Labour Australia

Mr. W. [William] (Bill) Casey, secretary of the Queensland branch of the Seamen's Union, died in the Brisbane Hospital on Wednesday night.

Mr. Casey, who was 61, had been secretary of the Queensand branch, except for brief periods, for more than 20 years. He had been ill for about 12 months.

He was born of Irish parents in Manchester, England, and in his youth sailed before the mast between England and America. After the Russian Revolution in 1917 he was one of the first foreigners allowed into Russia.

In the early days of Australian industrialism he became famous for the songs and the amount of doggerel he wrote. One of his songs read:

I know the Arbitration Act
Like a sailor knows his riggins.
And if you want a small increase,
I'll talk to Justice Higgins.

In recent years Mr. Casey played a retiring part in Queensland unionism, but his advice and industrial philosophy were often translated into effective action by other officials.