Obituaries Australia

Ald. Denis Guihen, Labor representative for Belmore ward in the City Council, died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital yesterday morning, after a brief illness. The deceased was elected to the City Council close on two years ago. He was only 39 years of age, and during his brief sojourn in the council displayed a keen and intelligent interest in municipal questions. Flags at the Town Hall were flown at half-mast during yesterday as a mark of respect to the late councillor.

Ald. Guihen had been a prominent figure in the political and industrial sections of the Labor movement since the tramway strike of ten years ago. He was one of the leaders of the strike, and was not immediately reinstated when the strike had terminated. He became associated with the Trolly Draymen and Carters' Union, but afterwards returned to the tramway service. He subsequently undertook the position of secretary to the Hospital and Asylum Employees' Union, and he hold that position until his appointment last year as Industrial advocate for the Labor Council. He leaves a widow and four children. The funeral will leave his late residence, 56 English Street, Camperdown, at 1 o'clock today, for the Rookwood Cemetery. 

Judge Rolin made a feeling reference to the deceased yesterday in the Industrial Court. "Mr. Guihen," he said, "was a very able and fair advocate, in whom we had great and growing confidence. His death is a great loss to this Court."

Mr. T. R. Bavin, Mr. Ferguson. Mr. M. J. Connington, and Mr. A. Watt endorsed his Honor's tribute.

Mr. Holman, in the course of a tribute to the deceased gentleman, said: —

"When the conscription issue arose Mr. Guihen saw the situation in a different light from that in which I did, and we parted for the first time when the P.L.L. pronounced expulsion on those who advocated conscription. It was a great blow to me. But it must not be forgotten that he made a tremendous effort to persuade the P.L.L. not to accompany its views on the conscription issue in the threat of expulsion. Unquestionably had his advice been taken, the old Labor party would have been a united body at this moment.

"He was one of the magnificent army of trade-union leaders whom Now South Wales has had in the past and who are growing scarcer today. There is probably no single man who could be less spared in the present period of depression in trade-union circles."

Mr. E. J. Kavanagh, M.L.C., secretary of the Labor Council, said that Mr. Guihen's death would be a great loss to the Labor movement. He was the kind of man they could ill-afford to lose, especially at the present time, when it required level-headed men to bring the movement back to its former position.

Before commencing his speech at the Town Hall last night Senator Pearce said he desired to express his regret at the untimely death of Ald. Guihen. He knew deceased personally, and although they held different views politically, Ald. Guihen exprcssed his views in a manner that compelled admiration from all. His sympathy went out to his widow and family.

At a mass meeting of the Wool and Basil Workers' Association held at the Town Hall, Botany, last night, a resolution of regret "at the loss of an energetic advocate and friend in the late Ald. D. Guihen" was carried.