PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1936, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

TRIBUTES TO THE DEAD

fr-EK press association. I

WELLINGTON, July 21. The House met. to-day after the midWinter recess.

Mr Savage moved that the House place on record its high sense of the distinguished services rendered 10 New Zealand and the Empire by Sir William Hall-Jones. Mr Savage said that. Sir William Hall-Jones was the last of that wonderful band of people who were responsible for letting in at least, some light to the dark periods of the early nineties. He was one of those men v.'ho dared to do what he thought was in the best interests of the people and against considerable opposition. As a representative of the Government of New Zealand. Mr Savage said lie felt they were indebted to that, band of men and to the late honourable gentleman. The country was indebted to them for the lead they gave, not only to New Zealand, but to the world in general so far as social and economic legislation was concerned. The conditions then were somewhat similar to those of the present, and those- men had to face considerable opposition. For that reason, one would always feel indebted to men and women of that time, who had the courage to legislate and to stand up to what they believed was right. Parliament, was the poorer for his passing, and the people of New Zealand had lost u real friend and humanitarian, a man capable oi. interpreting economic conditions, a man with will and determination to do his share in making the world a better place than he found ii. He expressed sincere sxinpathy with the relatives in their loss.

Mr Forbes, seconding the motion, said that Sir W. Hall-Jones s life covered a. very long span in the history of New Zealand. As High Commissioner he established a high reputation for himself in the Old County, and one could look back with pride on the work. Sir William did in New Zealand, as a citizen and as one who played his part, in Hie development of the Dominion.

Mr Semple, as /Minister of Public Works, said that Sir W. Hall-Jones had left behind him all over the country. monuments to his credit. Mr Clyde Carr, as member for Timaru. Sir W. Hall-Jones’s old constituency. said lie was an esteemed member of the community who would grace any body with which he was associated, and he could be well described as one of Hm elder statesmen of New Zealand.

The motion was carried. Mr Savage moved that the House records its high sense of the distinguished service rendered io New Zealand by Mr James H< nry Bradney. a former member of the House oi Representatives. Mr Savage said that Mr Bradney was another who had played an important part in the development of New 'Zealand. He was always a friend and capable of playing his part as a man. Any man who could leave behind such a record as that, had nothing I<> regret. Mr Forbes seconded the motion, and said Mr Br.idm y was a man oi stury independence, and they appreciated his frankness in expressing his opinions.

The motion was carried. A similar motion was moved by Mr Savage regarding the late Mr George Harold Smith, former representative of the Pahiat.ua constituency, who, Mr Savage said, was another oi the older pioneers who helped to blaze the trail of civilisation. He could be joined with the number of great men of the past, who had ideas and expressed them fearlessly, and who had made their marks in shaping the affairs of New Zealand.

Mr Forbes said that Mr Smith made many friend- in the House, but did not. find the atmosphere of the House congenial. lie thought he could do better outside it than in it. He was a man of high ideals, a friendly man who was esteemed by all who knew him.

'The motion was carried. The House adjourned till to-morrow as a mark of respect to the deceased legislators to whom reference had been made. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON. July 21. The Legislative Council met at 2.20 p.m. Four days’ leave of absence was granted Sir Charles Statham, on the ground of illness.

Tributes were paid to the memory of Sir William Hall-Jones, who had been a member of the Council since 1913.

Hou. Mark Fagan, loader of the council, moved a resolution expressing appreciation of the dead member’s services and expressing sympathy with liis widow. Mr Fagan said that Sir William Hall-Jones’s death had severed the last link with the Sodden Government. That Government, with which Sir William had been associated, had been responsible for much humanitarian legislation, and would not easily be forgotten. In those days Sir William would have been classed as a Labour-radical. He had had a long and distinguished public life.

Hon. D. Buddo seconded the motion. Mr Buddo said that a valuable life had been lost.

Hon. T. Brimble said that Sir William Hall-Jones’s name would bo indelible in New Zealand history. The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre paid a tribute to the part Sir William played as Minister for Public Works in the development of the country. He had had a modern brain, and was a radical till he died.

Hon. J. Trevethick said Sir William had remained steadfast to the principles of his early days, and as late as the opening of the present session of Parliament, he had said that the spirit of Liberalism would never die.

Hon. C. R. Heaton Rhodes said that Richard Seddon had said that Sir William Holl-Jones was the greatest administrator in his Cabinet. Hon. T. F. O'Byrne said that although Sir William had been advanced in years, ho had always had a progressive mind, and had supported the present Ministry. The motion was carried. The council adjourned at 3.15 p.m. till Tuesday, as a mark of respect to the memory of Sir William HallJones. GOVERNMENT WHIPS. -■ ■ WELLINGTON. July 21. The appointment of Mr A. S. Rich- , ards, M.P. for Roskill, and Mr J.

Thorn. M.P. for Thames, to act as Government whips, was announced to-day by the Prime Minister (the RL Hon. M. J. Savage). The former chief Government, whip. Mr W. J. Jordan, M.P. for Manukau, has left. New Zealand to lead the New Zealand delegation at. the League of Nations assembly at Geneva in September, and the junior whip, Mr R. McKeen, member for Wellington South, has been abroad for some time as a representative of the Dominion at the International Labour Conference at Geneva. After Mr McKeen’s departure Mr J. O'Brien, member for Westland. was junior Government whip with Mr Jordan; bu,t he is in Western Samoa, accompanying the Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) as a member of the New Zealand Government goodwill mission to the mandated territory. It is, presumed that ultimately Mr McKeen will be chief Government whip, with Mr O’Brien as junior whip.