Obituaries Australia

The Grim Reaper continues to exact his toll from the diminishing ranks of the men who played their part in laying the foundations of the Labor Movement in Western Australia. On Tuesday last there was laid to rest the late "Jim" [James David] Lockard, one of the stalwarts of the Old Brigade, and who, for forty years, had never swerved in his allegiance to the Movement which was to him a part, and a big one, in his life of service in this State.

For honesty of purpose it would be hard to find any who were more sincere in outlook and devotion to the Cause of Labor; it is certain none could be found who excelled him. During his long connection with the Party he held many offices of trust, and never failed to give of the best that was in him. He was not one of the sort who made long speeches. What he had to say was incisive, and was kept strictly to the chief points of the matter in hand. In such matters his judgment was good. He could fight hard for his opinions, and never turned any of his attention to personalities.

He was not so well known to the later adherents of Labor, but by those of the older school who were associated with him, he will be affectionately remembered. They will all join, regretfully, in tendering their sympathy to his bereaved family. In that the "Worker" (of which he was a director in its early days on the goldfields) joins. So far as "Jim," as he was always known, is concerned he could well cross over the Great Divide with the consciousness that he could say, in the words of the old Book, "I have fought the fight: I have kept the faith." Vale. "Jim" Lockard.