Obituaries Australia

The Labor Movement in Western Australia sustained its second severe loss in a month by the sudden death on Wednesday of Mr. Oscar Walters, Managing Editor of The Westralian Worker. It was only a week earlier that West Australian Labor people laid to rest the mortal remains of another prominent figure in the Movement, the late Phil. Collier, ex-Premier and Parliamentary Leader.

The late Mr. Walters was a vigorous champion of the workers and was perhaps the first in Western Australia to perceive the insidious infiltration of the Communists into the Labor Movement. He fought the Communists uncompromisingly—so much so that "The Worker" had to face a libel action.

The shock of his death was the greater because of its unexpectedness. Though he had not been in the best of health in recent weeks, he kept on the job. On Wednesday' he sent the paper to press at 1 o'clock; at 1.30 p.m. he collapsed in the street, and was dead when he reached the hospital in an ambulance. He was born in Victoria and was 59 years old.

Aged then 25, Mr. Walters was working underground at Sandstone, when World War I. broke out. He enlisted with the Engineers and was at Gallipoli, in France and Belgium. He was on active service until the end of the war in 1918.

His association with the "Westralian Worker" dates back many years. At Sandstone he was a contributor to its columns before he went on active service. The late Mr. John Curtin was then editor of the paper, and that he was impressed by Mr. Walters' ability is shown in that on his return to Western Australia his contributions to the paper continued to be accepted when Mr. Walters embarked with his brother on a poultry farming venture at Bayswater, a suburb of Perth.

When Mr. Curtin was translated to the Federal Parliament, Mr. Walters was given an appointment on the literary staff under the late Mr. F. Gates, who succeeded Mr. Curtin in the editor's chair.

In 1933 Mr. Walters was appointed Manager for the paper at Kalgoorlie, where he remained until 1938, when he was appointed Managing Editor in Perth.

On him devolved the heavy job of establishing the Labor Broadcasting Station 6KY, and he was secretary of the company until last year.

Other activities in recent years were: Trustee of the Australian Workers' Union in Western Australia, a member of the State Advisory Committee on Broadcasting and a member of the Board of Management of the State Art Gallery.

The late Mr. Walters was a frequent contributor of verse to "The Bulletin." One of his contributions won second prize in a "Bulletin" competition. His verses were published under the title "Shrapnel Green: A Memory of Gallipoli," of which the late Col. Collett, then President of the R.S.L., wrote in a foreword: "The days of Gallipoli are slipping further and further away.'' The title on the cover of this little book must bring vividly before us many incidents connected with a strenuous campaign. Every incident had its lesson, and we are grateful for the reminders contained in Mr. Walters' verses: for the re-inspiration of his words; for the 'Memories' of France and Flanders—where 'a man 'ad to stick to 'is cobbers': and for the 'Lasting Vision' of unselfishness and good comradeship which the passage of time has failed to even din."

The funeral took place on Friday afternoon at Karrakatta Cemetery and was largely attended. The pall-bearers were: Mr. T. G. Davies, General Secretary of the State Executive A.L.P.; Dr. J. S. Battye, Director of the Public Art Gallery; Messrs. C. H. Golding, State Secretary of AW.U.; G. F. Keating, State Secretary of Amalgamated Society of Railway Employees; S. B. Nielson, senior member of the "Worker" staff; E. J. Davies, Manager of Radio Station 6KY; W. Hegney, M.L.A.. Chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party; J. G. Kilpatrick, Deputy P.M.G., and President, W.A. State Broadcast Advisory Committee; M. P. Troy, ex-Agent-General for W.A., and J. B. Campbell, President W.A. District A.J.A. Others present included Senator J. M. Fraser, F. C. L. Smith, M.L.A., E. Needham, M.L.A., E. H. Gray, M.L.C., H. E. Graham, M.L.A., J. T. Tonkin, M.L.A., M. J. Deegan, C. H. Golding, L. Glauert, F. R. Mercer, H. Buckley, R. A. Hartley, W. Hoflsdon, F. L. Mincham, P. Mulcahy, J. Purser, C. H. Webb, John Davies, J. Walsh, M. Beavis, D. A. Woods, A. E. Mackley, D. T. Davies, M. Casellas, C. Trainer, Bert Bowman, W. J. Leonard, Arthur S. Gratwick, S. Muller, W. H. Snell, W. H. Rose, S. W. Cusack, Geo. Jones:, F. Green, R. C. Carter, W. M. Peterson, J. H. Lukeis, E. H. Farrant, Frank Kelsall, W. Laing, J. Ryan, F. W. M. Sanders, H. Sweeney. R. Eddy, E. J. Holman and E. L. Greig.