Obituaries Australia

Officials of the Waterside Workers' Federation, and many members of the Union, and other union officials and Labor representatives, attended the funeral today of the late Mr John Williams, for 40 years the assistant secretary of the Melbourne Branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation.

Mr Williams, who was one of the oldest union officials in Australia, died at a private hospital on Saturday, after a brief illness. He was one of the pioneers of the old Wharf Laborers' Union, and took part in the gathering which formed the organisation more than 40 vears ago. He was closely associated with the industrial and political activities of the Labor movement in its early days, particularly in the South Melbourne district, where he was widely known.

Mr Williams was elected assistant secretary of the Wharf Laborers Union about 40 years ago, and when the Wharf Laborers Union was merged into one branch of the Waterside Workers' Federation with the Port Phillip Stevedores' Association about six years ago, he was again elected as assistant secretary. The remains were interred in the Fawkner Cemetery.