Morris Light

Morris Light was born in Kovno, Western Russia in 1859, but left there in 1879 escaping the persecution of the Jews that was gaining momentum during the period. Russia at the time was largely a medieval country, where the worlds of church and state were identical and religiously motivated hatreds were brimming under the surface. Russia was the last absolute monarchy in Europe and had the largest Jewish population, which amounted to 5% of the Russian Empire equating to 1/3 of the Jews in the world. These 5 million people lived in the Pale of Jewish settlement, which was a group of provinces extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and encompassing much of what is now Poland. In 1865, under the regime of Alexander II, the Czar had allowed Jewish artisans to locate outside of the Pale, the government also encouraged the education of Jewish youth into the learned professions, graduates of which were also allowed the same freedoms. These measures opened up new centres of Jewish industry and prosperity. With the death of Alexander II, the situation soon decayed, culminating in the anti-Jewish riots of 1881. This led to the head of the Ministry of the Interior, General Ignatieff, to issue the infamous 'May Laws' on 3rd May 1881 which included restrictions on the ways Jewish people could conduct business and where they could settle. The young Morris Light, therefore, left Russia at an opportune time.

During the period from 1879 to 1884, he moved to Scotland and operated a draper's business in Glasgow. He later emigrated to New South Wales, Australia in 1884 landing in Sydney with 200 pounds sterling in his pockets. From Sydney he travelled to Mittagong, then Moss Vale before coming to Newcastle in 1886. He settled in Carrington and operated a business selling household wares in a horse drawn cart. In 1887 he married Sarah Jacobs, a 32 year-old English woman, and the couple had four children, Hilda (1888), Bertram (1889), Myra (1892) and Reta, who was born on the 15th March 1898. During the opening years of the new century Morris Light opened his first furniture store in Cowper Street, and then moved to Hunter Street West where it became known as the 'House of Lights'. The enterprise expanded with a new emporium which was later built and a second store opened at Vincent Street Cessnock. His son, Bertram, was groomed to take over the management of the business which became M. Light & Son Ltd.

Morris Light was proud to acknowledge his successful achievement of the introduction of consumer credit to Newcastle, which offered finance to customers under his own interest free terms. The success of the system was reinforced by the claim that they had never found occasion to repossess any of their goods. His commitment and service to his local community was also a feature of his cumulative 35 years of public life as alderman for the Carrington and Newcastle Councils. He served two terms as Mayor of Carrington in 1902 and 1903, being credited as being a catalyst for the early electrical illumination of Carrington Streets.

On the evening of December 10th 1924, while a band outside the Council chambers played "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow", Morris Light was elected Mayor of Newcastle, an event that was not without controversy. For the outgoing Mayor, Alderman R.G. Kilgour, refused to invest the new Mayor with the robes of office. Apparently upset at not being able to secure a seventh year as Mayor, he resigned as a protest against what he termed the "deceit and intrigue" of his colleagues. Morris Light served as Mayor until December 10th 1925. His achievements included the electrification of the tram service, he was also an advocate of the electrification of the Newcastle to Sydney rail link, the creation of a children's park at Centennial Park, and he set in motion the construction of the city hall, offices, art gallery and museum.

He considered his greatest achievement the construction of a self-funded City hall and Civic Theatre complex, a task which involved a battle between Council and the illustrious coal baron Mr John Brown. Mayor Light wanted the coal baron to reliquish possession of the old Black Diamond Hotel site as a 'gift' to the people of Newcastle so as "to have a Town Hall befitting the prestige of the city". The coal baron didn't agree, and suggested they site the Town Hall at the congested eastern end of the City, as well as affirming that he would resist every move to resume the site proposed by Mayor Light.

As history would have it, Morris Light died of Pneumonia at 7.10 am on the 26th July 1929, aged 74 years. His funeral at Sandgate cemetery was attended by 300 people and involved a joint Jewish and Masonic ceremony. He never lived to see his dream of the City Hall and Civic Theatre finally completed. At the opening of the new Town Hall Alderman Wheeler gave credit to his predecessor for the new building, the lights outside bear a commemorative plaque to honour Morris Light's contribution. These buildings stand as treasures to the city of Newcastle and highlight the magnificent achievement that people of vision can have on a place.

Sources:

Reta Light's Will, 1973.
University of Newcastle Archives Rare Books & Special Collections Unit.
Shelf Location A7142(i)

Correspondence. Newcastle District Municipal Metal Quarry at Martin's Creek, 1929.
University of Newcastle Archives Rare Books & Special Collections Unit.
Shelf Location A7142(ii)

Light Family Photographs. [c. 1890 - c. 1950]
University of Newcastle Archives Rare Books & Special Collections Unit.
Shelf Location A7142(iii)

Morris Light (1859 - 1929).
Travel Diary 10th February 1923 - 1st May 1923 and then used as Newsclipping Book, 24th December 1924 - August 1929. With later period material inserts: Correspondence, 1937. Reta Light Balance Sheet, 1980, a piece of creative writing (?) [n.d.] and Newsclipping Nov.1977.
University of Newcastle Archives Rare Books & Special Collections Unit.
Shelf Location A7143.

Morris Light (1859 - 1929).
Masonic Lodge Certificates of Morris Light 1909, 1926.
Masonic Lodge Apron and case.
Copy of "Lights of Newcastle Golden Jubilee, 1887 - 1937".
University of Newcastle Archives Rare Books & Special Collections Unit.
Shelf Location A7144.

Cohn, Norman
Warrant for Genocide: The Myth of the Jewish World Conspiracy and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1967.

Ray, Greg.
Newspaper Articles "Behind the Family that gave $1.5m to University" and "Light Shines on University". The Newcastle Morning Herald, Monday May 17th 1993 pp. 1, 6.

Russo-Jewish Committee.
The Persecution of the Jews in Russia with Appendix containing a summary of Special and Restrictive Laws. Also a Map of Russia, showing the Pale of Jewish Settlement, A Letter reprinted from "The Times" of 5th November, 1890, A Report of the Guildhall Meeting Held on 10th December 1890 and the Text of the Memorial to the Czar With its accompanying Letter from the Lord Mayor. Issed by the Russo-Jewish Committee for Gratuitous Circulation. London: Wertheimer, Lea & Co., 1891.