Labour Australia

Yesterday morning the death occurred of Ex-Senator James Guy of Launceston, in his sixty-first year, after a painful illness extending over two years. He passed away at his residence in Irvine street, not a stone-throw from the place of his birth. He has been associated with the Tasmanian Workers' Political Leaague since its inception, and has been an executive officer of the Tasmanian branch of the Labor party from its inauguration, and of the latter he was general secretary during the last 12 or 15 years. His Parliamentary activities occupied a decade. In 1906 he stood for the Senate, along with Senator Keating and Ex-Senator O'Keefe, but the former was the only successful candidate of the three. In 1909 he entered the House of Assembly, topping the poll for the first time with the Hare-Clark system. Of the six members for Bass at that time, it is interesting to recall that only two survive, Messrs. Sadler and Bakhap, the other three being the late Messrs. Solomon, Howroyd, and McKenzie. In 1912 the late Mr. Guy was re-elected. At the dissolution in 1913 he lost his seat, but in the 1914 federal election he went to the Senate for the six years' term. At the conclusion he contested for return, but owing to ill-health was unable to address a single meeting, and was unsuccessful.

Among other activities the late Mr. Guy was a prominent member of the Chalmers Presbyterian Church, having been a manager and trustee, as well as a Sunday school worker. For a number of years he was district secretary of the Independent Order of Rechabites, and was an ex-chairman of the Launceston United Friendly Societies' Dispensary. Up to his death he was a director of the Permanent Building Society.

The late Mr. Guy was the eldest of a family of seven sons and five daughters. Of the former, three remain in Tasmania-John (at Queenstown), Alfred and Frank (both in Launceston). Three sisters reside in this city, namely, Mesdames H. Fitzpatrick, G. Luckhurst, and W. Clark. The deceased gentleman was married to Miss McElwee daughter of the late Mr William McElwee, formerly superintendent of the municipal water works. He leaves a widow and a grown up family of four sons and a daughter. The eldest son, William, is employed in the Railway Department at Launceston; Leslie works in the N.S.W. Railways' Department in Sydney, Claude at Henry Bills and Co's factory, Launceston; and James is a member of the House of Assembly. The daughter is Mrs W. H. Ellis, of Ulverstone.

The funeral leaves his late residence at 2.30 tomorrow afternoon for Carr Villa Cemetery.