SIR WILLIAM HERREIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19455, 11 October 1926, Page 12

SIR WILLIAM HERREIES.

STATESMAN AND PATRIOT. TRIBUTE TO LIFE'S SERVICE. "EXAMPLE AND INSPIRATION." TE AROHA MEMORIAL UNVEILED. [BY" TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL EEPOnTER.] TE AROHA. Saturday. Warm tributes to Sir \\ illiam Hcrries were paid at tho unveiling of the iiionuilnent to his memory at Te Aroha to-day. i'he monument, which -was erected by the Government and local bodies of Tauranga, is a marble statue, mounted on a pedestal, and stands at the entranco to the Domain, the making of which into a place of rest and a playground for the children has been made possible by the generosity of Sir William Herries. The company that gathered to do him honour to-day included political foe and supporter, Maori arid European, farmers and townspeople, old and young, but all one in the band of friends created by tho character of tho late statesman. There was Sir James Allen, a colleague in the first Massey Cabinet; Sir James Carroll, whose reply to Sir William Herries' trenchant attack on the Native Affairs Department is a classic in Parliamentary debates; Sir Maui Fomarc, the.last of his colleagues in the Houso of Representatives; and the later-day members of the Cabinet, llon.vß. 1 1 . Bollard and Hon. K.-S. Williams, there were also Mr. C. E. Macmillan, M.P., Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P., Mr. F. F. Hockly, M.P., Mr. E. W. Kane, clerk of the House of Representatives; Mr. Hugh Poland, ex-M.P.; Mr. R. Coulter, Mayor of Te Aroha; and representatives of all tho local bodies. A Sincere and True Friend. Sir James Allen said ho had readily accepted the invitation to be present, because it afforded him an opportunity of paying another tribute to a sincere and true friend. The friendship of Sir William had been of great value, but thero was no period in his life when he had valued it more than in the years from 1914 to 1918. "Sir William Herries, ye who dwell in the supernal realms of 10, greetings. The canoes of your beloved people are moored by thy courtyard. They are here drawn hither by tho cords of love to do you honour. Friend, comrade, chieftain, takoto ra." In these words Sir Maui Pomarc addressed the monument preparatory to unveiling it. Sir Maui Pomare said it was with mingled feelings of pleasure, and sorrow that he took part in the ceremony. Pleasure because of the honour conferred on him and sorrow because of the necessity' for this occasion. It was thought meet that he, the last of Sir William Herries' old colleagues in the Houso of Representatives, should perform the ceremony, but he would that the duty had befallen the lot of an abler man. "He Was a Giant Among Men." However, this he could say of him, after an intimate association and a friendship lasting many years, that he was a giant among men. In word and deed he was ever a gentleman, a great rangatira. As sportsman, statesman and patriot he was the noblest Roman of them all.

The confidence the, electors of lauranga hail in him for over 26 years as their representative bore testimony to his worth and spoke volumes for the capacity, honesty and integrity of the man and was evidence also of the great esteem in which ho was held throughout .the district.- In committee, in the House and in the Cabinet room he was an example and an inspiration to those about him. His breadth of vision, sound judgment and keen intellect made his administration of Government departments outstanding. "I need not emphasise the snccess of his administration of the <many portfolios which he held from time to time," Sir Maui said, "but in my capacity as representative of the native race in the Cabinet I can say with the sincerity of conviction that, though many and great men have held the portfolios of Native Affairs, none was greater than Sir William Herries. Scales of Justice Balanced Evenly. Ho balanced the scales of justice evenly, fairly and impartially between the two races, and in his,conduct of native affairs be showed a fine appreciation and understanding of the aims and aspirations of the Maori people. That is why, among other reasons, we as Maoris and you as pakehas mourn his loss and revere his memory. With his final words Sir Maui drew the cord which let loose the Union Jack draping the figure. As lie placed a wreath of laurels and tulips from the Cabinet at the foot of the monument the crowd stood bareheaded in the rain, while the band played the funeral march. The Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, said no one, no matter what his political leanings, ever questioned the sincerity, charity and patriotism which the late Sir William Herries showed in all his dealings. Statesmen whose personality-and forthrightness had earned for them the esteem of the people they served were happily not. rare in New Zealand, but Sir William Herries had doiie rn'o'ro—lie had won the unstinted admiration of political supporters and antagonists alike; That was a big achievement in the burly burly of politics. Political Epic Recalled.

" Standing by this memorial erected to the memory of one of tho greatest statesmen this Dominion has known, and as simple and brave a gentleman as ever looked with human eyes upon this passing show, my mind is as a hive to which is horning a hundred honeyed memories," sair Sir James Carrol. Sir James remarked that perhaps among all his memories there was none more fond than of the occasion when Sir William crossed the floor of the House and congratulated him on his reply in the memorable debate on native affairs which the late Mr. Massey had hoped would mean the downfall of the Ward -Government. Such a thing had not occurred before in the history of the. New Zealand Parliament, Imt it remained there as the .manliest act a beaten antagonist could perform. " It endeared him to me, by whom he was already most affectionately regarded, beyond the power of words to express, and that endearment remains and persists in my mind and heart and must remain there during conscious being," said Sir James. Tributes were also paid by the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works and Acting-Minister of Native Affairs; by Mr. C. E. Macmillan, M.P.; Mr. H. Poland, and by Mita Taupopohi, a chief of the Arawas, who presented to the memorial committee to bold in trust nn enlarged photograph of Sir William Herries and Sir James Carroll talking together.