MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S RETIREMENT.

Evening Post, Issue 73, 23 September 1903, Page 5

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S RETIREMENT.

ftLEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DISCUSSION. PLAIN SPEAKING BY MR. RIGG. The discussion on the morion by the Attorney-General expressing appreciation of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain's services was continued in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. The Hon. J. D. Ormond, after a high tribute to the resigning Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressed the hope that tho outcome of the general election in Great Britain would not lead to the installation in the Imperial Government of Little Engla-nder principles. Such a thing would be disastrous and lead to the undoing of the main part of the glorious work so far done by Mr. Chamberlain. The Hon. J. Rigg said the AttorneyGeneral and Mr. Ormond had omitted one thing. To make such eulogiums complete as they should be, they should have been wound up with some suitable selection of verse. He assumed no suitable selection had been available. He did not think he should have lived to find a Liberal Government passing a resolution expressing regret at the resignation of a Tory statesman in Great Britain. (An hon. member : Order 1) But this was one of those acts we were now getting familiar with since we had departed from what he considered true democratic principles. (A voice: What are fliey?) There was no need to go into that at "length now. From time to time they had passed resolutions couched in language that did not conduce to the dignity of the Parliament of New Zealand, and tnat would be called by some grovelling. The interference now suggested was, he thought, a good deal uncalled for. For comparison he placed England in our position in tho event, say, of the resignation of Sir Joseph Ward. If the British Parliament passed a resolution expressing regret at Sir Joseph's resignation what would' be thought by us of interference of that kind, and how absurd it would be regarded by the people of England. Yet that was exactly the position we were putting ourselves in at the present time. Mr. Chamberlain was a Government party politician, and his resignation was for the purpose of carrying out his political views. If he were deceased, then might be the time to pass a resolution glorifying him. But his career was not yet finished, and he (Mr. Rigg) made bold to say his career had not yet been seen in its trua light by many people. Mr. Chamberlain tad been blamed foi forcing on the Jameson raid, and while proof of that was difficult to obtain, yet from what Mr. Rigg had read and from what he could gather, he had come to the conclusion that there was some reason for the statement. In regard to South 'Africa 'and other matters, there was a gang of German Jews in 'England 1 who had done more to bring the Empire into discredit than anything that had happened for a century. The Hon. C. Louisson rose to a point of order. He did not think the hon. ■member had any riglit to make any reference to the religion of any person he was spoaking about. (Hear, hear.) It was highly improper. The Speaker ruled that the matter was ona for the good taste of honourable members. Mr. Rigg said if the honourable member oouldl suggest any term by which he could refer to Jews other than as Jews ha would endeavour to oblige him. It was the Jewish race, so referred to in the Bible, and there was no other term to apply to it. He repeated that there was a gang of German Jewish capitalists in Great Britain who had dona more to degrade the Empire and England than anything else that had happened in the past century. Their influence with Mr Chamberlain was paramount. He was speaking now of Mr. Chamberlain as a politician. As to his ability there could be no two opinions. He was a man of great force of character, and stood head and shoulders above any other statesman in England at the present time So far as his-efforts to place the trade of Great Britain on a sound footing were concerned, they had Mr. Rigg's approval, but that in no way influenced him in regard to the present motion. He, however, would not press for a division. "As to Mr. Chamberlain's services to the colonies," added Mr. Rigg, "I should like to have them enumerated. I know of none." Mr. Ormond : The mission to Africa. Mr. Rigg was not aware how that had rendered any benefit to the colonies. Mr. Chamberlain never met the people of South Africa ; he did not know their feelings except as he received them through a polluted source — the Rand party in South Africa. If he had rendered services to the colonies he (Mr. Rigg) would be one to express his appreciation. However, as he now probably stood alone he would not call for a division. This was not a question of patriotism at all. The retirement of Mr. Chamberlain from the Cabinet was only an incident. Already tfhey saw steps being taken to provide that Mr. Chaniberia'in's place should be taken by one of his tools in South Africa, so that it might probably be kept, warm for him, and then if his campaign failed he might enter the Ministry again. Mr. Chamberlain's political career had been one of changing about. He had changed his coat every time it suited himself, and he would do it again. The Hon. C*. C. Bowen said the previous speaker had spoken in a tone and in language so antagonistic to the feelings of the whole Council that he would nob deal farther with it at that stage. (Hear, hear.) Eor the first time in the history of England a. great statesman had appealed not only to the Mother Country but to the colonies on a question of policy that may affect the history of the whole world as well as the ! history of England. Mr. Chamberlain had shown that he had the courage of His convictions, and nothing could have been more honourable and straightforward than the correspondence that had passed between him and Mr. Balfour. I He (Mr. Bowen) was of opinion that we were now at the parting of the ways, and the time had come when it was to be decided if tlie Empire was to hold together and be a great power for good in the world or whether it was to fall to pieces as comparatively isolated atoms. We must do everything we could to prevent the disruption of our Empire. He believed the Government was quite right in bringing forward the motion, because England had often of late years asked us to take part in her -counsels, not by formal but by tentative measures. The present position was a crisis closely affecting ourselves, and one absolutely unexampled in the history of the world. He was sure the one great policy for the English race was Imperial unity. He earnestly hoped that when tho question came to be considered it would not be dealt with in a narrow and niggardly spirit, but wiCh a due regard for necessary sacrifices as well as necessary advantages. He regretted the lamentable exhibition of Party spirit that had broken out in England, and he thought before the whole question was settled, there would be a fresh distribution of parties there. The Hon. .F. Trcisk supported the motion, and hoped tho result of the British elections would be to knit all parts of the Empire olosely together. The Hon. J. M. "Twomey, referring tc a remark made in "another place," said , he could not sea that such an expression

of opinion as was now proposed was "beastly impertinent." We fehould do everything in our power to consolidate the Empire, and only by supporting Mr. Chamberlain could that be brought about. Something must be done, or England would fall to the ground. The day was not far distant when the danger would come of England losing the colonies as it lost the American States. His one regret now was that the present motion, which he supported, did not go further and fiUppoit preferential trade. The Hon. Sir Alfred Cadman eaid he had listened with great regret to the biassed and intemperate remarks of Mr. Eigg. He apparently epoke as • the mouthpiece of that small section of the community which was always prepared to take all and give nothing, and the same section, Sir Alfred believed, opposed the rendering of assistance in the late war. Why, if the colonies had received no benefit from Mr. Chamberlain, should they now be so concerned at his resignation? Th&y could see this concern reflected in the press. (Mr. Rigg — That is a. section of the press). Sir Alfred supported the motion most heartily. The Hon. A. Lee-Smith regretted that the larger question had got into the discussion of the abstract question, because one with the opinion he held could not, under the circumstances, give a silent vote. To his mind Mr. Chamberlain's policy would be the beginning of the disintegration *of the Empire. He, however, believed the retiring Minister had taken a veiy grea^t interest in the colonies, and so far as, that went the resolution could be supported. The Hon. C. Louisson said lie -was not surprised at Mr. Rigg's remarks, nor would he he surprised afc anything that gentleman said. He had made a 'very feeble attempt to ridicule the earlier speeches, but) had not succeeded. Mr. Ormond spdke in a manner that should be an excellent example to Mr. Rigg ; it was not bombastic, and there was no attempt to hurt the religious feelings of others. Mr. Rigg's opposition was probably due to his liking to being in the minority of one or two. In supporting the motion proposed, Mr. Louisson deplored the unseemly references to Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Milner. The Attorney-General, in replying, deprecated the attitude taken by one or two members, and again eulogised Mr. Chamberlain's services. The motion was then carried on the voices without dissent, and the Speaker requested to convey its terms to Mr. Chamberlain.