{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Gunner Yates | honorific_suffix = | image = George Yates - Broothorn Studios (cropped).jpg | constituency_MP = Adelaide | parliament = Australian | majority = | predecessor = Ernest Roberts | successor = Reginald Blundell | term_start = 10 January 1914 | term_end = 13 December 1919 | predecessor1 = Reginald Blundell | successor1 = Fred Stacey | term_start1 = 16 December 1922 | term_end1 = 19 December 1931 | birth_name = George Edwin Yates | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1871|5|14}} | birth_place = Staffordshire, England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1959|7|16|1871|5|14}} | death_place = Prospect, South Australia | spouse = Eveline Beaton<br>Lillie Padget | party = Australian Labor Party | relations = | children = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = | signature = | website = | footnotes = <!--Military service--> | nickname = | allegiance = Australia | branch = Australian Imperial Force | service_years = 1916–1919 | rank = | unit = | commands = | battles = | mawards = <!-- for military awards - appears as "Awards" if |awards= is not set --> }}
'''George Edwin Yates''' (14 May 1871 – 16 July 1959), often referred to as '''Gunner Yates''', was an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the House of Representatives from 1914 to 1919 and from 1922 to 1931, representing the electorate of Adelaide.
==Early life==
Yates was born at Bradley in Staffordshire, England. He came to Australia at the age of seven and was educated at the Flinders Street School in Adelaide. He began working at the age of twelve in Weller's leather grindery in Rundle Street, then six months later began as a japanner at A. M. Simpson & Son, going on to work as a forwarding clerk, commercial traveller and shop assistant for the same firm.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204653507 |title=The Adelaide Vacancy |newspaper=The Journal |volume=48 |issue=13284 |location=Adelaide |date=9 December 1913 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In September 1911 he was selected as secretary to the Agricultural Implement Makers' Union and resigned from A. M. Simpson & Son after 27 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105334270 |title=Personal |newspaper=The Daily Herald |volume=2 |issue=473 |location=Adelaide |date=9 September 1911 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In the same month, he was elected as the first permanent secretary of the United Labor Party, serving until January 1914.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105335488 |title=Labor's Parliament |newspaper=The Daily Herald |volume=2 |issue=478 |location=Adelaide |date=15 September 1911 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210336257 |title=Labor party secretary |newspaper=The Express and Telegraph |volume=51 |issue=15,116 |location=South Australia |date=9 January 1914 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=6|edition=4 o'clock |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
==First stint in parliament and war service== thumb|left|upright|Yates in military uniform, c. 1919 He was elected to the House of Representatives at a 1914 by-election following the death of Labor MP Ernest Roberts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45433641 |title=In Australia |newspaper=The Barrier Miner |volume=29 |issue=8797 |location=New South Wales|date=1 November 1916 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He was an outspoken opponent of conscription during World War I, and in September 1916 voluntarily enlisted in the military while a sitting member of parliament.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105367535 |title=Representative Yates |newspaper=The Daily Herald |volume=7 |issue=2033 |location=Adelaide |date=25 September 1916 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He was re-elected unopposed at the 1917 election before leaving for war service in November 1918.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5584427 |title=Australia's answer |newspaper=The Advertiser |volume=59 |issue=18,272 |location=Adelaide |date=7 May 1917 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105453342 |title=Representative Yates |newspaper=The Daily Herald |volume=8 |issue=2458 |location=Adelaide |date=5 February 1918 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He served with the 50th Battery of the Australian Field Artillery in France in 1918.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106528606 |title=Labor Representative Gunner Yates |newspaper=The Daily Herald |volume=9 |issue=2707 |location=Adelaide |date=22 November 1918 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He returned from France in February 1919; he would often be referred to as "Gunner Yates" thereafter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106537894 |title=Gunner Yates arrives home |newspaper=The Daily Herald |volume=9 |issue=2769 |location=Adelaide |date=4 February 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Five days after his return from World War I, he was arrested in Sydney by military police and charged with mutiny over a protest on the troopship ''Somali'' while in quarantine off Adelaide on their return. The arrest was the subject of controversy as he had been due to address a large audience at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens upon his return.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62648449 |title=Arrest of Federal politician |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=35 |issue=11387 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=10 February 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article145780025 |title=Labor soldier-politician arrested |newspaper=The Australian Worker |volume=28 |issue=8 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=20 February 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In March, he would be found guilty of conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline and having endeavoured to incite members of His Majesty's forces to mutiny and sentenced to 60 days detention.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58000699 |title=Mutinous conduct |newspaper=Sunday Times |issue=1105 |location=Perth|date=9 March 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He spent time in Darlinghurst Gaol and Fort Largs, and was made to undertake hard labour at the latter. His father, Edwin, died while he was in custody; he was permitted to attend the funeral. He was released from custody in May.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89138873 |title=Obituary. |newspaper=The Chronicle |volume=61 |issue=3,165 |location=Adelaide |date=19 April 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210592151 |title=Gunner Yates released |newspaper=The Express and Telegraph |volume=66 |issue=16,724 |location=South Australia |date=5 May 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=2 |edition=5 o'clock |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He was narrowly defeated by Nationalist candidate and Labor defector Reginald Blundell at the 1919 federal election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63126250 |title=House of Representatives |newspaper=The Register |volume=84 |issue=22,808 |location=Adelaide |date=15 December 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5652034 |title=The elections |newspaper=The Advertiser |volume=62 |issue=19,095 |location=Adelaide |date=25 December 1919 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
==Second stint in parliament== thumb|right|upright|Portrait by Vandyck Studios, Melbourne, c. 1920s After his 1919 loss, he returned to his former role of state secretary of the Labor Party.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165678388 |title=New Federal members |newspaper=The Observer |volume=79 |issue=5,944 |location=Adelaide |date=30 December 1922 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=34 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He won back his old seat in a three-cornered race against Blundell and a Liberal candidate at the 1922 election.<ref name=overall>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165678385 |title=Declarations of Polls. |newspaper=The Observer |volume=79 |issue=5,944 |location=Adelaide |date=30 December 1922 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=34 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He was re-elected in 1925, 1928 and 1929.<ref name="contestad">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127318017 |title=Mr Yates to contest Adelaide |newspaper=The News |volume=41 |issue=6,218 |location=Adelaide |date=3 July 1943 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Yates advocated the adoption of ''Song of Australia'' as the Australian national anthem, and once sang it in parliament in an attempt to prove its appropriateness for the setting.<ref name=song>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132003515 |title=Boothby Candidate, When M.H.R., Sang "Song Of Australia" in Federal House |newspaper=The News |volume=35 |issue=5,350 |location=Adelaide |date=17 September 1940 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1929, he endorsed and campaigned for independent Labor candidate Stanley Whitford for the Legislative Council against endorsed Labor candidate Doug Bardolph after a contentious preselection.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35753252 |title=Labor split |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=30 July 1929 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He was defeated at the 1931 election by Nationalist candidate Fred Stacey.<ref name=overall />
==Post-federal politics==
After his federal defeat, he was selected as one of two official Labor candidates for the South Australian Legislative Council seat of Central No. 1 Province at the 1933 election, held in the fallout of the 1931 Labor split. He was defeated for the second seat by Parliamentary Labor Party incumbent Stanley Whitford amidst some controversy over the system of preferential voting being used at the election.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90892554 |title=Messrs. Yates And Oates A.L.P. Candidates |newspaper=The Chronicle |volume=75 |issue=3,977 |location=Adelaide |date=2 February 1933 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=43 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41479506 |title='In for six years, perhaps 10' |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=14 April 1933 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129277118 |title=Voting system 'absurd' |newspaper=The News |volume=20 |issue=3,038 |location=Adelaide |date=13 April 1933 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He nominated for preselection in Adelaide at the 1934 federal election, but lost to Ken Bardolph; he initially threatened to contest the seat as an independent in protest at alleged irregularities in the vote, but later withdrew.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35125710 |title=Mr K. E. Bardolph selected for Adelaide |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=6 August 1934 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128842911 |title=Mr Yates' Election Surprise |newspaper=The News |volume=23 |issue=3,451 |location=Adelaide |date=11 August 1934 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91066984 |title=Mr Yates |newspaper=The Chronicle |volume=77 |issue=40,157 |location=Adelaide |date=16 August 1934 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=46 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He unsuccessfully contested Boothby at the 1940 federal election, having stood aside in his old seat of Adelaide for former Labor leader Edgar Dawes.<ref name=song/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41083495 |title=Endorsement of Labor candidates |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=12 August 1939 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
He resigned from the Labor Party in 1941 in protest at "admitted malpractices", though he stated that his political convictions had not changed.<ref name=legco>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30514660 |title=Mr G. E. Yates at Prospect |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=28 February 1947 |accessdate=24 December 2016 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In 1943, he was working as a munitions worker. He was an independent candidate at the 1943 federal election on a platform of alternative funding for the war effort, and for the Central District No. 1 in the Legislative Council at the 1947 state election.<ref name="contestad"/><ref name=legco /> In 1949, at the age of 78, he made a final and unsuccessful bid for office as an ungrouped candidate for the Australian Senate at the 1949 federal election, campaigning on a platform focusing on defence issues.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130769597 |title=No. 14 – Three ungrouped Senate aspirants |newspaper=The News |volume=53 |issue=8,213 |location=Adelaide |date=1 December 1949 |accessdate=21 December 2016 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|au}} {{succession box | title=Member for Adelaide | before=Ernest Roberts | after=Reginald Blundell | years=1914–1919}} {{succession box | title=Member for Adelaide | before=Reginald Blundell | after=Fred Stacey | years=1922–1931}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yates, Edwin}} Category:1871 births Category:1959 deaths Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Adelaide Category:Australian MPs 1913–1914 Category:Australian MPs 1914–1917 Category:Australian MPs 1917–1919 Category:Australian MPs 1922–1925 Category:Australian MPs 1925–1928 Category:Australian MPs 1928–1929 Category:Australian MPs 1929–1931