Walter Rollo Explained

Walter Ritchie Rollo
Office:MPP for Hamilton West
Term Start:October 20, 1919
Term End:October 5, 1923
Predecessor:John Allan
Successor:Arthur Campbell Garden
Office2:Minister of Labour for Ontario
Term Start2:November 14, 1919
Term End2:July 16, 1923
Predecessor2:New office
Successor2:Forbes Elliott Godfrey
Birth Date:25 November 1875
Birth Place:Linlithgowshire, Scotland
Death Place:Michigan, US
Restingplace:Woodland Cemetery, Hamilton
Restingplacecoordinates:Section 23 W 1/2,
Nationality:Canadian
Party:Labour Party of Canada
Spouse:Margaret Bell

Walter Ritchie Rollo (November 25, 1875 – March 13, 1957) was a Canadian trade unionist and politician in the early 20th century, and was a cabinet Minister in the United Farmers of Ontario - Labour coalition government from 1919 to 1923.

Early life

Born in Linlithgowshire, Scotland in 1875,[1] he emigrated to Canada in 1883[2] and was a broom-maker in Hamilton, Ontario by 1899.[3] He married Margaret Bell of Berlin, Ontario in the same year.[4]

When the 9lst Regiment Canadian Highlanders was formed in Hamilton in 1903, Rollo enlisted and rose over time to become its colour sergeant.[5]

Labour leader

Rollo was secretary of the Hamilton Trades and Labour Council from 1906 to 1919. In 1919, he also became editor of the Labor News, a Hamilton-based union paper.

Political career

Rollo was involved in politics at all levels. In 1916, he was appointed as a member of Ontario's Organization of Resources Committee which was established to improve Canada's war effort in the Province.[6] He had also been a member of the Board of Education in Hamilton for several years.[5] [7]

In 1907, Rollo was elected as the President of the newly formed Independent Labour Party,[8] and would become its leader in 1917. He stood for election in Hamilton West in the following campaigns:

He and Morrison Mann MacBride were instrumental in negotiating a coalition government between the Independent Labour Party and the United Farmers of Ontario under E.C. Drury,[10] which lasted until 1923. As a result of those negotiations, the ILP had the right to nominate two of its members to the new government: Rollo became the Province's first Minister of Laboura position that had been created immediately before the election by the previous Conservative government of William Hearst[11] and Harry Mills became the first Minister of Mines.[12] [13] This caused a confrontation within the ILP, as MacBride had sought to be nominated to the Labour position.[14] [15]

During his time as Minister, Rollo brought in several enhancements to Ontario's labour laws:[16]

Aftermath

After his defeat in the 1923 general election, Rollo was appointed as an adolescent school inspector for the City of Hamilton,[22] and he was still working as a school attendance officer there in 1938,[23] and as a part-time school assessment adviser in 1950.[21] He died in 1957.[24]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walter Ritchie Rollo, 'Scotland Census, 1881'. October 15, 2013.
  2. Web site: 1911 Canada Census abstract. Library and Archives Canada. October 15, 2013.
  3. News: An Expert on Brooms. The Morning Leader. August 26, 1922. October 15, 2013.
  4. Web site: Walter R Rolo, 'Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927'. October 15, 2013.
  5. News: Rollo Has Faith, Works And An Unabashful Disposition. The Morning Leader. December 6, 1919. October 15, 2013.
  6. Web site: The Crisis - 1918. Organization of Resources Committee. Toronto. March 1918.
  7. News: Rollo Likely To Lead Labor In Elections. 2. Toronto Daily Star. October 29, 1917.
  8. News: New Labour Party. Montreal Gazette. March 30, 1907. October 15, 2013.
  9. Web site: HAMILTON WEST (1917/12/17) . Parliament of Canada. October 15, 2013.
  10. News: Labor Party Decides to Join with United Farmers. The Globe. October 27, 1919. 1.
  11. The Department of Labour Act, 1919. S.O.. 1919. 22. https://archive.org/stream/statutesofprovin1919onta#page/205/mode/1up.
  12. News: Mines Portfolio Of No Account. Toronto World. November 12, 1919. October 16, 2013.
  13. The Department of Mines Act, 1920. S.O.. 1920. 12. https://archive.org/stream/statutesofprovin1920onta#page/70/mode/1up.
  14. News: Never Considered Cabinet Seat. Toronto World. October 31, 1919. October 16, 2013.
  15. News: Says M'Bride Wanted Post in Ontario Cabinet. The Morning Leader. January 27, 1920. October 16, 2013.
  16. Web site: History of Employment Standards in Ontario. October 16, 2013. March 26, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050326180109/http://www.worksmartontario.gov.on.ca/scripts/default.asp?contentID=5-1-1-1&actionID=print. dead.
  17. The Minimum Wage Act. S.O.. 1920. 87. https://archive.org/stream/statutesofprovin1920onta#page/378/mode/2up.
  18. The Wages Amendment Act, 1920. S.O.. 1920. 42. https://archive.org/stream/statutesofprovin1920onta#page/214/mode/2up.
  19. The One Day's Rest in Seven Act, 1922. S.O.. 1922. 93. https://archive.org/stream/statutesofprovin1922onta#page/702/mode/2up.
  20. The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1920. S.O.. 1920. 43. https://archive.org/stream/statutesofprovin1920onta#page/216/mode/2up.
  21. News: Act He Helped Draw Up No Help To Ex-Minister. Ottawa Citizen. August 29, 1950. October 15, 2013.
  22. News: Gil O'Mourne . Drury and Ex-Ministers Have 'Broadened Out', Farming No Longer Chief Interest Of Cabinet. The Morning Leader. February 23, 1924. October 17, 2013.
  23. News: Where They've Gone. Vancouver Sun. November 29, 1938. October 15, 2013.
  24. News: Former Minister Dies. Lethbridge Herald. March 14, 1957.

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