SIR WALTER GARNCROSS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11249, 29 June 1922, Page 4

SIR WALTER GARNCROSS

In the ceremonial, much appreciated by the public, oustomary at the opening of Parliament, the new thing this year was the prominence of the figure of bir Walter Carncross. He is the Speaker of the Legislative Council, and as such receives the King’s representative when he comes to the Council to open Parliament, after the manner of the King at Westminster. But the prominence of Sir Walter Carncross on this occasion was not due to the fact of his Speakership, or the incidental duties of that position. It was due to the fact that this was his first public appearance after his receipt of the honour of knighthood conferred l upon him by the King. It is a fact much appreciated by the public of New Zealand, a substantial part of which was present to greet that first appearance. As a, veteran of the political arena, Sir Walter has long held the respect of the public, which has been his since the day he entered Parliament for a southern constituency almost a suburb of Dunedin, but a thoroughly country constituency nevertheless. A journalist, maintaining in his newspaper the best traditions of British journalism, the future Speaker of the Legislative Council had captured the heartß of the sturdy colonists of the Taieri Plain and small townships of that ilk. Some forty years ago, when he decided to enter public life, the men of the constituency, after a struggle which did honour to his manly qualities, gave him their confidence. That confidence he retained to the end of hiß career in the representative chamber, by his fearless adhesion to the Liberal principles on which he based his first claim to the suffrages of his countrymen, and by his persistent, unwavering advocacy of the same. It was a great thing in his favour that, in critical moments, his vote was never silent. Men everywhere said of him with much warmth: “Carncross always let you know where he stood, and always went where he, said he would go.’’ And it was added that no consideration of party advantage could ever make him swerve from the line his reason approved. He was known throughout bis career as one who placed principles before tactics, and refused to be content with anything that fell short of his ideal objectives. On this latter point, critics sometimes declared him to be unreasonable, and when the yeprs passed by without his attainment to the Ministerial rank which men of less capacity obtained over his head, these critics professed no surprise. Into details it is not necessary to enter here, for this is an appreciation, not a biography. We only mention them here to illus-

trate the general acknowledgment of Sir Walter as a man of sterling character arid firm independence of spirit. It must bo added that he was one of the most industrious men in the House, and that, in the many hard contests in which he engaged in a day when contests in the Representative House were vehement and inspiring, he never lost his sense of fairness, and as for anything approaching foul blows, there is not a single instance of any hint of such a thing. Truly, therefore, was it said that he had no enemies and many friends. When, after the opening of tne new century, ha was left out by the merger of his constituency—he, the undefeated of years, defeated by a heavy backwash of population—his fine services to New Zealand and tho Liberal Party were recognised by Kie nomination to the Legislative Council. His behaviour there has secured the repetition of that nomination at the end of every term. That behaviour showed again the qualities of firmness, fairness, and independent judgment, and marked him out for presidential honour. It is some years since he was elected Chairman 'of Committees, earning a high ' reputation for efficient discharge of the duties of that important position. In course of time, his fellow-mom be re showed the recognition of their experience by electing him to the Speakership of the Legislative Council. The knighthood followed in due course, according to the custom which proclaims that whom the Council honours, him also does the King honour.' No knighthood has been better deserved in the long galaxy of the Council’s Speakers. This, and the wish that Sir Walter Carncross may live long to enjoy the honour he has so' well deserved, is, we feel sure, the feeling of the public all over New Zealand when they read that Sir Walter Carncross was in the chair of the Legislative Council when the Governor-General opened Parliament.