From the age of eleven he worked on a sheep station at Mona Vale, travelling to Melbourne in 1888 as a butcher's boy.
He worked as a cattle drover and brass polish salesman before starting a tailoring firm in 1893.
He was an outspoken anti-conscriptionist during World War I, and he served as Minister for Public Works, Immigration and Health in 1924.
He was Minister for Public Works, Immigration and Mines from 1927 to 1928 and from 1929 to 1932, when he was expelled from the Labor Party for supporting the Premiers' Plan.
He joined the United Australia Party and served again as Public Works and immigration Minister from 1932 to 1935.