LYTTELTON'S DEAD MEMBER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 277, 20 November 1913, Page 4

LYTTELTON'S DEAD MEMBER.

i _ ETUXOGXES IN THE HOUSE. STUDENT, thinker, and humanitarian. a LIFE ILL spared. i '.By Telegraph.Parliamentary Seportsr.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The sad and somewhat sudden death of Mr G. Laurenson, member for Lytteiton, stricken down in harness towards the j close of a long and arduous session, was ; the subject in the House this afternoon of numerous and hearfelt expressions of : sorrow for the loss of a fellow member and of sympathy with his widow and i family in their bereavement. The Prime Minister, in moving the I usual expression by the House of regret • of loss of its member, appreciation of his 1 valuable public services, and of profound i sympathy lor his widow and family, paid I an eloquent tribute to the memory of his I old political foeman, who for fourteen ; years occupied a seat on the Liberal ' benches of the New Zealand House n^ ' Representatives. It was very hard 13 j realise that the member for Lytteiton, I who was attending his Parliamentary I duties only a few days ago, has been so [ abruptly called away, said the Prime Minister. The Angel of Death had been a too frequent visitor to the Parliamentary Buildings in the past few years, and nt s.ich times the insignificance of I party strife, ambitions and interests was , borne impressively by the minds of all. Mr Massey, after referring to the strong sympathies and convictions which aniI mated the deceased member, emphasised i the abiding respect which he inspired, and i the deep esteem which his keenest political opponents all felt for one in whom . sincerity, strength of purpose, integrity, ' and an intense, almost passionate desire to do right, were outstanding and com- : polling characteristics. A lover of books,"he was widely read. Possessed of much more than average ability as a Parliamentary debater, he never allowed the licit of debate to interfere with his . friendships in the lobby. A really good I type of the born Briton was Mr Lauren- ' son. The knowledge of general and genui ine esteem in which he was held would : tend to soften the blow of their great ' bereavement. As a member he would never be forgotten by the men who had worked with him in the Parliament of thi'. country. ! Sir Joseph Ward seconded the motion. I The late member, said the Leader of the : Opposition, was one of the most earnest I and sincere men associated with matters pertaining to the public life that he had I ever had" the honour and pleasure of ' meeting. During the fifteen years of his ; friendship with Mr Laurenson he (Sir I Joseph i had been always profoundly impressed with those eminent personal ' qualities that made him one of the msst ' likable of men. The strong and deep-

I seated criticisms held by their brother member were known to them all. as were those estimable and endearing attributes which mane him so generally respected. '• A powerful speaker and keen debater, endowed with a personality of warm nnd spr.prons sympathy, the late member for Lyttelton Was at'once possessed of j the rare distinction of feeing a. formidable political opponent, while fcavimr m> I personal enemies. In a. country where the lives of pafliamentary-'-representa-tivcfi were probably more exattinsr on the individual than in-any other country, the death of such a man brought out the fact that, underlying all, -members were bound together as a body by tire kindliest sentiments. "They would all remember him as a man who was a ' srreat reader and student, and who ! brought a large 6tore of intelligence to I hear' on every matter discussed in Parliament, one 'of the men who would he ' missed, not only in Parliament, but by i all who knew 'him. His family would ! have the consolation of knowing that Ihe left behind him happy memories." A number of other members added glowing tributes to the memory of the deceased member and ex-Minister. Upon the dairying of the motion of condolence the House adjourned till tomorrow afternoon. : A similar motion was carried in the ' Legislative Council, after which that : branch of the legislature also adjourned J-as a mark of respect.