Obituaries Australia

Friends of Mr. John Holliday, of Dornoch-terrace, Highgate Hill, pioneer Laborite, and veteran trades unionist, who some little time ago celebrated his 50 years active membership of the Amalgamated Carpenters' Society, will read with feelings of regret of his death at 6 o'clock this morning, after a severe illness, in his 78th year.

Since his arrival in Queensland, the late Mr. Holliday was a familiar figure in the industrial and political wings of the movement, and was affectionately known as "Dad" Holliday. He was a tower of strength to Labor in all the political campaigns in South Brisbane, and was to be seen in action as recently as the last State Labor victory. He impressed all with his sterling sincerity and his unselfishness in the work of the movement, to which he devoted his long life. Not a few of those who in after years held positions in Federal and State Labor administrations owe their positions to the sterling work of a fine, old Labor pioneer.

The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.

The late Mr. Holliday was born July 10, 1846, at a village, Langrigg, Cumberland, England. A life-long member of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, he entered the Salford second branch at the age of 22, and held at different periods practically every official position in that branch, with the exception of secretary.

Mr Holliday was an active participant in all the union's activities in those days, and paid the price of victimisation on more than one occasion.

He arrived in Brisbane November 1883, shortly afterwards suffering the loss through death of his wife, being left with eight children, the eldest under 12 years of age. In 1886 the late Mr. Holliday was elected to the first Labor Council in Brisbane. In 1891 he was a member of the building committee of the old Trades Hall, and in the same year joined tho South Brisbane Workers' Political Organisation, and retained active membership of that organisation up to the time of his fatal illness.

In addition to acting as delegate of the South Brisbane A.L.P. and Oxley Federal Labor Organisation the late comrade was an active member of the old Socialist league and later the Social Democratic Vanguard, two organisations that specialised in propaganda work.

The lifelong work of the late Mr Holliday was highly appreciated by his fellow-unionists, and the year of his jubilee membership of the Amalgamated Carpenters' Union the late Mr. Holliday was the honored guest at one of the most successful functions held in the old Trades Hall.