DECEASED LEGISLATORS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 162, 28 June 1930, Page 3

DECEASED LEGISLATORS

TRIBUTES TO SERVICES. ADDRESSES IN BOTH HOUSES. Wellington, June 27. The House of Representatives this afternoon adopted the usual motions placing on record appreciation of the high value to the Dominion of the services of the following deceased legislators and expressing sympathy with the relatives Sir Thomas Mackenzie, former Prime Minister and High Commissioner; Sir John Findlay, former Minister of Justice, Attorney General and leader of tho Legislative Council; Mr. J. B Harkness, former member for Nelson ; the Hon. H. L. Michel, member of tho Legislative Council. Several members paid a tribute to the services and personality of each of the deceased members, after which the House adjourned as a mark of respect to their memory. The Hon. G. W. Forbes sketched the career of Sir Thomas Mackenzie and declared that during Sir Thomas Mackenzie’s long experience in New Zealand politics he had always brought to bear a high standard of duty and had nsver spared himself in any way. Later, during his service as High Commissioner in London in the war years, he had become known as the soldiers’ friend. He had been of genial personality and his loss was a severe one to New Zealand. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and Mr. H. E. Holland endorsed the remarks of Mr. Forbes. Referring to Sir John Findlav, the Prime Minister said he had been one of the outstanding men in the legal profession In New Zealand and had brought to bear in his Ministerial duties valuable legal knowledge. A man of keen insight, lie was one of the most brilliant scholars that had ever passed through Otago University. Mr. Coates and Mr. Holland endorsed the Premier's remarks.

In the Legislative Council Sir Thomas Sidey paid a warm tribute to the memory of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, whose work in the interests of the country would be long remembered. His service as High Coinmi.sioner was particularly valuable and returned soldiers would ever remember him. The Hon. H. L. Michel had been a man of sterling character and had won the esteem of every member of the Council. Sir Thomas described Sir John Findlay as one of the acknowledged leaders of the New Zealand bar, and said his intellect was one of the most brilliant tho country bad produced. After other members had paid tribute to the deceased members .the motion was adopted and the Council adjourned at 3.15 p.m. until 10 a.m. to-morrow.