was a socialist political party in the Australian state of Victoria during the early 20th century. Most VSP members were also members of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), or later became members. A faction ...

(VSP), a Marxist organisation, upon its formation in 1906. He spoke regularly at party meetings, and was a vocal opponent of electoral cooperation with the

(ALP). In 1909, Katz was elected assistant secretary of the Federated Carters' and Drivers' Industrial Union. He moved to

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

in 1911, in order to re-organise the local branch of the union, and succeeded in increasing its membership from 30 to more than 400 within a few months. While in Tasmania, he was responsible for introducing

John Curtin John Curtin (8 January 1885 – 5 July 1945) was an Australian politician who served as the 14th prime minister of Australia from 1941 until his death in 1945. He led the country for the majority of World War II, including all but the last few ...

– a fellow VSP member – to his future wife Elsie. Katz led successful strikes in

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

and Launceston, but enthusiasm later declined and he resigned his positions in January 1914 in order to return to Melbourne. During World War I, Katz was assistant state secretary of the Federated Clerks' Union. He was an opponent of

conscription Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...

, and in 1915 he successful moved that the

ignore correspondence sent by the Federal Parliamentary War Committee. As a result of that, and likely also due to his German background, he was publicly

tarred and feathered Tarring and feathering is a form of public torture and punishment used to enforce unofficial justice or revenge. It was used in feudal Europe and its colonies in the early modern period, as well as the early American frontier, mostly as a t ...

in December 1915 by several men in military uniform, outside his office in

Little Collins Street Little Collins Street is a minor street in the central business district (CBD) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The street runs parallel to and to the north of Collins Street and as a narrow one way lane takes on the name of the wider main ...

. A military inquiry was established but was unable to determine the identity of those involved. Katz was federal secretary of the Federated Clerks' Union of Australia from 1920 to 1940, and was also state president. He also served as state secretary and general secretary of the

Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union of Australia The Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union (F.M.W.U.), commonly known as the 'Missos', was an Australian trade union which existed between 1915 and 1992. It represented an extremely diverse and disparate range of occupations, but its core support ...

(1922–1927), and president of the Melbourne Trades Hall Council (1937–1938). During World War II, he represented the unions on the Cargo Control Committee, and was a deputy member of the Victorian Industrial Court of Appeals.

Politics

Katz rescinded his earlier opposition to the ALP after World War I and served on the state executive for a number of years. He stood for

Warrnambool Warrnambool ( Maar: ''Peetoop'' or ''Wheringkernitch'' or ''Warrnambool'') is a city on the south-western coast of Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 census, Warrnambool had a population of 35,743. Situated on the Princes Highway, Warrnambool (Al ...

at the

1921 Victorian state election The 1921 Victorian state election was held in the Australian state of Victoria on Tuesday 30 August 1921 to elect the 65 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.Colin A Hughes, ''A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964'', ...

, for the

Division of Henty The Division of Henty was an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1913 and abolished in 1990. It was named for the Henty family of Portland, the first European settlers in Victoria. It was located in the so ...

at the 1931 federal election, and at the 1934 Nunawading state by-election, on each occasion unsuccessfully. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for the South Melbourne City Council in 1935. ''

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...

'' jokingly labeled him "de facto president of the Defeated Candidates' Association".

Senate

Katz was elected to the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

at the 1946 federal election, in what was seen as a reward for years of service. His term began on 1 July 1947, just over a month after his 70th birthday. He was a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances and in 1951 served as chairman of the Select Committee on the Commonwealth Bank Bill. In 1949, Katz was one of only four ALP members to oppose the Chifley Government's ''National Emergency (Coal Strike) Bill'', which made it an offence for unions to use their funds to support the New South Wales coal strike. By the time he reached the Senate he had become an anti-communist, although he opposed the

Menzies Government Menzies is a Scottish surname, with Gaelic forms being Méinnearach and Méinn, and other variant forms being Menigees, Mennes, Mengzes, Menzeys, Mengies, and Minges. Derivation and history The name and its Gaelic form are probably derived f ...

's attempts to ban the

Communist Party of Australia The Communist Party of Australia (CPA), known as the Australian Communist Party (ACP) from 1944 to 1951, was an Australian political party founded in 1920. The party existed until roughly 1991, with its membership and influence having been i ...

as he believed they were counter-productive.

Later life

Katz lost his seat at the 1951 federal election, following a

double dissolution A double dissolution is a procedure permitted under the Australian Constitution to resolve deadlocks in the bicameral Parliament of Australia between the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). A double dissolution ...

. He died at his home in Albert Park on 13 December 1960, aged 83.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katz, Fred 1870s births 1960 deaths Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian Senate for Victoria Members of the Australian Senate Australian people of German descent 20th-century Australian politicians Australian trade unionists Australian socialists