Born in Marehay, Ripley, Derbyshire, Paling was the son of George Paling, a coalminer, from Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.[1][2] At the age of 14 he started work in the local colliery before winning a scholarship to the Central Labour College in London. At the college he studied economics, industrial history and sociology. He also began his association with Labour politics.[1][2] He returned to the coalfields where he became a checkweighman. In 1928 he was elected to the West Riding County Council, holding the seat until his election to Parliament.[1][2]
Paling made his first attempt to enter Parliament at Burton upon Trent, where he stood unsuccessfully at the general elections of 1929 and 1931.[1][2] Throughout the 1930s he was active in the miners' trade unions.[2]
Paling was re-elected at Dewsbury in 1950, 1951 and 1955.[1] In 1957 he was making a visit to the British Army of the Rhine to examine the conditions of national servicemen when he was involved in an air accident. The resulting neck injury led to his retirement at the 1959 general election.[2]
Paling had a long retirement, dying in April 1992, aged 99.[2]
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