James Griffiths (Australian politician)

James B. Griffiths (26 June 1872 – 21 June 1916) was an Australian trade unionist and Labor Party politician. He was elected to the Legislative Council of Western Australia in May 1916, representing North-East Province, but died after less than a month in office.

Griffiths was born in Kangaroo Flat, Victoria, to Rebecca (née Watts) and James Griffiths.[1] He came to Western Australia in 1895, during the gold rush, and subsequently worked as a prospector in the Mount Margaret district. Griffith had a long involvement with the Miners' Union, at various points serving as a branch secretary in Mount Margaret, Murrin Murrin, and Gwalia. He first ran for parliament at the 1911 election, but lost a Labor preselection ballot to George Foley in the seat of Mount Leonora. He also contested Labor preselection for North-East Province in 1912 and 1914, losing to Dick Ardagh and Harry Millington, respectively. Griffiths was eventually preselected for North-East Province in 1916, and was elected with a large majority. He had suffered from heart trouble for some time, and died in Boulder less than a month after his term began, without ever taking his seat.[2][3] Griffiths had married Elizabeth Evelyn Lalor in 1912, with whom he had one daughter.[1]