Obituaries Australia

Mr. James M. Taylor, C.B.E., and Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, a prominent figure in amateur sport, died yesterday at the age of 72. 

He was president of the Australian Olympic Federation and the Amateur Swimming Association, and a member of the British Empire Games committee. 

Mr. Taylor in his younger days played water polo with the Balmain Club and was also a member of the  Balmain Rowing Club. 

From his earliest years he was interested in swimming. He was a member for the association council for 51 years, and was also handicapper, and later chairman.  At the last annual meeting he was reelected president for the 33rd year. At that meeting he was elected the first life member of the association. 

As a member of the International Olympic Committee he was the representative of that body in Australia, succeeding the late Mr. R. Coombes.  He attended the Olympic Games at Antwerp in 1920, Paris 1924. Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932 and Berlin 1936. 

Born at Gosford on December 1, 1871, he subsequently came to Sydney, and in 1899 opened business as an accountant, in partnership with Mr. F. E. McLean, later one of the first members of the Federal Parliament. He was a director of a number of companies, and, apart from his other sporting activities, he was an enthusiastic bowler. For some years he was honorary secretary of the Hospital Saturday Fund. 

His wife and daughter survive him. 

The funeral will leave St. John's Church, Wahroonga, after services at 2 p.m. to-day. for the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.