Obituaries Australia

The death occurred on Friday last at Parkville of Mr. Henry Edward Langridge, a veteran in the Labor Movement, at the age of 89. He was a picturesque character, and, although never a union official, was at one time one of the best-known identities at the Trades Hall. Outside of his occupation of an accountant, Labor and dancing engaged his ardent attention. He delegated to himself the mission of securing the exclusion of employers from the Labor Party and the legal enactment of free bread for workers. At an annual State Labor Conference about 30 years ago his proposal received strong support, and was only lost by a small majority.

Mr. Langridge was an expert in the counting of preferential voting at elections. He was a pioneer of the system in Victoria.

He was a contributor to the "Labor Call," and was a pamphleteer on subjects relating to the welfare of the proletariat. He was formerly an active worker for the Clerks' Union.

Mr. Langridge was noted for his long-distance walks. It was not unusual for him to walk from Carlton to St. Kilda to a dance. After dancing throughout the evening he would walk back to Carlton.

Mr. Langridge was a firm adherent to teetotalism and a vegetarian. His services were frequently valuable to Labor candidates as a scrutineer and in other capacities, honorarily, when they were contesting for public' positions. Infirmity diminished his irrepressible activity recently.

Mr. Langridge was buried at Fawkner on Tuesday. Industrial and political Laborites attended. Mr. P. J. Clarey delivered an address at the graveside in eulogy of the good done by Mr. Langridge for the workers' cause.