PARLIAMENT’S TRIBUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7865, 29 July 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT’S TRIBUTE

MEMBERS’ FEELING SPEECHES. BUSINESS OF THE LEGISLATURE POSTPONED. Members of the House of Keprosontafives proved yesterday that the usual ad- ' joumment out of respect to the memory of tho late Mr T. E. Taylor, member for Christchurch North, was no more formality. They adopted without a word of discussion an Imprest Supply Bill for .£721,000, and after passing a resolution re-• garding Mr Taylor’s death, adjourned until Tuesday evening out of respect to his memory. , AN OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY. T;;e Acting-Prime Minister, Sir James Carroll, moved a vote of condolence with tho relatives of the late Mr T. E. Taylor, and expressive of the high appreciation by the itouse of the , late member’s cervices to the country. "Ho was one of - those remarkable figures that stood out of the canvas ,of politics," said Sir., James. "A man of remarkable ability, ’ a powerful, forceful and attractive speaker, with strong leanings to Radical- 1 ism, and therefore .ever a consistent and vigorous friend of tho Liberal side and the working classes. In his Parliamentary life, though, he -made many enemies, yet those who had occasion to differ from him in dealing with largo questions could not but admire his extraordinary and iH-nminating intellect. His extraordinary powers rose to tho highest ' standard, verging even to genius. He Was friendly with all/ and in the arena . ho showed groat fighting qualities. Civic responsibilities served to ballast him, to bring a realisation of tho stern duties ho had to handle in the interests of the public. Ho was on the rising tide to claim public opinion in. his favour. Ho had been growing, stronger In. the practical application of his gifts, and hie peculiarities were softening and mellow* ing to a degree which all recognised. The country had lost, a powerful mind, a strong vigorous spirit,,of tireless energy, ai>d a groat-champion in, the interests o I democracy. ME MASSEY’S TESTHHONT. The loader of the ■ Opposition, Mr W.' F. Massey, seconded the motion and expressed his sincere sympathy with the widow and family and his sense if the great loss that Parliament had sustained by the death of tho member’ for Christchurch North. Though many members of Parliament differed from Mr Taylor, all would agree as to his honesty and sincerity of character. A man of the people., a strong man, a man of great determination and force, with him there was no compromise and no halting bo-1 tween two opinions. No human being was perfect, but when death came they could all overlook minor imperfections and remember only the good and great qualities of tho remarkable man who had just gone. No one' would say that. Mr Taylor did not posse®, many good and great. qualities, or that he was not one of the most remarkable men this country had over seon. He must. have been, a great euffercr during recent years, but his strong and courageous spirit kept him going in the work to which he had set his hand. No man in public Lie, and certainly no man who had ever <fat with hiin in Parliament, would ever for-’ get the late T. E. Taylor j "THE GREATEST OF SPEUpERS." , The HonV George Powlds said he could not’let the-occasion pass without adding his tribute to tho ; memory of the deceased. Parliament mourned the loss of tho most striking personality that had over appeared in the public life of tho Dominion. They were really too closo to tho events among which Mr Taylor had moved to appraise his worth properly, but he had no doubt that tho verdict of history would bo that’Mr Taylor had left, an indelible mark upon the lives and character-of the people of New iron* land. Ho was a-roan of intense-convic-tion and in controversy was a hard hitter. Having convinced himself that the oausohe espoused was- the right one he had no-fear of the possible consequences. He was without doubt tho greatest speaker who had ever been in the Parliament-or on -the,, platform of Now Zealand; ho was, indeed, second to none of : the .great speakers who had ep- • pearecLin the Old Labd.for many years past. There was now throughout New Zealand'an universal feeling of regret at tile great loss the-country had sustained. Since the death of tho late Mr' Seddon no public man had passed £way who had made such a deep impression upon tho lives of the people as Mr Taylor had done. Mr Soddon and Mr Taylor differed strongly while alive together, but now both had passed over and he (the , Minister) had no doubt that now each recognised the greatness of the other. While grieving over the loss of so prominent a member of the House no one would forget the widow and family, ’ for whom, ho was sure, tho heartfelt sympathy of every member would go out. No one who had not seon the deceased in the bosom of his family could have known the best and highest Mr Taylor: The loss suffered by Mrs Taylor and her children was indeed heavy, and ho trussed that strength and grace would be given them in their dark houxsThe Hon. D. Buddo also paid a tribute to the energy, fearlessness and inte-j-rity of tho deceased member, saying that he was a man who would brook no opposition in carrying out whatever he had, , put his hand to. Ho was at his best , when in a minority, a hard fighter and an opponent to be reckoned with. Now he had gone and had left behind him a record of usefulness and devotion to public life which would be long remembered, both in Parliament and in the country. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon), Mr D. McLaren (Wellington East), and Mr A. W'. . Hogg (Mastertoa) spoke of the worth of the deceased and mode special reference to his strenuous efforts on behalf of the groat mass of the people. Ho was, they agreed, a man to whom the country as a whole owed very much indeed. Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) spoke of the deceased’s whole-souled attachment to the cause of temperance reform. f Mr George Laurenson (Lyttelton) declared that the late member’s faults lay on the surface, Beneath that was to be found as true and earnest a spirit as ever urged reform. His happy family life was an inspiration to those who cams into touch with it. It would be long before anyone could stand on so high a plane in Parliament as the late Mr Taylor. ‘ Mr C. H. Poole (Auckland West) described the late member as a slave to conviction, fastened jto great principles

of reform. With that poor weak body of his troubling him. lie .showed magnificent courage in entering tlio fighting lino. The groat influence of a life well Jived would long impress New Zealand. Tho motion was carried in. silence, and tho House immediately adjourned until J. 30 p.m. on Tuesday.