Alfred Smyth

Alfred George Smyth (17 June 1879 – 27 October 1959) was a New South Wales-born Western Samoan politician.

Biography Smyth was born in Maitland, New South Wales and attended the local Sacred Heart School and the government school on Thursday Island. He started work at Burns Philp in Thursday Island and married Emily Richmond Brown in 1901, after which the couple moved to Bowen, Queensland and then Charters Towers. They had a daughter named Emmy.

Political career Smyth was a member of the anti-colonial Mau movement. He contested the first elections to the Legislative Council in 1924, but finished fifth out of the eight candidates running for the three available seats. As a result of his Mau activities, he was deported in January 1928 and exiled for two years.

When Smyth was due to return to Western Samoa on 28 December 1929, the Mau movement planned a major reception for him. However, when the police attempted to arrest a member of the procession, a fight erupted and several Mau members were shot dead by the police firing into the crowd. Smyth did contest the 1935 elections, and was elected with by far the most votes. but was defeated by Olaf Frederick Nelson and Charles Dawson. He contested the 1941 elections, but lost to Nelson and Amando Stowers.

In 1944 Smyth ran again for election to the Legislative Council, and was successful in regaining his seat. He did not run in the 1948 elections due to poor health, but unsuccessfully contested the 1951 elections.

Later life In September 1957 he moved to Australia. He died in Sydney in 1959.