THE HON. H. D. BELL WELCOMED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 10, 11 July 1912, Page 3

THE HON. H. D. BELL WELCOMED

One of , the features of the sitting of the Legislative Council yesterday wa< the warmth of the welcome extended to the Hon. H. D. Bell, the Leader of the Council, by members of the Chamber. Even the Hon. J. Rigg, who said he had found Mr. Bell opposed to , the party with which he was associated, said he had always known Mr. 801 l as a strictly honourable man. He wa«, Mr. Rigg added, a member of what he regarded ac a very strong Government. If Mr. Maesey brought down a sufficiently progressive policy,- he was likely to have a long tei;m of office. These sentiments were endorsed in different words by Messrs. Callan. Luke, Jenkinson, Parata, and, of course, the Hon. 0. Samuel, who temporarily led the Council, and warmly welcomed Mr. Bell as a brother member and the leading light of the legal profession. Mr. Bell replied in a brief speech, -which was at once cordial and full of gratitude for .the kindly .references made to himself. • He thanked members for the manner in which they had received the flattering references made to himself, and referred to the fact that he was the only appointee to the Council from "the other dde" since the initiation of the Liberal Party. It was this sense of isolation which made him the more keenly appreciate what had been said. In 4DV r«gi«lt,tion which h.» had to bring forward, hg would, i&iyi imm-

ber that he might be running counter to long prejudices, but he would always try to demonstrate that what was brought forward was right and just. He acknowledged the kindly references made by the" Hon. Captain Baillie, and mentioned the fact that hie father was the first Leader of the Council in the first session of the New Zealand Parliament. After a "few .furthw words, lie nloved the adjournment of the Council till 7.30 p.m.,- Subsequently -hiembers met and adjourned till the 31at inst.