Obituaries Australia

Son of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy who has his own place in Irish history, and was a former Premier of Victoria, Mr. Charles Gavan Duffy, C.M.G., formerly Clerk of the Senate, died on Tuesday at the age of 76. The Chief Justice of the High Court (Sir Frank Gavan Duffy) and Mr. Philip Duffy, a surveyor, who is living in Western Australia, are brothers. The late Mr. John Gavan Duffy, who was a Minister of the Crown in Victoria, was also a brother.

Born in Dublin, Mr. Duffy came to Victoria at an early age. Subsequently he went to England, where he was educated at Stonyhurst. He was also an ex-pupil of St. Patrick's College, East Melbourne, and a graduate of the Melbourne University, where, in 1880, he took the degree of LL.B., though he never practised at the bar.

Mr. Duffy became private secretary to the Premier of Victoria in 1871. He was appointed clerk assistant of the Assembly in 1891, and ten years later became clerk assistant of the new Senate. After a few months he was appointed clerk of the House of Representatives, and he held this position for sixteen years. In 1917 he became clerk of the Senate, and he remained in that office until 1920, when he retired. He was created C.M.G. in November, 1904. Mr. Duffy was actively associated with the preparatory work for the Federal Convention in 1898. He was secretary of the Federal War Committee in 1915-16. Mr. Duffy's knowledge of parliamentary procedure was masterly, and he was the author of two publications —"Speakers' Rulings, 1856-93," and "An Index to Proceedings. Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1878-97." He married a daughter of the late Mr. Allan McLean, a former Premier of Victoria. His wife died in 1930. Their only son. Dr. Charles Allan Gavan Duffy, graduated in medicine at the University some time ago, and is now engaged in hospital work in London.

On Wednesday morning Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph's Church. Burial took place at the Boroondara Cemetery, Kew.