EX-PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND DIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18385, 10 February 1928, Page 10

EX-PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND DIES.

HON W. N. GILLIES PASSES AWAY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Ana. and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 9. 73p p.m.) BRISBANE, February 9 The death occurred suddenly of the Hon W. N. Gillies, formerly Premier of Queensland. Mr William Neal Gillies was born in New South Wales in 1868. He was a farmer and sugar grower in New South Wales and President of the Sugar Defence League there. He then formed a group of New South Wales farmers and selected land at Atherton, North Queensland. He was elected M.L.A. for Eacham in 1912, 1915 and 1918. He was chairman of the Public Works Commission in 1916, Minister of Justice in 1918 and Secretary for Agriculture from 1919 to 1925, when he succeeded Mr E. G. Theodore as Premier. He resigned after a few months to become a member of the Queensland Board of Trade and Arbitration. Colleague’s Tribute. The Hon W. Forgan Smith, DeputyPremier of Queensland, who arrived in Christchurch from Dunedin last night, received a telegram from Mr Coates advising him that a cable had been received announcing the death of Mr Gillies. “Mr Gillies was a man who was very highly- respected by all who knew him and we were very close friends,” said Mr Smith in conversation with a “Lyttelton Times” reporter last night. “The news of his death has come as a very great shock to me. especially as I saw him in Sydney while on my way to New Zealand and he then appeared to be in good health. He was a man of keenly sympathetic temperament and a good and loyal friend. He was responsible for a good deal of agricultural legislation in Queensland and introduced, in 1921, the first Primary Producers Organisation Act, which formed the basis of the existing system of marketing by farmers’ co-operative associations. He was born in New South Wales and was a good Australian who, during his public career, did everything possible to promote the welfare of Australia.” Senator Clor&n. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. OTTAWA, FebruarjT- 8. The death is announced of Senator Henry Joseph Cloran, aged 75, after a prolonged illness.