MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S RETIREMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1648, 30 September 1903, Page 74 (Supplement)

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S RETIREMENT.

Tli© PREMIER asked the indulgence of till© House of Representatives on the 21st inst. whilst ho moved the following resolution :—‘That this House desires to express its great regret at the retirement from office and to place on record it appreciation of the distinguished and patriotic services rendered to the Empire by the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain as Secretary of State for the Colonies, to whom we owe the inauguration of the great colonial policy which he carried out with conspicuous tact and ability, thus securing a cordial' relationship and mutual understanding between the colonies and the Motherland, to the great advantage of the Empire.”. The Premier thought that honourable members would have felt, like him, after reading the announcement of Mr Chamberlain’s resignation in Saturday’s morning paper, keen and bitter disappointment, and that they realised that the colonies, by the resignation of that Minister, had lost a true friend. "Without desiring to cast the slightest reflection upon those who previously held that office, he said that the greatest Secretary of State for the Colonies' Great Britain ever had was tho Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain. Although there would be those in that assemblage who differed from Mr Chamberlain in his political views,, yet in respect to his policy of binding together Britain and her. colonies, and the greatness to which he had raised his office, all would concur that he was an ideal Secretary of State. As a result of that policy, indifference and apathy had given place to whole-souled sympathy with the colonies, and a desire to bring us closer together and welding Britain and her colonies into a compact whole. There existed now no feeling of coldness towards the -colonies. Mr Chamberlain sounded the keynote of Imperial unity, not the connection, created by Act of Parliament, but the connection by ties of kindred that had been the means of drawing the bonds of Empire together. This had been left for Mr Chamberlain to do. We had never realised our obligations to the Mother Country. We had, when called upon, done our duty, and in a manner conducive to the best interests of the Empire. That spirit had been evoked by tho great colonial policy of Mr Chamberlain, and he was not detracting Horn the honour of' other - British statesmen when lie said that to-day Mr Chamberlain was the foremost statesman within the British Empire; and not only within the Empire, bnt within the civilised world. Mr Chamberlain’s attitude was one they must admire, for, notwithstanding the desire of his chief to remain in office, yet at the shrine of duty he deemed it in the best interests of his country to retire from office, with dignity, covered with honour, and admired by his worst political opponents of the day. He felt—and he knew he was voicing that which permeated tho breasts of every member present—that this colony had lost a true friend. When they turned to South Africa and read, as they al,l must hove read in public print, that there was consternation at Pretoria and dismay in Natal, they realised in what esteem the Right Hon. Mr Chamberlain was held in South Africa. The Premier referred at length to Mr Chamberlain's successful mission to that country, to the great mastermind that originated the Premiers’ Conference and. its highly beneficial' results to the colonies, and concluded by expressing the opinion that when his Majesty—and lie said that with ;ali due deference—accepted that resignation lie must have known that he was accept-

ing the resignation of a true and loyal subject. • Mr MAiSSETST seconded the motion, and in doing so expressed the hope that the retirement of Mr Chamberlain from tho high office he had held would only bo temporary. He concurred with the Premier that no man had sc 1 wed his country with more loyalty and devotion, and was more anxious to draw together the different parts' of tho Empire, and was more successful in doing it than Mr Chamberlain. It was owing to the great statesmanship and foresight of the lato Secretary or State for the Colonies that the people of Britain beyond the Seas, whether living in Australia, New Zealand, Canada or South Africa, had been able to feel that they were citizens of the British Empire and entitled to all the rights and privileges of British citizenship just in the same way as those living in England, Ireland or Scotland. Mr Chamberlain had proved himself a strong man, a wise man and* a loader or men. They need only recall what happened in the South African war, when disaster followed disaster, and when the British people were wondering what would happen next. But the British public had confidence in their leaders, with the result that South Africa was now on a fair way to become one of the most prosperous parts of the British Empire. He fqlt that British people, wherever they might be living, owed a great debt to Mr Chamberlain, and sincerely hoped that he would still have before him long years of usefulness, and that Mr Chamberjam wouid. ere long again take, his place in the councils of tlio Empire.

Sir WILLIAM STEWARD said that whatever differences of opinion there might be of tho policy of Mr Chamberlain, there could be no person in the colonies of what ever shade of opinion who would not sympathise with the resolution in so far that it Avas an appreciation of the magnificent services rendered to the Empire by the exMinister. There Avars no statesman of the day who had formed so adequate a conception of the possibilities of Imperialism, and he believed he Avould triumph over his present difficulties.

•Mr BEDFORD was sorry to be the first discordant speaker. He did not agree with the fiscal policy of Mr Chamberlain. It Avas detrimental to the colony. If the resolution had simply expressed a recognition of the good work done by Mr Chamberlain during the South African Avar er to the colonics in the past, he would Iuu r e been delighted to support it; but as it was uiovmd lie could not do so. He Avas very pleased that Mr Chamberlain had retired —he Avas delighted. To pass the present resolution Avas unprecedented. No such resolution had been passed when other eminent statesmen had resigned, and he failed to understand Avhy it should be passed in this case. Ho did not wish to detract from work done by Mr Chamberlain —far from it—but to pass the resolution before the House Avas tantamount to an agreement Avith Ills fiscal policy—a policy that had met with, the disapproval of his party and the people of England. Mr ELL believed that during the South African war Mr Chamberlain had done a lot of good, but he (Mr Ell) had not been converted to the Secretary of State for tho Colonies’ fiscal policy, and he Avould vote against the motion.

Mr FISHER treated the matter as ridiculous. If a resolution; favouring Mr Chamberlain Avas passed, Avliy not pass one favouring Mr Balfour? The House was going beyond its functions in such a motion. When an attempt had been made some years ago to take a part in the affairs of Russia, and the House had passed a resolution condemning the JeAvish outrages (here be read the resolution), Avhat had happened? The Emperor of Russia had replied telling the Speaker of the House to inform the people of New' Zealand, and of Kaiwarra in particular, to attend to their own business. The present motion wa& on a par Avith that resolution. Wliat had aa f o to do with M,r Chamber lain? “ Last time I was in England I did not see Mr Chamberlain, but AA'hen I go there again I intend to see him and one or two otliers. In the meantime,” Mr Fisher concluded, placing the resolution in regard to Russia under his arm, “ I shall take this back to the Czar!”

Mr E. M. SMITH, knowing what Mr Chamberlain had done for Birmingham, and his services as a statesman generally, supported the motion.

Mr DUTHIE felt that he could not support the resolution. We had no right to interfere with English politics, and it was little less than an outrage that Ave should do so. It AA r as beastly impertinence, and lie AA T ould be no party to it. Mr Chamberlain stood before the Avorld simply as an exponent of the preferential trade proposals, and if any such motion as the Premier’s Avas carried it would be looked upon as an expression of opinion that the colony agreed with those proposals. These Imperial proposals meant very heavy burdens for this colony in the future.

Sir JOSEPH WARD regretted the turn the discussion had taken. Members had mistaken the resolution. It had expressed only regret at the retirement of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and appreciation of his services. What honourable member could gainsay tlio fact that for the past four or five years *particularly there had

been no name that had so largely stood out to mould the destinies of the Empire as that of the Right Hcii Joseph Chamberlain? There was nothing in the resolution about preferential trade. The time Avould come when members could place their opinions on that subject on record, and those opinions should be retained until then. On proper linos —on lines that lie thought could be laid down—a lot could be done • to bring the Old Land and the neiv lands into a better position than they had been in the past, and he would say that the Old Land and the new lands in the great march of nations had not made that degree of progress that the rival nations had made. The Ho,use, however, had nothing to do with Home polities, but they liad something to do with the politics of Great Britain, and nothing derogatory Avats being done to the people of the country in an expres-

sion of appreciation to the man who as Secretary of State for .the Colonies had done so much for the moulding together of the Mother Country and the colonies.

Sir WILLIAM RUSSELL also regretted the tone of the discussion, and felt that members had misapprehended the motion. Me eulogised tho work of Mr Chamberlain, and pointed out to what a height the Colonial Office had been lifeed wilder his administration. Mr J. C. THOMSON supported the proposal, and regretted the loss of such a brilliant administrator and organiser.

Mr HAN AN claimed that no man had stood out so boldly in the welding of Britain and her distant territories as Mr Chamtierlam. He could not see how the passing of the motion could be read as an agreement of the preferential trade proposals. Mr BUCHANAN supported the reso-

lution, but ho disagreed with the wordHhKK thought tho resolution had no bearing on Mr Chamberlain’s politics. Why should not the Mouse pass a resolution regretting the loss of Mr Chamberlain and appreciation of his services ? Mr TANNER would vote for the resolution, hut not in any sense as supporting the proposals at present before the British public. Mr B All Mill thought it was Mr Chamberlain who found the colonies as far as the Britisher was concerned. On the fiscal proposals no opinion was being expressed, but on the splendid work of & ono man for the good of the Empire —a man who had shown a vigour and a genius hitherto unknown. Ke had pleasure in supporting the resolution. Mr Wlht’UKD regretted that there should be a debate .on such a resolution. It was a resolution that no one tn England could find fault witn. tie felt sure that the Ministry of the day would gain great credit by the dignified motion brought down, hie hoped it would be carried without division., JVlr BEDFORD, in a personal explanation, said the Premier had misunderstood him. Me appreciated Mr Chamberlain’s work to the Empire, and he was not opposed to any motion on that particular subject. The PREMIER, in reply, confessed that he was deeply pained when lie had heard what had fallen from the lips of some members, and he hesitated to believe that' the senior member for Dunedin spoke the minds of the peopie of Dunedin on this subject. On a great question of this kind, the proper thing to have done was for him to have proposed the resolution, supported by the leader of the Opposition, carried unanimously by the House and wafted to the Mother Country as the unanimous expression of the How Zealand Pailiament, regretting Mr Chamberlain’s retirement from office and appreciation of the great services rendered. He deeply regretted also the remarks of the member for Wellington city. Whatever the cause of Mr Chamberlain’s resignation, no lover of our Empire, no true New Zealander, no true colonist, no one who lived in the dominions beyond che seas, could do otherwise but fee! that in Mr Chamberlain’s retirement the colonies had lost a true and sincere friend, one who more closely than anyone had gauged the colonial spirit, who knew our ideals and aspirations. The motion was carried by 52 voces to 2, the noes being Messrs Ell and Bedford. On the motion of the Premier, it will be conveyed to Mr Chamberlain.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, moved a resolution in the Legislative Council on the 22nd respecting the retirement of Mr Chamberlain from the British Cabinet similar to that adopted by the House the previous night. The Minister said lion gentlemen were not called upon by the resolution to express any opinion upon Mr Chamberlain’s proposals, but they were called upon by it to express appreciation of tiie splendid services rendered to the Empire and the colonies by that statesman. He (tho Attorney-General) wished hon membens to contrast the present position of the colonies with that occupied Joy them thirty years ago in their relation to the Mother Country. _ Formerly they were looked upon as an incubus ; it had been the policy of the Colonial Office to let them work out their own destiny. All that was changed now, andl the present important position, of the colonies in. the British Empire had been brought about by the efforts of the right hon gentleman to whom the resolution had reference. In retiring as he had done he had set a noble example of self-sacrifice to all statesmen in all partis of the Empire. It might be s r add that there was no precedent for a resolution of this character, but the position of Mr Chamberlain in connection with the colonies was so unique that they were justified in adopting it. He was quite sure hon gentlemen would recognise that no statesman who- had preceded Mi* Chamberlain in the Colonial Office had done as much as that statesman towards welding together all parts of the British Empire, and he was satisfied the Council would gladly subs crib e to the resolution which he had the honour to propose.

The Hen J. I>. ORMOND, in seconding the resolution, expressed his thanks to the Government for having given Parliament an opportunity to express its views upon the great services rendered to the Empire by Mr Chamberlain. The course which the Government had) taken in this matter was.one which, he believed, would be generally approved by the people of the colony. The hou gentleman deprecatedl the introduction of preferential trade into the subject, and expressed regret at what had occurred in discussing this subject in “another place.” He took it that the resolution simply proposed to convey to Mr Chamberlain appreciation of what he had done, for the Empire.. Referring to the great services the right bon gentleman had done in regard to South Africa and the colonics, Mr Ormond said it was in furtherance of hife aims for the maintenance of the unity of the Empire that he had retired from the British Cabinet. _ The resolution did not in. any way express an opinion upon Mr uhamberiainrs proposals.'

Tho Hon J. RIGG deprecated the motion. Etc did not think he should have lived, lie said, to see a Liberal Government passing such a resolution as this. He asked the Council to picture the reverse of the position. "What would, be thought by the people of New Zealand if it should happen that Sir Joseph Ward severed his connection with the Seddon Government, and tho British Parliament were to pass a similar resolution respecting Sir Joseph ? How absurd it would be regarded by the people of England. Mr Chamberlain was an active party politician, and his resignation was for the purpose of carrying out his political views. There had been some statements made indicating that Mr Chamberlain had something to do with tho South African trouble, and from what he had read some colour appeared to be given to the allegation. There was a gang of German Jew capitalists who had done more to degrade Great Britain than anything that had occurred in the century and their influence over Mr Chamberlain had been paramount. Mr Rigg admitted that there could be no two opinions as to tho right hon. gentleman’s ability; he stood head and shoulders over any other statesman at the present time; but he (Mr Rigg) would like to have that gentleman’s services to the colony enumerated. ‘Ml* Chamberlain did not know public feeling in South Africa; all the time he was in that country ho was under tho influence of the people of the Rand. Mr ltigg disapproved of the resolution hut would not call for a division. He concluded by saying that Mr Chamberlain’s political career had been a course of change and change about.

The Hon. C. C. BOWEN said the Hon. Mr Rigg’s statement with regard to Mr Chamberlain was so antagonistic to the feelings of the Council that ho would .not refer to it. They were dealing with a matter of great interest to the whole of the Empire. Mr Chamberlain had taken a great departure in connection with the relations between the colonies and the Mother Country. It had struck Mr Chamberlain that we were at the parting of the ways and the question to be decided was whether the Empire was to hold its sway or become comparatively uninfluential. That was the position, and we might congratulate ourselves we had a statesman capable o>f grasping it.- As to the tariff question, he hoped when it came to be considered it would he in no narrow spirit, but with a willingness to make sacrifices. The Hons. F. Trask, Twomey, Cadman and Louisson spoke in support of the motion. The Hon. A. L. SMITH said he would support the resolution in. so far a® it expressed appreciation of Mr Chamberlain’s services, but he did not desire to be understood thereby as acquiescing in Mr Chamberlain’s proposals. The ATTOItNEY-GENERAE, in reply, expressed gratification at the way. in which the Council generally had received the resolution. He would_, however, have been better pleased if . the Hon. Mr Hogg could have seen his way to vote for the motion. The expression of regret which had been uttered- all over the cronies at Mr retirement showed the appreciation of the people of the colonies of that statesman’s services. In England those who were Mr Chamberlain’s strongest political. opponents would be quite ready to acknowledge what he had done for the Empire. The motion was carried on the voices. The Premier, apart from the resolution passed by the House, personally pent the fallowing cablegram to Mr Chamberlain “Though colonies losing

best Secretary of State and friend we ever had:, sincerely believe you have under extraordinary conditions obtaining at Home acted wisely, and will bo able to do more for closer uilion as cicizen untrammelled than as Secretary of State. Bo not bo discouraged. To obtain reforms ever entails great sacrifice. Your chivalrous action and sacrifice for Empire will never be forgotten.” Mr Chamberlain replied :—“Thanks for kind message. Very grateful constant and generous co-operation.” Mr G. Fowl els and other members cabled to • Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman: — “Sctldon’s Chamberlain resolution rushed through without notice at a Monday’s , sitting. Many members absent, some opposed, others present spoke against declined to vote.” ’[