*Bowditch, second from left, performing in the 1951 Alice Springs Theatre Group's performance of J.B. Priestley's play, They Came to a City. He also performed in the thriller, The Shop at Sly Corner, with his wife in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest , he in the part of Algernon ; Agatha Christie's much praised , now politically incorrect , Ten Little Niggers, saw him again strut the boards .
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Because of his involvement in political and union activities in Alice Springs , Bowditch soon became president of the ALP and at an early date was urged to stand for the NT seat in the House of Representatives. He declined to nominate,saying that he was just a recent “ blow in ” and that he felt John “ Jock ” Nelson , son of Harold Nelson, the Territory’s first MHR, was the right person for the job.
Jock had been educated at Pine Creek and Darwin. In Darwin he had worked as a newspaper boy and , perched in a tree , had witnessed the demonstration against Dr Gilruth at Government House . After a period working as a “jackeroo ” , Nelson became a boring contractor and agent in Alice Springs . During WW 11 he carried out drilling in New Guinea and rose to the rank of sergeant. Following in his father’s political footsteps, he was elected to the NT Legislative Council in 1947.
With Bowditch playing a large part in his election campaign in the Centre , Nelson in 1949 stood for the NT seat in the House of Representatives against the incumbent , Adair “Chill” Blain . In October 1949 ,Blain ,in one of his last parliamentary speeches , took the opportunity to appeal to the electorate, belittle Nelson and settle a few scores with the “treacherous ” communists of Darwin. Showing that he was concerned about conditions for NT government employees, he said he had spoken to “ Mr Bowditch” about a justifiable increase to clerks’ pay because of a 25 per cent increase in rail freight and ticket charges.
Then Blain proceeded to attack Nelson and the Northern Standard newspaper in Darwin which he said was run by communists... “ I sympathise with this young fellow ( Nelson ) who has been nominated as the Australian Labour Party candidate for the forthcoming general election ,” said Blain . His candidature was being sponsored by the Northern Standard , a “ treasonous paper”. The Minister for the Interior knew that Nelson, in his innocence , was being used by communists . This “young man” Nelson, unfortunately did not realise that he was being used by the communists .“That young fellow is playing with fire in allowing his candidature to be sponsored in this treasonous paper, the Northern Standard . ”
The paper, he continued, had been communist controlled ever since the former editor , Don McKinnon , had been “ kicked out” of the union executive, which was “ 95 per cent communists ”. He hastened to add that this percentage did not apply to the rank and file. Blain demanded to know how the Standard obtained printing machinery from the Army “for a song” after the war . ( The answer was simple : during the war, the Army had taken over the newspaper building and its plant was used to print the Army News. )
In calling for a Security Service Branch to be opened in Darwin , he told parliament that “ agents of Russia” could do a great deal of harm to Port Darwin , stopping the flow of fuel to military bases. “What is going to be done about these communists astride our road to Singapore?, ” he asked . Communists in Darwin- men and women - were able to “ flit back and forth ” by air to Singapore , Timor and Jakarta . These people were trying to win the “multitudes in Indonesia into the communist camp.”
During his speech Blain was reminded that the subject of debate was estimates. Nevertheless , Blain continued his attack on communists in Darwin. He admitted to having taken part in drawing up a list of known communists in Darwin . The list , he stated, contained 83 names , many of them on the government payroll. There were another 23 people whose names had “ not been listed publicly .” He claimed the government would be surprised if he named those whom he “suspected to be communists .”
A sincere, likeable and honest person, Nelson did not rate well as a public speaker. To overcome this shortcoming , Bowditch , big on oratory , would write a speech and deliver it on Jock’s behalf at a public meeting , saying the worthy candidate was out bush campaigning, unable to get back in time. Admitting that his speeches got a bit flowery - one running for about two hours - Bowditch enjoyed the experience and utilised some of his debating and theatrical skills .
The paper, he continued, had been communist controlled ever since the former editor , Don McKinnon , had been “ kicked out” of the union executive, which was “ 95 per cent communists ”. He hastened to add that this percentage did not apply to the rank and file. Blain demanded to know how the Standard obtained printing machinery from the Army “for a song” after the war . ( The answer was simple : during the war, the Army had taken over the newspaper building and its plant was used to print the Army News. )
In calling for a Security Service Branch to be opened in Darwin , he told parliament that “ agents of Russia” could do a great deal of harm to Port Darwin , stopping the flow of fuel to military bases. “What is going to be done about these communists astride our road to Singapore?, ” he asked . Communists in Darwin- men and women - were able to “ flit back and forth ” by air to Singapore , Timor and Jakarta . These people were trying to win the “multitudes in Indonesia into the communist camp.”
During his speech Blain was reminded that the subject of debate was estimates. Nevertheless , Blain continued his attack on communists in Darwin. He admitted to having taken part in drawing up a list of known communists in Darwin . The list , he stated, contained 83 names , many of them on the government payroll. There were another 23 people whose names had “ not been listed publicly .” He claimed the government would be surprised if he named those whom he “suspected to be communists .”
A sincere, likeable and honest person, Nelson did not rate well as a public speaker. To overcome this shortcoming , Bowditch , big on oratory , would write a speech and deliver it on Jock’s behalf at a public meeting , saying the worthy candidate was out bush campaigning, unable to get back in time. Admitting that his speeches got a bit flowery - one running for about two hours - Bowditch enjoyed the experience and utilised some of his debating and theatrical skills .
Bowditch’s prominent position in Alice politics brought him into contact and conflict with the indefatigable, forthright and outspoken medical man, Dr V. H. Webster , who had been elected to the first NT Legislative Council for the seat of Tennant Creek in 1947 . Dr Webster was renowned for having made the statement that every man and women in the Territory needed to drink several bottles of beer a day to keep healthy . He also wrote a slim volume on first aid which was an invaluable aid to people living in the outback . Policemen in particular made great use of it when they were involved in situations demanding quick , and sometimes life saving action . Standing as an Independent ( Non Socialist ) Labor candidate against Nelson, Dr Webster claimed during the campaign that the full force of the federal ALP Government was being directed against him .
In his capacity as ALP president , Bowditch derided the claim . He said both Dr Webster and Blain had consistently attacked the ALP with a tirade of abuse and destructive criticism . “ I regard Dr Webster as a political opportunist, whose aim for a long time has been primarily to hear his own bellowings reverberate through an astonished House in Canberra, ” Bowditch stated . Years later , Bowditch said it had been a great shame that Dr Webster did not not make it into federal politics because of his determined approach and strong oratory . Dr Webster had also made scathing comments about the running of Darwin Hospital which caused an uproar.
When Nelson won the election Iris Bowditch became his electorate secretary . In Nelson’s words, Jim “held the fort” in Alice Springs in the early days of his parliamentary life. At his first ALP meeting in Alice as a MHR, with Bowditch in the chair , Nelson gave an acccount of parliamentary proceedings , spoke about the Korean War situation and the government’s Communist Party Dissolution Bill . Right from the very beginning of his time in Alice , Nelson said anyone with a hard luck story had a willing listener in Jim .
On the conservative side of local politics was Edward “ Eddie” John Connellan , pilot founder and chairman of the outback airline , Connellan Airways Ltd , later Connair Pty Ltd. Connellan was also founder and president of the Northern Territory Development League and president of the Pastoralists’ Association. He also became a member of the Legislative Council. Connellan was a close friend of the strong - minded , ruthless and influential John “ Black Jack” McEwen , leader of the Federal Country Party, later the National Party.The previous post in this series mentioned that Alice Springs identity,Colonel Rose, headed the North Australia Party, known as the Nappy Party. NEXT: Bowditch crusades on many fronts .
In his capacity as ALP president , Bowditch derided the claim . He said both Dr Webster and Blain had consistently attacked the ALP with a tirade of abuse and destructive criticism . “ I regard Dr Webster as a political opportunist, whose aim for a long time has been primarily to hear his own bellowings reverberate through an astonished House in Canberra, ” Bowditch stated . Years later , Bowditch said it had been a great shame that Dr Webster did not not make it into federal politics because of his determined approach and strong oratory . Dr Webster had also made scathing comments about the running of Darwin Hospital which caused an uproar.
When Nelson won the election Iris Bowditch became his electorate secretary . In Nelson’s words, Jim “held the fort” in Alice Springs in the early days of his parliamentary life. At his first ALP meeting in Alice as a MHR, with Bowditch in the chair , Nelson gave an acccount of parliamentary proceedings , spoke about the Korean War situation and the government’s Communist Party Dissolution Bill . Right from the very beginning of his time in Alice , Nelson said anyone with a hard luck story had a willing listener in Jim .
On the conservative side of local politics was Edward “ Eddie” John Connellan , pilot founder and chairman of the outback airline , Connellan Airways Ltd , later Connair Pty Ltd. Connellan was also founder and president of the Northern Territory Development League and president of the Pastoralists’ Association. He also became a member of the Legislative Council. Connellan was a close friend of the strong - minded , ruthless and influential John “ Black Jack” McEwen , leader of the Federal Country Party, later the National Party.The previous post in this series mentioned that Alice Springs identity,Colonel Rose, headed the North Australia Party, known as the Nappy Party. NEXT: Bowditch crusades on many fronts .
