Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Monday 8 January 1940, page 16


DEATH OF MR. J. A. RILEY

Former Secretary Of Chamber Of Commerce WORK FOR CRICKET AND ROYAL SHOW

The death occurred at his home at Park terrace, Wayville, on Saturday morning of Mr. Joseph Albert Riley, former secretary of the Chamber of

Commerce, the South Australian Cric- ket Association, the Royal Agri- cultural and Horticultural Society. He was 71, and during the past few years had lived in retirement. Tributes to Mr. Riley's business ability were paid last night, and re-ference was made to his activity in raising funds dur-ing the Great War. It was in recognition of his ungrudging ser-vice in this work that he was awar-ded the O.B.E. He also received the King Albert Medal from the King ot the Belgians for his work in assisting the repatriation of many Belgian refugees. Mr. Riley was born at Bilton. Staf-fordshire, England, in 1869, and came to Australia at a very early age. He was educated at the Pulteney Grammar School. Early in his career he showed a marked ability for secretarial work, and he became the right-hand man of Mr. John Creswell, whom he succeeded as secretary of the Cricket Association, the RA. & H. Society, and the Chamber of Commerce. As secretray of the South Australian Winegrowers' Association he did much for the trade, and he was able to make many recommendations which were of value in overseas marketing. Mr. Riley retired as secretary of the R.A. & H. Society in 1925, having been appointed to the position In 1909. His association with the Cricket Association covered nearly 40 years as an official, and on his retirement from the office of secretary he was made a life member. He was also manager of the National Insurance Company. 50 Years' Service It was during his 50 years' service with the Chamber of Commerce that Mr. Riley was perhaps best known. On his retirement from the secretaryship more than two years ago, he was ten- dered a luncheon by the Chamber of Commerce, and received a silver salver. He spent 29 years as secretary of the chamber, and during that time he ac-quired recognition in other States and overseas in connection with the establishment of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, with which South Aus-tralia had so much to do. The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr. R. K. Wood), on behalf of the council and members of the chamber, last night extended sympathy to Mr. Riley's family. He said that Adelaide commerce owed Mr. Riley a debt of gratitude for the ser-vice he had given in his long associa-tion with the chamber. As secretary, he had always attended to his duties with quiet efficiency, and the success of the Associated Chambers of Com-merce was a standing memorial to his work. The president of the Royal Agricultu-ral and Horticultural Society (Sir Wal-ter Duncan) paid a tribute to the work Mr. Riley had done for the society when the Show was held at the Exhibition Building and Jubilee Oval. He spoke of the effort he had made when the change-over to the Wayville site was suggested. It was due in many respects to Mr. Riley's earnest endeavors that the society had thrived. Mr. Riley has left a widow and two children, Mrs. J. G. Edge, of Wayville, and Mr. W. Norman Riley, of Toorak. Mr. Riley was cremated on Saturday afternoon. City Council, with the aid of Councillor" George McEwin. the iron railings that formerly stood in Victoria square, and gave £1.000 towards the cast of removing and re-erecting them on the University grounds, that he suggested to Misses Lily and Eva Waite the planting of die scarp between the higher and lower levels of the grounds with flowering plants, and the erection of the footbridge over the Torren-i Lake, and that he was responsible for carrying out the improvement in the general appearance of the grounds, you {can appreciate in some degree the extent of our obligation to Sir Walter. and how much we lose by his retire-ment." Broadcast Tribute A tribute to Sir Walter Young was broadcast by the general manager of Elder, Smith & Co. (Mr. T. E. Field) from the national broadcasting stations yesterday. In his early life, said Mr. Field, it was intended that Sir Walter Youag should enter one of the professions, but these plans were changed, and he joined the staff of Elder, Smith & Co. He was still a director at the time of his death, when he had completed nearly 53 years in the service of the company. What the professional life of South Australia lost in a man with outstanding brain and personality the commercial life gained, and his fame extended far beyond the con fines of the State. '"There is no need for me to dwell at length on Sir Walter Youngs distinguished and effective connection with my company," said Mr. Field. -'Suffice to say that during the time of his control, mainly by his wide vision and progressive policy, the company made outstanding progress. From the inception of Elder's Trustee and Executor Co.. he was a director of that company, and saw its business grow from a small beginning to very big dimensions. "When Imperial Chemical Industries in England—which is one of the most important companies in the world—decided to create a subsidiary company in in Australia, Sir Walter Young was asked by the London directors to accept the chairmanship of the new company's company's board. He was still actively connected with the expansion of Im perial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Ltd. up to the time of his illness." Probably few people, said Mr. Field, knew that Sir Walter Young was the co-author in the establishment of B.A.W.R.A. it was symptomatic of his nature that, while others were re ceivinsr much credit for the success of that great undertaking, he was content to sit quietly back and be satisfied as a reward with the success of the scheme, without seeking or war/ing any personal eulogium. In June. 1930. when the State Gov ernment, because of the desperate economic position, appointed its Ad visory Committee on Finance, it was inevitable that Sir Walter Young's name should head the list, continued' Mr. Field. From then onwards he was constantly ai the service of Die Government in Adelaide and Melbourne, assisline at the numerous conferences which hammered out the Premiers' Plan and saved the credit and stability of the nation, both at home and overseas. The influence of Sir Waller Young was of the highest importance ; in persuading the statesmen and ppople jof Australia to endure sacrifices which produced a financial recovery that attracted the highest admiration from I leading nations overseas.

Mr.J.A.RUey