Obituaries Australia

Mr. John Quirk, M.L.A., State Labor Party representative for Balmain since 1917, and treasurer of the State Parliamentary Labor Party, died to-day, aged 69.

For some years Mr. Quirk had not enjoyed good health, but he fought against this disability, and served his constituents in Rozelle and Balmain and in the House until last week.

Mr. Quirk did not attain Ministerial rank in his long Parliamentary career, but was regarded very highly inside the Labor Party.

The Leader of the State Labor Party (Mr. J. T. Lang) said that Mr. Quirk's death would bring sadness to many people.

"He was a great man in every sense of the word, and his sterling qualities elevated every gathering of which he was a member," said Mr. Lang.

"Although not rising to the higher offices of the Labor Party or Parliament, he was envied by men in both those spheres for his forthright honesty his aggressive sincerity and his truly Christian understanding of what it meant to be a representative of the people.

"I am sad because I have lost a personal friend, and I understand the sadness of that great number of people who have lost the assistance and encouragement of one who was truly a great man." 

"The death of Mr. John Quirk has removed from Parliamentary life a unique figure," said the Premier (Mr. Stevens) to-day.

"He was only rarely engaged in spectacular debate, but in the years that he represented the electorates of Balmain and Rozelle, the people of those districts had many tangible proofs of his untiring efforts on their behalf. He was a staunch champion of the cause he expressed, an extremely fair and loyal party man, and one whose presence in the House will be sadly missed by members on all sides.

"For a long time, Mr. Quirk's failing health had caused general concern. It was with the most profound regret, however that I learned of his passing. To his bereaved wife and relatives I would like to convey my personal expression of deepest sympathy and the sorrowful tributes of my Cabinet colleagues and members of the House."