Obituaries Australia

Mr. William Henry Webber, veteran trade unionist and Labor man, died at his home, Bell Street, West Preston, last Saturday. Mr. Webber, who was aged 71 years, was for 38 years general secretary-treasurer of the Victorian Shop Assistants' Union.

Mr. Webber joined the first union for grocery employees in 1900. This later changed to the United Grocery, Tea and Dairy Produce Employees' Union, and he became secretary in 1909.

When this body became a Federal organisation under the name of the Federated Grocery Employees' Union he became its first, and only Federal secretary.

During the 1914/18 war it had a hard fight to retain its existence and in 1919 amalgamated with the Victorian Shop Assistant's Union. Mr. Webber played a leading role in the amalgamation and was elected as Federal Secretary of the united organisation.

He retained that position until 1942 when after a serious illness he retired. In 1944 he was elected Federal president, and occupied that position at the time of his death.

In January of this year, Mr. Webber retired from the position of general secretary-treasurer of the Victorian branch of the Shop Assistants' Union after 38 years' of service.

Mr. Webber played a vital part in advancing Labor policy in this State.

He contested Castlemaine and Prahran for the Party. He contested Castlemaine and Prahran as a candidate for Labor.

He was a director of Labor Call from 1930.

His funeral was attended by many Labor and trades union leaders and representatives of the business world including:—Minister for Labor (Mr. E. J. Holloway), Senator Sheehan, Mr. J. L. Cremean, MLA, Secretary of the Trades Hall Council (Mr. J. V. Stout), and Secretary of the Shop Assistants' Union (Mr. A. M. Storey).

Labor Call was represented by the Secretary (Mr. M. B. Duffy). Mr. J. Ashton, Mr. H. Opitz, and the Father of the Chapel, (Mr. R. Masters).