Alfred Onions

Alfred Onions (30 October 1858 – 5 July 1921) was a Welsh Labour Party politician. He was born in in St George's, Shropshire, the son of a collier, and died in Tredegar.

Onions began work at the age of ten-and-a-half, when he followed his father into coal mining. At the age of 20, he attended the North Staffs Adult Educational Society. In 1883 he moved to obtain work in Monmouthshire in South Wales.^[1]

In 1888, Onions became the secretary of the Monmouth District of the Monmouthshire and South Wales District Miners' Association, which was based in Crumlin. He served in this role until 1898, when the Association became part of the South Wales Miners' Federation (the 'Fed'). In 1891, his peers selected him to represent all the miners of South Wales at the International Miners' Conference in Paris. He was later the first treasurer of the SWMF.^[1]^[2]

Onions was active in the Liberal-Labour movement, serving on local school boards, then on Monmouth County Council, becoming its chair. He was also the first chair of Risca Urban District Council. As the SWMF moved to support the Labour Party, Onions followed.^[1]

He was elected as member of parliament (MP) for Caerphilly at the 1918 general election. His successor was Morgan Jones.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Stenton, Michael; Lees, Stephen (1979). Who's Who of British Members of Parliament. Vol. III. Brighton: Harvester Press. p. 271. ISBN 0855273259.
^ Wearmouth, Robert F. (1959). Methodism and the Trade Unions. London: Epworth Press. pp. 46–47.

Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages ^{[self-published source]} ^{[better source needed]}

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by (new constituency)	Member of Parliament for Caerphilly 1918–1921	Succeeded by Morgan Jones
Trade union offices
Preceded by New position	Agent for the Tredegar Valley District of the South Wales Miners' Federation 1898–1919	Succeeded by George Davies
Preceded by New position	Treasurer of the South Wales Miners' Federation 1898–1921	Succeeded by Oliver Harris

[stenton-1] Stenton, Michael; Lees, Stephen (1979). Who's Who of British Members of Parliament. Vol. III. Brighton: Harvester Press. p. 271. ISBN 0855273259.

[2] Wearmouth, Robert F. (1959). Methodism and the Trade Unions. London: Epworth Press. pp. 46–47.

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