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MR. JOHN BARKER
SUDDEN DEATH TODAY'
Prominent Sportsman
Men in business and sporting circles
received a shock today when. i.3
was learned that Mr. John. I3arker
had passed away at his residence, Alpha
road, Prospect, at noon.
.Ir. Barker, who was 78 years of age,
was taken suddelnly ill at about 9 o'clock
last night as Lbe result of heart affec
Y--~~~~~~~ .--------------
LATE MR. JOHN BARI(ER Help
LATE MR. JOHN BARI(ER
tion. IHe rai!?d again, but at noon
there was a i.Cct ud seizure which caused
his death.
Mr. Blarki:r was at his olilce, Messrs.,
I3arki r Birothers. Currie street, Ade
laide, y??sterday afternon, and left there
about 5 n m. te thenu appeared to be
ia the best of health. He talked with
several Curric street busi,;ess men, and.
visitc;l the office of the South Austra
ha.. Jockey. Club before going home.
He was a director .of many city comr
paucies, among tnem being the Execu
tor, Tristee, and Agency Company,
of South Australia. Limited, and the
Adelaide Steamship Company. He was',.
a member of the Board of Advice of
Dalgety & Co.. Limited. From- 19n?
to 1924, when he resigned, Mr. Barker
was chairman of the South Australian
Jockey Club.
He was uone of.the best-known identi-
ties in the stock bushiiess in Adelaide.
For more than 40 years he had been as
sociated with the firm of Barker
Brothers. whose saleyards at the rear
of the John Bull Hotel were a well
known exchange for horses.
In 1877 'Mri. Barker started busi
ness near what is now lknown as
Gay's Arcade, in Grenfell street, under•
the style of Barker-& Chambers Sub
sequently the -firm :chaniged to -Barke~ r
:and Cornelius. and,- -'later into', Barker
A :X :nafive of Sof EtI " a r.rle
had been a, widower for some years. .l-te
leaves a son, Mr. A.. E. Barker- ('' Barker
Brothers) and a dauglhter, Mliss E. K.
Barker. i-ie was educated at Young's
School.
Duriing and since the war -Mr. Barker
was prominentlyS connected with. the Red
Cross Society in the administration of the
Soldiers' Fund.
For many years Mr. Barker was a,
committeeman of the South Australian
Jockey Club. He first became a mern
ber bf the controlling body of racing
in this 'State in 1S94. Upon the resig
nation of Sir H. C. Baker in May, 1909,
Mr. Barker was appointed chairman,.
and he held that position until July last
year, when he resigned.
As a reward for his great services,
Mr. Barker was made a life member of
the club la-s.t year. On all sides the
distinction was said to have been well
merited. For many pears Mir. Barker
raced horses, and although his success
in that direction was not outstanding.
yet he dearly' loved to see his colors
carried in races.
As an administrator of racing Mir.
Barker's ability was well known, and
the great progress made by the Southt
Australiaai Jockey Club during his term
of office was, to a certain extent, at
tr:ibutable to his far-seeing and sound
business methods.
- IELPED THE SOLDIERS
nMr. H. E. Winterbottom (secretary of
the South -Australian Soldiers' Fund)
said the news of the death of Mr. Barker
canme as. a gerat shock to him. M'r.
Barker was at a meeting of the executive
commnittee of the fund on Tuesday after
noon, when 'lhe was in his usual health.
Mr. Barker was thlie principal moving
spirit in the formation of the fund, and
his intefest haid contiiinued unabated right
iup to the time of death. i]e was chair
man of the finance committee, and mem
ber of the insnrance committee which
dealt with the insu'ance fund for. wi(dows
and oriphans cf soldiers.
"His death," continued Mr. Winter.
bottom, "is not only a: loss to the fund,
but to the State. To me," he cou
eluded, "it is a great personal loss, as
I regarded him as one of my .best
friends."
TRIBUTE BY DR. BENSON
"One cannot say too many fine things
about Mr'. Barker," said Dr. A.-¶ V.
Benson (chairman of the Port Adelamie
Racing Club and a committeemman o
the South Australian Jockey Club).
"He was one of the greatest helps to
racing South Australia has ever known.
His kindly actions, courtesy, and
thoug, htfuilness, especially to those who
were junior to him,-endeared him to all.
Personally I owe him a debt of grati
tude for the many kind words of ad
vice he had frequently given me. His
name will go down to posterity as one
of the fouiders of racing in this State.
South Australia has been fortunate in
having his fine qualities as a citizen.
His many acts of charity known to the
public and the many more tiot known
will alway stand to the credit of an
estimable gentleman. HIe was one of
the finest characters I ever knew."
"The death of Mr. Barker will be re
ceived" with regret by all sections of the
community," said Mr. W. B. Carr (chair.
man of the South Australian Jockey Club),
"He was held in the highest esteem and
respect by those in the s -rting world,
which he 'had served so 'well and so faith
fully for such a lonm peri'id. He wa~s
a committeemanl of the S.A.J.C. for 31
years, 1~ of which hle acted as chairmau.
At the various conferences of'the pm'incipnal
racing clubs of tlh Connmmonwealth at
which hle had represented South Australia
his opinion always carried much weight."
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