[1][2] Arriving in Queensland in 1883 at age 24, he took up Pineapple farming at Zillmere in the 1880s before establishing a fruit preserving factory in Fortitude Valley.

At the 1907 state election, he was a candidate for the seat of Nundah and defeated Mt Atthow by 152 votes.

After a failed referendum in May 1917,[5] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the council.

[6] Sumner was one of the thirteen new members, and went on to serve for four and a half years until the council was abolished in March, 1922.

[1] On 6 April 1886, Smith married Eliza Jane Robinson at Brisbane and together had three sons and four daughters.