THE LATE MR LAURENSON

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 135, 14 July 1914, Page 8

THE LATE MR LAURENSON

UNVEILING OF PORTRAIT.

TRIBUTES TO THE LATE MEMBER.

No better tribute to the memory of the late Mr George Laurenson could be found than in the gathering of citizens of Lyttelton and Christchurch which took place at Norton's Rooms, Lyttelton, last night. Over three hundred persons assembled to do honour to'the memory of the late member for Lyttelton.

The occasion was the 1 unveiling of a memorial portrait of the late member, painted by Mr R. Wallwork, and which will in future hang in the Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers. Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. H. F. Wigram, and the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes arrived shortly after 7 o'clock. Mr W. Radeliffe said that those who had met in the room were not only from Lyttelton. There was a wider interpre-j tation to the large attendance on that night. It was pleasant to remember tlis late-member as the centre of Lyttelton, a man who gave light to his people. He was a man of undoubted ability; a man of the best type, and one who had proved a great loss "to Lyttelton. It was his high duty as a man, and as a politician, in particular, to give his best for the people! He was a man who served the young people well, and he was wont to attend social and business functions at any inconvenience to himself. Mr L. A. Stringer read apologies from a large number of sympathisers. The Hon. W. P. Massey wired as under: —"I regret exceedingly that parliamentary duties prevent my being absent from Wellington, and I shall therefore be unable to be present this evening at the unveiling of. the memorial to your late worthy • and highly esteemed member. The late Mr Laurenson was marked for his sincerity, strength*, of pin-pose, and integrity, and the New Zealand Parliament to-day is the poorer through his loss. It is fitting that the citizens amongst whom he lived and worked for so many years should take steps to keep his memory green. —W. P. Massey. The Hon. John Barr, M.L.C., Messrs G. W. Forbes, G. Witty, J. M'Combs, M.P.'s, were present, and also Mr H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch), J. JKWebb (Mayor of Lyttelton), and H. Davis (Mayor of Ashburton). Mr R. Moore and Mr Cyrus J. R. Williams, representing the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and Mr J. B. Laurenson and Mr J. Dickie, M.P., were also in the room. Mr G. W. Russell, M.P. for Avon, wired that he deeply regretted being unable to attend.the ceremony. "Mr Laurenson has left a noble memory, he said. The Rev. J. Cocker, president ot the Christchurch Prohibition League, also sent his apologies. Messrs W. S. Wharton, P. Horrell, H. J. Beswick, and J. A. Flesher also sent fitting tributes. Colonel R. A. Chaffey and T. H. Davey, MP C. I. Jennings (Mayor of Rangiork)',' L. M. Isitt, and T. C. Field wired aP Sir gl Joseph Ward rose amidst enthusiastic applause. He said he wanted to express his sense of appreciation at the high honour conferred upon him by those who had asked him to It was most''fitting to see' those who tad assembled to do honour to a man who had been his close friend. The late Mr Laurenson came to Lyttelton as a bov, and spent thirty years of his, life there. It would be impossible for him to pass away without leaving a vf-rv fine feeling of respect behind him Amongst the older generation, and a scfcse of esteem and admiration amongst the younger people. The late member was a man who worked, beyond his physical capacity often, to help the require-j ments and necessities of the people. He was a courageous man and knew no j fear. He was "always upon the side ot the weak. The records showed this during the fourteen years lie was a representative of the of a public man were to be judged by bic efforts then Mr Laurenson should hold one of the highest places. He was a humanist in the strictest sense of t!ie term. «. The late Mr Laurenson in his private life was fond of his home and devoted to his family. In this respect he set an example to every man in New Zealand. Never had he done anything dishonourable. He was removed altogether too soon, and he left behind him" not an enemy. When one remembered the fierce battles in which he was engaged during his term in Parliament, oik- could not but think it extraordinary .that when he passed away he left no enemies on either side of the House. He had a happy side to his character, and no man endeared himself to his fellows more than he did. Speaking for those associated with him, Sir Josoph would say that all had the greatest respect for him. It was his duty toright to unveil a memorial for all to see, a memorial to remind those who came afterwards of one who knew not wl at fear was, and who was a pattern and a sweet memory to those who were to follow. He had much pleasure in presenting the painting to the Mayor of Lyttelton, to be hung in the borough chambers.

Mr J. R. "Webb also spoke in high terms of the late Mr Laurenson. The Eon. Heaton Rhodes said he gladly availed himself of the opportunity to do honour to the man who was always honoured in his life time. Mr Rhodes had entered Parliament together v.ith the late Mr Laurenson, but the straight and hard hitting of debate never for a minuto showed that the late member was not, a man sincere, and full of an integrity of purpose. He could bear testimony to the zeal with which he championed any cause in his long career of usefulness. Mr G. W. Forbes said that the loss of Mi Laurenson was one of tlje greatest he had ever sustained. Above all Mr Laurenson was a sincere man. He had the eloquence of sincerity and with ins going one of the men with the highest ideals, was lost to Lyttelton and New Zealand. Lyttelton could ill afford to k>se Mr Laurenson. He was well equipped with those qualities that make for commercial success, but instead he devoted the whole of his time to the people of this Dominion. Whilst here he would like to mention that those present should not forget the work of a wife who had always helped and assisted him in his public career. As a Lyttelton boy he was proud of his oldest and dearest friend.

Mr J. M 'Combs,, M.P., stressed the fact that Mr Laurenson was a sincere and courageous reformer who worked for the whole Dominion no less than for lis constituency. In his death New Zealand lost one of its greatest economic reformers and one of its greatest land reformers. The speaker had known Mr Laurenson for fifteen years and there was a human trait in his character that made hirn beloved by all. The Hon. H. F. Wigram, M.L.C., Mr H. Holland, Mr G. Witty, M.P., and Mr R. Moore also spoke shortly. The meeting concluded with cheers for Mrs i Laurenson and her family.