Obituaries Australia

Throughout Australia Laborites will grieve to hear of the death of Comrade John Dias, who died last Thursday at Cheltenham. Com. Dias was one of the oldest unionists in the Commonwealth, and until recently was secretary of the Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners' Union (Victorian branch). He also was deputed to represent that body at an important conference held in England some years ago. "Jack" in his younger days had an adventurous spirit and joined up with William Lane's expedition that left Australia for fresh fields and pastures new. The Royal Tar was the vessel that conveyed the small community to Paraguay (South America). However, dissatisfaction broke out in the small colony, which was named "Cosmo," and the party split into two sections. After this it dwindled down until it disappeared altogether. Comrade Dias in the early days also took an active part in the old Shearers' Union, which put in such sterling union pioneering work. He was for some time an organiser of the A.W.U. His record in unionistic matters goes back some 40 years. Com. Dias had reached the age of 64 and was unmarried. His remains were interred in the Brighton Cemetery, and many old friends and a representative gathering of Laborites witnessed the last burial rites.