Obituaries Australia

Mr. John Smith, who was prominent in industrial union circles and took an active part in public affairs at South Melbourne, died at his son's residence, 11 Gibbs st., Balaclava, on March 11.

Born at Edinburgh (Scotland) in 1860, Mr. Smith arrived in Australia when 16 months old. His school days commenced at Smith's School (now known as Albert Park State School); he was a pupil there from the first day that the school was opened until the completion of his education. He commenced work at the age of 12 years at Sands & McDougalls, printers; and later was apprenticed as a blacksmith at Langlands Foundry. During his youth he was well known in cricket circles in Emerald Hill, when the game was played in the paddocks and on the flats. As a journeyman blacksmith, he entered the Victorian Railways in 1889, working at Newport Workshops and rising to the position of sub-foreman. He was actively interested in union matters, being a member of the Melbourne South Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (later the Amalgamated Engineering Union), and held various official positions, one being the secretaryship of the Australasian Council for nine years. He represented Australasia at a large conference held in London in 1907.

In 1918, Mr. Smith was elected president of the Commonwealth council of the A.E.U. and resigned from the Railways Department to carry out official duties. These necessitated his transfer to Sydney until his retirement in 1922. He then returned to South Melbourne. Made a Justice of the Peace about 1925, he sat on the South Melbourne Bench with an old boyhood pal, John Baragwanath.

Mr. Smith is survived by one son and a sister (Mrs. Elizabeth Atkinson, Westgarth). He was buried at Fawkner Cemetery in the presence of relatives and a number of officials and members of the A.E.U. The Rev. A. Martin, St Kilda, conducted the funeral service, and the burial arrangements were carried out by R. McKenzie.