Home Australian Trade Union Archives
Biographical entry

Home | Browse | Search | Previous | Next

Higgins, Henry Bournes (1851 - 1929)

KC., LittD., MA
Online SourcesArchival/Heritage SourcesGallery
Politician - State - Vic (MLA or MLC) and Politician - Federal - MHR
Born: 1851  Newton Ards, County Down, Ireland.  Died: 1929.
Born in Ireland in 1851, Higgins arrived in Australia in 1870. He was called to the Victorian Bar in 1876. In 1894 he was elcted to the Victorian Parliamnent. Higgins was MHR for Northern Melbourne from 1901 to 1906 when he was appointed a Justice of the High Court of australia. In 1907 he became President of the Federal Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. Higgins is remembered for his 1907 "Harvester Judgement" that established the concept of the "sufficient wage" for unskilled workers. The "sufficient wage" soon became known as the "basic wage".

Higgins was also involved in the 1920 judgement reduced working hours for the Timber Workers Union to 44 hours per week. This opened the way for other unions to win a 44 hour week.

Online Sources
  • 'Higgins, Henry Bournes', in http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/whoswho.asp?txtKeyword=Henry+Higgins&searchType=keyword, Australia's Prime Ministers, National Archives of Australia, . [ Details ]

Google
Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: Bruce A. Smith
Created: 20 February 2002
Published by University of Melbourne, 7 March 2002
Based on "Parties to the Award" published 1994.
Submit any comments, questions, corrections and additions
Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 29 June 2006
http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE1596b.htm
[ Top of page | Australian Trade Union Archives Home | Browse | Search ]