MELLOWED MEMORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 171, 22 July 1930, Page 10

MELLOWED MEMORIES.

PARLIAMENTARY VETERAN.

HAS KNOWN FIFTEEN PRIME

MINISTERS,

EAST COAST CITIZEN,

(By • 'Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

' GISBORNE, this' dav. ' With the death of Sir. Robert 'Stout the distinction of having had earlier con nection'than any other living man -w Parliament iii New Zealand rests u, Mr. G A. de Lautonr, of Gisborne. his 85 years, Mr. de Lautour is s 1 markably active and takes a keen me in current affairs. He entered the- 0 ' as far back as 1876, and had retuec i active political life two years pe the late Sir. Joseph Ward was iu« elected. ' ... . , . '.'Sir. Julius Vogel was Prime when Mr. De Lautour entered the Bow. and he-has since seen the rise, and of 22 Ministeries and the advent, o . out of the country's 22 Prime Minis e • Before entering' Parliament he was member of the Otago Provincial/ while .his' association with New Zea■ l dates back to ISG3, when he arrived Auckland. Mr. de La tour's friendship withthe Sir Robert Stout went back to/lie P vincial government days, >vlien Sir. I>° Stout, with Mr. de Lautour, Su 0 Roberts and Sir James Mills the "Young Men's Group" of the ye Provincial .Council, of which they, w e members at the time of the abolition the provincial government. _ , ' Discussing his earlv acquaintance Sir' Robert Stout, Mr. De Lautour .mentioned that'lie first met Sir Eobeit the Marewhenua, goldfields. _. jMr- ? t .° ' as he then was, had. ridden in,oveinig on to participate in a mini g case of great importance to the golp ll ing-community. Mr. de* Lautour w then engaged in journalism, and hp ® also bidden from Hogben to "cover .hearing for the "Mount Ida Chronicle•The meeting took place in 1873, and i 1874" they renewed their acquaintance as members of the Provincial Coiuiej, serving in that capacity until the abo l tion of the council. This intrqductJpi ,to • Parliamentary life was followed ) Sir Robert .Stout's return to the Colpma Government in the by-election for-t ® Cavcrsham seat in 1575, Mr. de Lautou being returned iu 187G for Mount Ida.