CARTOON - KING COAL'S GROWL

1929
Overview

This black and white hand drawn cartoon features a scene of a man wearing a full body horizontally striped bathing suit standing on the banks of a river. Written across his chest is [KING COAL]. He is also weaning a pair of large boots with text on each. His right boot [INDUSTRIAL] and the left [DISSENTION]. The figure who has a rotund build with large black eyebrows and a black beard is staring down into the river where written on the water is [ECONOMIC SUCCESS].
Ben Strange’s signature is in the bottom left corner

The caption with cartoon when published in the Western Mail 21 February 1929 with the caption:
King Coal: I don't see how they can expect me to swim with these boots on.

Historical information

This cartoon is inspired by industrial issues that were occurring primarily in the NSW coal industry. Delegations were being sent to the Federal Government relating to the price of coal and its impact on wages.
On the day that the cartoon was published Stanley Bruce, Australian Prime Minister, announced a Royal Commission into whether or not miners had accepted the proposal for an immediate reduction in the price of coal.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-33-AK1999.94
Item type
Material
Width
57 cm
Depth
37 cm
Inscriptions and markings

Artist's signature bottom left [Ben Strange]

Year
1929
Statement of significance

HIGH
The Ben Strange cartoons are historically significant as they depict many key figures linked to the history and development of both Western Australia and Australia. Political figures who regularly appeared in his cartoon’s included John ‘Happy Jack’ Scaddan, the Premier of Western Australia from 1911 until 1916, and William ‘Billy’ Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923.

Primary significance criteria
Historic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Object’s condition or completeness
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->