Tuhia he haere tonu mō tēnei wāhanga - I whānau a Smith ki Oldham, ā, i mahi ia i te rohe papanga Ingarihi o Lancashire. He kaimahi whakarewa mohio, he mema ia o te Shop Stewards Movement i whakahe ki te hanga patu mo te Pakanga Tuatahi o te Ao. I whakahe ia ki te pakanga, ka haere ia ki te whare herehere mo te whakahe i te kohinga ahakoa te kore o nga tangata me tana pukenga e whawhai ana. Whai muri i tana whai wāhi ki te whakapae whānui kore i te tau 1926
, I heke atu a Smith me tana wahine a Dora ki Kanata i taua tau ano. I te tau 1928, ka neke ano ratou ki te United States, ka noho ki Detroit.