Obituaries Australia

The death has occurred of Mr. Alex Hay, of Coolangatta, Berry, who was a Country Party member of the House of Representatives about 20 years ago. He was an authority on the meat and dairying industries.

Before the defeat of Mr. Hughes and his Ministry, which led to the establishment of Mr. Bruce as national leader, Mr. Hay played a key role for a time in Federal politics. His vote in October, 1921, saved Mr. Hughes's Ministry from defeat on a censure motion moved by the Country Party. This caused an estrangement between Mr. Hay and the Country Party.

He won the New England seat for the Country Party in 1919. In 1922 he contested the seat as a Country Party candidate, although the party had not endorsed him. He was defeated by Mr. Victor Thompson, and did not stand for the seat again.

Mr. Hay was manager of the Berry and Coolangatta estates on the South Coast since 1893. In 1891 he went to Denmark and other European countries to inquire into the dairying industry.

He helped to establish modern dairy factories in Berry and to promote herd testing.

Mr. Hay went to Egypt with the rank of major in 1915, as second in command of the New South Wales and Queensland Re- mounts.

Mr. Hay was married in 1900 to Miss Florence Burdekin, daughter of the late Mr. Sydney Burdekin, and at one period they resided at the historic Burdekin House, in Macquarie Street.