Labour Australia

The death occurred on September 1 at his residence, Manton Street, Burnley, of Mr. George Hughes Hay, 80, whose illness was announced in last week's "Labor Call." His was a long record of service to unionism and political Labor.

Mr. Hay was a member of the Tanners' Union for over fifty years. He was a delegate on the Trades Hall Council in the early nineties of the last century, and represented his union on the committee of the historic Maritime Strike of 1890.

As a sequel to the defeat of the maritime workers, the political Labor movement was formed. Mr. Hay was secretary of the Richmond branch of the Progressive Political League, the forerunner of the Political Labor Council and the present day Australian Labor Party.

He was a Labor representative in the Richmond Council for several years. His last official position was that of secretary of the Lift Attendants' Union.

Mr. Hay's remains were interred in the Burwood Cemetery on Saturday last. Among those present were some of his old union colleagues. The pall-bearers were Cr. W. Ryan and Mr. P. Casey, representing the Richmond Council; Messrs. G. Dupree and W. Shippick (Tanners' Union); T. Kirk, H. Gibbons and W. Bent (Returned South African Soldiers' Association), of which Mr. Hay was a member.

Mr. Kirk recited the South African soldiers' ritual at the graveside and Mr. Gibbons sounded the last post.

Mr. Hay is survived by a widow, two sons and one daughter (Mrs. M. O'Toole), wife of Mr. Maurice O'Toole, secretary of the Lift Attendants' Union.