William Schey

Schey was born in England and educated in London. After a short time in New Zealand, Schey arrived in Sydney as first mate of a ship in 1875. After tiring of work on the seas, Schey worked as a chainman for the Harbours Department then joined the railways, after becoming the first paid secretary of the Railways and Tramways Association.{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |last1=Audley |first1=R M |title=Schey, William Francis (1857-1913) |id2=schey-william-francis-8356 |access-date=3 March 2018}}

Schey entered the New South Wales Parliament in 1887, serving until his electoral defeat in 1898. Schey initially served as one of four {{Australian politics/name|Free Trade}} members for the Electoral district of Redfern in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.{{cite NSW election |title=Elections for the District of Redfern |year=DistrictIndexes |district=Redfern |access-date=2020-10-21}} He was not a strong supporter of free trade and had disagreements with the leader Sir Henry Parkes.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71121254 |title=Mr W F Schey MLA |newspaper=Australian Town and Country Journal |date=20 July 1889 |access-date=25 April 2021 |page=12 |via=Trove}} For the February 1889 election he switched to be a {{Australian politics/name|Protectionist}}, however he was defeated, finishing last on the poll. He was returned to the Legislative Assembly 5 months later, narrowly winning the Redfern by election in July. He had such strong connections with railway employees and the Eveleigh Railway Yards he was dubbed the member for Eveleigh. He was re-elected to Redfern in 1891. Multi-member districts were abolished in 1894, and Schey stood as an {{Australian politics/name|Independent Labour NSW}} candidate for the new district of Darlington, which included the Eveleigh Railway Yards. He returned to the Protectionist party, winning the election in 1895, however he was defeated in 1898.{{cite NSW election|title=Elections for the District of Darlington |year=DistrictIndexes |district=Darlington |access-date=16 August 2020}} He did not hold ministerial or other office.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=1022 |former=Yes |access-date=13 May 2019 |title=Mr William Francis Schey (1857–1913)}} Schey twice carried the "eight hour" bill through the Legislative Assembly only to see it defeated in the Legislative Council.

In 1900 Schey was elected Chairman of the Royal Commission to Labor Matters. In 1905 Schey was appointed Director of Labor, a position he held until his death in 1913.

In 1895 Schey was concerned at the social toll of the 1890s depression. Schey was an engine behind the 1896 creation of a Government funded co-operative farm, established to assist men and their families who were victims of sickness and unemployment. Schey took so much interest in the co-operative training farm that the area became favourably known as Scheyville from 1907 onwards.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/migrant-camp-seemed-more-like-an-adventure-playground-for-young-joe-20110513-1em9a.html|title=Migrant camp seemed more like an adventure playground for young Joe|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=14 May 2011|access-date=4 October 2014 }}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17262205 |title=The Scheyville Farm |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=19 August 1936 |access-date=4 October 2014 |page=10 |via=Trove}}

He died at Woolwich on {{death date and age|18 July 1913|5 January 1857|df=y}}.

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}

{{s-bef|before=Arthur Renwick |before2=Thomas Williamson |before3=John Sutherland}}

{{s-ttl | title=Member for Redfern| years=1887–1889 |with=James Farnell / Peter Howe |with2=William Stephen |with3=John Sutherland}}

{{s-aft|after=Charles Goodchap |after2=Peter Howe |after3=William Stephen |after4=John Sutherland}}

{{s-bef|before=John Sutherland}}

{{s-ttl | title=Member for Redfern | years=1889–1894 |with=Charles Goodchap / Henry Hoyle |with2=Peter Howe / William Sharp |with3=William Stephen / James McGowen}}

{{s-aft|after=James McGowen}}

{{s-new|district}}

{{s-ttl | title=Member for Darlington | years=1894–1898}}

{{s-aft|after=Thomas Clarke}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schey, William}}

Category:1857 births

Category:1913 deaths

Category:Protectionist Party politicians

Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

Category:British emigrants to Australia

Category:Politicians from Sydney