Former Labour MP and Speaker of the House of Representatives Joseph M. Baldacchino died yesterday aged 84.

His funeral will be held tomorrow. Mass will be said at the Gzira parish church at 8 a.m.

Labour leader Alfred Sant said Mr Baldacchino had served the country in an excellent manner, and impressed others with his gentle yet steady attitude.

"I will remember his personal acts of friendship and the backing he showed me and I know from personal experience and from what other say about him that he was never after personal gain," Dr Sant said.

In 1959, Mr Baldacchino was elected to the MLP's national executive committee and served as party assistant general secretary general between 1959 and 1962.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1966 and was returned in 1971 and 1976. He was unsuccessful in the 1981 general election but was co-opted in 1986 following the death of Patrick Holland. He was secretary and whip of the Labour parliamentary group in 1971 and between 1976 and 1981 was deputy Speaker of the House and Speaker between February and July 1987.

Mr Baldacchino chaired the committee for the reorganisation of the postal services between 1972-73 and was a member of the commission for the working of the law courts between 1981-87.

He is survived by his wife Violet and son Charles.