RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1906, Page 3

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

JUBILEE OF NEW SOUTH WALES [BT ELECTEIO TEIEOUAfH —COPYRIGHT, j [rEK PBESS ASSOCIATION.] SYDNEY, May 22. Despite tho unpropitious weather, a large gathering assembled at Parliament House to mark the jubilee of responsible government in New South Wales. The Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, in the course of a speech, read a message from the King, in which His .Majesty thanked the State for its loyally, and expressed the hope that the progress and prosperity that had marked the colony would continue in the fullest degree. The Premier, Mr Carruthers, referred to the unique character of the gathering, and to the great and beneficent change wrought by the constitutional government. The Speaker of the House, Mr McCotirt, also made a speech. He struck a pessimistic note when he asked :Ts our progress as healthy as it looks? He added : Wo do not own a sleeper of our railways, or a brick of our public buildings. They belong to the people of England, from whom we have borrowed millions. We also have to import from abroad everything we wear, eat, or use. Mr McCourl added that in regard to defence they were as badly off as they were fifty years ago, and had managed to get rid of their rich agricultural and pastoral lands, for which they had nothing to show. He mentioned that since responsible government was granted 746 gentlemen were elected, and it had taken .142,000 pages of Hansard to hold wlsal (hey said.

Sir John See paid a tribute to the pioneer legislators, ile said that despite the croaking of pessimists, the country was as prosperous as ever and getting stronger and stronger. He believed that Australia would become a strong power in the world.

.Mr Edden said the Labor Parly, which he represented, was as loyal In the Crown as anyone in the Empire. The other speakers included exChief Justice Stephens, and Mr Morris Asher, a member of Parliament of 1859, the oldest living representative.

After luncheon Sir 11. Rawson open ed (he Jubilee Library.