Obituaries Australia

The death occurred at St. Ive's Hospital, Kensington, at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, of Mr. James Edward Hoad, M.L.C.

Mr. Hoad was one of the grand old men of New South Wales, and had served the public faithfully and well in several capacities for many years. He was born on June 3, 1858, at Tumut, and enjoyed splendid health until October, 1929, when he was knocked down by a motor car in Macquarie-street, Sydney, while on his way to Parliament House. Since then Mr. Hoad had suffered indifferent health and gradually became worse until a peaceful ending came on Sunday. He leaves a widow, Mrs J. E. Hoad, "Tumutville,'' Prince-street, Junee, and four sons, Messrs Essell Hoad, of Randwick, George Hoad, of Junee, Leslie Hoad, of Waverley, and Kenneth Hoad, M.L.A., of Junee.

Mr. Hoad served his time at the saddlery trade in Tumut and worked there afterwards for a few years. Junee was beginning to become a railway depot and a farming centre, and he sent word to a friend to buy an allotment of ground in a good business centre. Broadway was chosen for him and he later went to Junee, built a saddler's shop and residence there. That was 45 years ago and he carried on a successful business until 35 years ago when he lost an eye while doing some repair work in his shop. He retired from the business; but he continued to own the shop and residence. He then built "Tumutville'' at Junee North, one of the finest buildings in Junee to-day. He owned some fine broad acres in Illabo Shire and went in for dairying, supplying milk in bulk to retailers. A member of the first Junee Progress Association, he became an alderman of the Junee Council 37 years ago, and continued until the time of his death. He was ten times elected Mayor of Junee and had the unique experience of sitting on the same council with his two sons, Messrs Kenneth and Essell Hoad. Mr. Essell Hoad was later Mayor.

Mr Hoad was a prominent member of the Labor movement and took a prominent part in it from its inception. He was one of Mr. Arthur McRae's first committeemen when Mr. McRae was first returned to Parliament with Mr. James Gormly and Sir G. Dibbs for the old Murrumbidgee seat. One of the oldest justices of the peace in the Junee district, he was appointed to that position in 1903. About six years ago he was appointed with a number of Labor nominees to the Upper House. A rare type of the individualist, he did not care for any form of lodge, or such organisation, though he was many times president of the Junee branch of the A.L.P.

His wife was a Miss Bouscher, of the Tumut district. Mr. K. Hoad left the Railway Department to go into Parliament. Mr. George Hoad is in the Railway Department at Junee. Mr. Essell Hoad is in the Railway Department in Sydney, and Mr. Leslie Hoad is an estate agent in Sydney.

The body was brought from Sydney by the mail train last night and the funeral will leave "Tumutville" at 3 o'clock this afternoon for the Junee cemetery.