PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 234, 31 August 1935, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

TRIBUTES TO FORMER MEMBERS.

HOUSE ADJOURNS

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. Tlie House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr W. E. Barnard gave notice of his intention to introduce a Family Allowances Bill, Hon. A. Hamilton to introduce the Oliai Railway Amendment Bill, and Mr J. O’Brien to introduce an Invalids Pension Bill.

Reference was then made to the deaths of former members of Parliament who died during the recess—Mrs E. R. McCombs, Hon. James Craigie and Mr G. V. Pearce. Motions placing on record appreciation of the services they had rendered the Dominion were carried.

Referring to the late Mrs McCombs, the Prime Minister, lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said her death would leave a great sense of loss with those who had been associated 'with her in the great social work she had done practically all her life. She was a woman of great ability and took part in public life in full. After entering the House she earned the respect of all members by her sincerity. There was no doubt lier passing was mourned by a large section of tlie people. Mr M. J. Savage, Lender of the Opposition, said Mrs McCombs had been in the vanguard of social reformers practically all her life and wherever she had been she had left her mark. She lin'd earned the love and esteem of those for whom she laboured. In the House, too. she had set a very high standard which would be hard for others to equal Mr Forbes, speaking of the late Mr Craigie, said Mr Craigie had entered the House in 1908 and was very assiduous in his duties. He was a fine citizen, a very affectionate father to his family, and had a wide circle of close friends

Mr Savage said Air Craigie was one of the pioneers of monetary reform in New Zealand and never lost the opportunity of expressing his opinions in that direction, either privately or publicly. He was a man of progressive ideas and always had a warm corner in his heart for the poor. Hon. J. Bitchener referred to Mr Craigie’s work in Timaru and said there was no man who had done more for South Canterbury than Air Craigie. He was quite sure Timaru would not have been anything like the place it was to-day if it had not been for Air Craigie. Mr Forbes said the late Air Pearce also entered the House in 1908. He was a practical farmer and played an important part in the development of primary industries and especially in the development of the Patea district. •Mr Savage said Mr Pearce was one of the pioneers of New Zealand’s primary industries.

Many members also spoke to the motions while they were before the House.

The House adjourned at 4.20 p.m. as a mark of respect to the memories of those referred to, and will meet again at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, when the Address-in-Reply will bo moved.