NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8292, 22 September 1903, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

'-■ r- ■ "» : - YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. . Sir" Joseph Ward .gave notice to introduce the Animals Protection Bill and the New Zealand Institute Bill. The Premier gave notice to introduce the Arbitration Court Emrgency Bill (No._2), the Land and Income Tax Assessment Bill, the Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill, and the Military Pensions Act Amendment Mr Duncan gave notice to introduce tne Public Domains Act Amendment Bill. The Cook and Other Islands Government Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time. 'J. he Inch Clutha River and Drainage Board Oct, 1901, Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time. The Premier moved the following resolution —'"That this House desires to express its great regret at the retirement from office and to place on record its appreciation of, the distinguished and patriotic services rendered to the Empire by, 'the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of -state for the Colonies, to whom we owe that inauguration of the great colonial policy which, he carried out with conspicuous tact and ability, thus securing a cordial relationship between the colonies and the Motherland to the great advantage of the Empire. Ine Premier said that those who had read the announcement of Mr Chamberlain's resignation must have felt with him keen and bitter disappointment and have realised that the colonies had lost a true friend. Following close upon the loss of the great and good Salisbury came the retirement from office, for a time at any rate, of the greatest Secretary of State tor the Colonies the Empire had ever had. He eulogised, at considerable length, the great services renamed to the colonies and the Empire by Mr Chamberlain, whom he described as the greatest statesman in the British Empire, who had retired from office with dignity, covered.with honor, and admired by his most bitter political opponents. Even those who differed from" Mr Chamberlain, in' his -general politics must admit that he had been an ideal Secretary of State for the Colonies. He trusted that Mr Chamberlain's policy in regard to South Africa would be followed by his successor in office. He would not refer to the fiscal proposals which had led to Mr Chamberlain's resignation, but he referred at length to ine growth and the part taken bv the colonies in the affairs of the Empire from 1897 up to the present time, including the diamond "jubilee celebrations' the conferences of colonial Premiers and the South African war in which we made "the greatest sacrifice that any people or nation can make." As the result of that the Empire was stronger, the world had realised what a true colonial spirit, what a true patriotic bond existed, between the colonies and the Mother Country, and in a great measure that had been promoted by the statesman who had just now retired from office. He looked forward to the Imperial Government being in future partnership with the dominions across the seas. The "all red line," the Pacific cable, was an important factor in that partnership, for which Mr- Chamberlain was responsible. On . this occasion all political differences could be effaced, and they could simply regard Mr j Chamberlain as the ideal Secretary of State for the Colonies, the man who had done more in that position for the colonies than any other statesman living or dead. Mr Chamberlain was not gone for ever. It was only for a time, and they had this consolation that they looked forward with hope trusting that the time was not far distant ] when he would again b? Secretary of State | for the Colonies. j

Mr Massey hoped that the retirement of Mr Chamberlain from the office which he had filled with such marked ability would be only temporary. He agreed with the Premier in thinking that no man had served liis country with more love and devotion, no statesman had been more anxious to bind together the different parts of the Empire, and no one had been so successful in so doing as Mr Chamberlain. He considered that it was in great part due to the statesmanship and foresight of Mr Chamberlain that the people of Britain beyond the seas, whether they lived in Australia or New Zealand, or Canada, or South Africa, or whatever they might be, were able to feel as they did feel that they were citizens of the British Empire and entitled to all the rights and privileges of British citizenship as much as those who lived in England, Ireland, or Scotland. Mr Chamberlain had proved himself a strong man, a wise man, a. leader of men, and we owed a deep debt of gratitude to him, and it was on an occasion like this that such gratitude should find expression. He hoped that Mr Chamberlain still had many years of usefulness before him and that he would again take np his high office.

Sir W. J. Steward referred to the magnificent services rendered to the Empire by Mr Chamberlain. No statesman of this or any other day had formed the conception that Mr Chamberlain had done off the magnificence of the possibilities of British • Imperialism. Mr Bedford regretted exceedingly that he felt it incumbent on him to strike a discordant note. He deprecated very much the Premiers motion. It seemed to him that the resolution put many members in a very equivocal position indeed. He for one did not agree with the policy which had been enunciated by Mr Chamberlain, and he believed his fiscal proposals were directly detrimental to the best interests of the Empire. If the resolution had simply said that we recognised the great services that Mr Chamberlain had rendered to the Kmpire in connection with the' South African war, and which he had rendered to the colonies in many ways in the past, he would have been delighted to support it, but it went further than that. The House did not pass any resolution in connection with the retirement of the Marquis of Salisbury, a statesman who, lie believed, liad rendered even greater sendees to the Kmpire than Mr Chamberlain liad done. He did not wish to detract from Mr Chamberlain's great services to the Empire, but lie contended that it was uuprecedented for a colonial Parliament to puss a resolution of the kind now proposed. -He urged that the House could not pass the resolution without practically endorsing Mr Chamberlams fiscal proposals. Mr Ell said that he opposed Mr Chamber- i lams fiscal policy, and if this resolution wa/i passed unanimously by the House it would be taken as an endorsement of that fiscal po icy. As he (Mr Ell) was opposed to that policy, he should oppose the resolution. Mr h. M Smith heartily supported the motion, and hoped that Mr Chamberlains mission would result in converting the people creed t0 b ' S gr€at and S"> ri ° u s Mr Fisher wanted to Know why New Zealand should interfere at all; why should they take part in a political domestic" squabble.' If they carried a resolution in favor of Mr Chamberlain, they ought to pass a. motion in favor of Mr Balfour. '• Mr 'Duthie also opposed the resolution We had no right to interfere in Imperial politics. It was a- piece of impertinence, and lie for one would not be a party to it. Mr Chamberlain stood before the world as an exponent of preferential tracfo and a resolution such as this could be taken in no other way than the approval by the New Zealand Parliament of those proposals. Sir J. G. Ward expressed great regret at the form the debate liad taken. He contended that there was not a single word in the resolution that could be taken as expressin gapproval of Mr Chamberlains fiscal proposals, and the House would Be wanting in its duty if it did not pass the motion. The (Premier in his speech had made no reference whatever to British politics. Sir J. G. Ward added that upon proper lines which he believed could be laid down, the old and new lands could' be brought ' into closer trade relations. The House ought with absolute unanimity to place on record ite appreciation of the vast amount of good work Mr Chamberlain had done on behalf of the Empire. Sir W. Russell felt that a misapprehension existed as to the wording of the motion and the interpretation that might be placed upon it. He looked upon it as, i"othing more than a motion.of respect to a great Englishman, a man wlio of recent Tars had borne the greatest stress of the Government of the Enipire. / '■':?..[ .. ; , _'Mii" J.. C. Thomson'urged that.there was.-; a misapprehension as to the. purport .-of the motion. To. ipass the resolution-would not-mean that the House was talcing sides in* British politics.- '.-■ ••-- • Mr Hanan, in supporting the motion, deprecated the narrow view that had been taken by some members. ■■'•"-. •Mr Buchanan objected'to the motion in its present form as tending to prejudice the decision the House'might be asked to come, to on the preferential .trade question later'on. ■'■ " Mr Hone Heke supported the motion.

Mr Tanner would'vot&for.theresolutipnbut not with any of expressing ran opinion on the fiscal question. Mr Baume and Mr Wilford spoke.strongly in support of the motion. The Premier, in- the- course of his reply, said that he was deeply pained at the attitude, taken up by some of the younger members of the 'House without due consideration of the subject-and without feeling their responsibilities. The resolution merely expressed their feelings of gratitude to one who had done so much for them. The time was coming in this country when they would have to consider whether the unthinking few were to do that which was to lead the colony to disaster, or whether those who felt a responsibility were prepared to-say this cannot go too far, otherwise our country must suffer. The resolution was intended as a tribute to one who had more closely gauged the colonial spirit and was prepared to assist the colonies in their aspirations. He (Mr Seddon) felt that by the objections raised by a few an injustice had been done to the colony. On a division, the Premier's motion was carried by 62 votes to 2 votes (Mr Bedford and Mr Ell). . ■ • It was decided, on the motion of the Premier, that the Speaker communicate the resolution to Mr Chamberlain. . On the motion for the third reading of the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Bill, Mr Witheford said that something must be done to assist young men to take up land instead of driving them out of the country as was being done at preSi'r W. Russell complained that the Bill was another specimen of piecemeal legisla10Mr J C Thomson urged further exemptions in regard to residential qualmcatloMr Massey supported the Bill because he thought the new settler should be help--5 for ?he first few years after taking up his land. He would have been better pleased, however, if the Bill had been a ge Th?Premier expressed his amazement at the leuUh of time it had taken to bring fhl BUf to its present the Opposition for- doing their best to, re tard its progress. It wasunpossible. to ' Irf a consolidated, measure through, and t^ n lS He admitted that the Land \<* was defective.. The conditions £?it North and South Island were so different that equal apphcatiorl was m„fK;i,u What was wanted tor tne iai o <> land north of Auckland was a Sxto the old homestead -SrCS 1 re>U had j ■ m % way Teen obstructed by the Oppo- " After further discussion the Bill passed its final stages on the.voices. : The House rose at 1-i.o a.m. i