PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13014, 29 June 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 28. Parliament was officially opened by the Governor at 2.30 p.m., in beautiful weather. There was a very large assemblage of spectators. The Herefetuiga Mounted Rifles formed the escort, and the College Cadets the guard of honour, while the Permanent Artillery fired the salute. The Legislative Council was densely packed during the delivery of the speech. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The first session of the sixteenth Parliament of New Zealand was opened by the Governor this afternoon, when, his Excellency was pleased to make the following speech :

Hon. Manbers of the Legislative ■Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,—

My pleasure at meeting yon in Parliament assembled is marred by the death: of my late chief advise*-, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, ivb" fr,r jry~e than thirteen years occupied the of Primte •Minister of *' i« colony. -Kis and unmterrup^e 1 fen "re of that bicL if ace, unparalleled. J believe,: in the annals of the British r ' ir tni _ ions, is the most convincing proof of the confidence -reposed in him by the Parliament and people of New Zealand. It was, however, not in colonial, affairs only that Mr Seddon achieved a position of great eminence and responsibility, for, apart from the service he rendered to New Zealand, his ardent devotion to the great* cause of the unity of the Empire made him a notable figure in the- domain of Imperial politics. The universal sorrow and * sympathy evoked throughout the Empire, shows that his strenuous advocacy of great Imperial and democratic ideals was appreciated' in other lands than our own, and it ie fitting that the King's representative, in the presence of the representatives of the people, whom Mr Seddon served so faithfully and so long, and in whose service he dietd, ■should bear testimony to the loss which has been sustained by his untimely death. At my request the Hon. Wm. Hall-Jones undertook the formation of a Ministry, which has now assumed office. .

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— ;; ; | V ' ' V;

I am happy to be. able to infoim yon that tie Estimates \ passed last session ot Parliament to- cover the expenditure of the then current financial year proved amply sufficient, and that tine year closed ■with a'surplus of receipts over expenditure. My advisers believe that" with prudent administration theie is every reason, to anticipate; that the financial results of the current: yiear will be equally satisfactory. You will be invited to consider proposals having for their object the extension of appropriations -to ,a suitable date. -v

Hon. Members of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— '

I congratulate you upon the continued proofs of the strength of: the colony's financial position, • and also upon the substantial progress made in its chief dustries, wHich is shown "by the continued increase in -the volume of exports. It is my earnest desire to co-operate 'with you in all that may promote the -welfare, and prosperity <Jf New- Zealand:, and X trust that with the aid of Divine Providence x y our labours may result in the well? being and happiness of the people.

. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. % The Council met afc 3 p.m. THE LATE PRIME MINISTER. The Attorney-General at once moved, wjth the leave of the Council, asndi without notice:—"That this Council desires to place on record its high sense of the devoted and distinguished services rendered t.> New Zealand and to the Empire by the late Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Richard John Seddon, P. 0., and' of the loss the colony has sustained by his death, and respectfully tenders to Mrs Seddon and her faniily an assurance of its, sincere sympathy' with them in their bereavement." Their hearts to-day were, the AttorneyGeneral said, filled with sorrow that so commanding a leader and representative figure had passed away in. the late Premier. After a strenuous life passed from his early youth to the time of his death in the service of the public, he had gone to his Test, more distinguished and ho'noured' than, any other man who had ever lived, in : the colony*. From his'first entrance into public life he had demonstrated that he was a man. who ■was'bound" to succeed. . The AttorneyGeneral briefly sketched the life of the late Premier from his arrival; in Australia to the time he .assumed the highest position in the colony which he held until death had called :himi from his labours. His efforts for! the welfare of the country were .well known to all' and established for him a monument of unselfish labour in the interests of 'humanity. There were to-day many 'thousands of colonists yho blessed the name of " Seddon" for the passage of the Old Age Pensions Bill- The death of the Premier was, a stunning blow to the whole community, and the sympathy of 'the colony had gonp out to his family M their bereavement, especially to Mrs Seddon. ' Colonel Pitt referred to the sending out of the South African- contingents and the splendid reception the late Premier had* received in Australia. No statesman, he said, had ever received snob an ovation and reception outside his own colony. Much as 3ie had done he hadl looked forward to doing much more. Colonel Pitt concluded with' quoting the following limes—l- - be thanked that the dea3 have let

GoocJ. uoctane for tteSliving to do, "With '• some aim for the heart and the ■will AncKthe scral of a man topnrsne." The motion was carried in silence, members standing. MOTIONS OF REGRET. • The Attorney-General then moved without notice that this Council desires to place on Tecord this Council's high sense of the faithful ■ and distinguished services rendered to New Zealand, .by the late Honourable Courtney William Aylmer Thomas Keimy, M;L.C.\ by the late Honourable I '!).' 3VLJf.C.v-"..'and .-.by the-late Mi* John Vale, formerly member of the House of Representatives, . and of the serious loss' the colony has sustained by their deaths,' and respectfully tenders to their relatives the assurance of its sincere sympathy -with them .in their bereavement.

The Attorney-General referred in eulogistic terms to the services ; ,of the two latter

members of the Council, and of Mr Vale, who died on the day of the last general election. Colonel Badllie seconded the, motion, and also said a few words- in praise of the deceased gentlemen. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr Carncross gave "notice to move the Address-in-Reply to-morrow. ADJOURNMENT. On the motion of the Attorney-General the Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m., until 1 2.30 p.m. next day as. a mark of respect to the late Prime Minister, the Legislative Councillors and Mr Yale.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. MEMBERS SWORN IN. Messrs Rutherford, -Mander, ■ Wood, and E. G. Allen were sworn in. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr Miller gave notice that he would next day move the Address-in-Reply. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The Premier gave notice of motion for leave of absence for the Temainder of the session,, to Sir J. G. Ward, and Messrs Eowlds, McNal) and Aitken. : BILL INTRODUCED. The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was introduced. THE LATE, PREMIER. The Prime Minister asked leave, of the House to move a motion' without notice and leave having been grants. he ex-pressed-his sense of the duty incumbent on him in the House-' to 'express; its regret- for. tiie late Premier and its appreciation of his services. 'ln the presence of death, said the Hon. W. Hall-Jones," all animosities are hushed and all men meet on common ground. The colony mourns not only a great statesman but a friend, and Ministers lose a beloved colleague. This was not the time for appraising the work of the late Prime Minister whose name is linked with numerous and great measures and points of Imperial policy. In all his reforms he was actuated by a sincere desire to improve the lot of humanity. Xq 1866 he came to the West Coast of the South Island. After three years his natural inclination drew him into politics, and his ! first office was a membership of the, Araj hura Road Board. * He went from Office , to office until, in 1878 he was made chairsman of 'the Westland County Council and in 1879 the House first felt the force of his great personality. He was elected for the district of Kumara and represented the same till the day of his death. ; In 1891 he got Ministerial rank for the first time, when he served as Minister of Public Works, and even now and again fillingthe office of Acting-Premier, and any reference to his career in that capacity must be a reference to the history of New Zealand now;. He had been absent on special missions in 1897 and 1902, and •on both occasions had distinguished himself by the breadth, loftiness „and practical character .of his views. Only the other day we were wondering at his extraordinary triumphs throughout and then came the Mnouh'cement tiat he was starting;for "God's Own Country?—■words which alas, proved prophetic. : His; success -had been, great t :he; had risen. from tlie ranks without influence' or help of any kind; 'simply- by his mdomitable courage, untiring industry, multiplicity of resource and phenomenal en durance.' When the- historian of the future came -to write of the great statesman, who died so;, suddenly ~ out* ,6n the ocean, lie would do such justice to his character as we, his contemporaries,, could hardly imagine, great as was our- appreciation of Iris vast services—lmperial, colonial, . social,; humanitarian. ,-. . , - - / V : -i ; The Hoh: "W: Hall-.Tones then : —-

" That this House desires to place on fe--cord its higli sense of the devoted and .distinguished services rendered to New Zealand ; and to the Empire by the late Prime Minister, the Rieht Hon. Richard •John Seddon, P. 0., and of the loss the colony .has sustained bv his , death : and respectfully tenders to Mrs Seddon and her family an assurance: of ate sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement."

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Massey, in seconding the motion," referred to the many losses sustained by death by Parliament during the recess. Among •the. rest ;was ; that" of the Premier which gave.the-public of. the coloAythe greatest shoe'- it Has ever sustained. He dwelt on the suddenness of that 1 death :■ in the moment of triumph and in the midst of labour. The late Mr Seddon, he said, had become so associated \ntfi* the business of the Chamber that the absence of his stalwart form could hardly be realised. He had differed: from the late right honourable gentleman, but he had no hestitation in saying that he had left his mark on the legislation of the country, and in ex - pressing _liis admiration for "his high character, Ms energy and other great qualities, he heartily endorsed what had fallen from the Premier about the. verdict of the future historian. Mr Massey contended that time would assuredly add' to the late Mr Seddbn's great fame. In concluding, Air Massey • tendered -his heartfelt sympathy •to the bereaved widow and family. The Native Minister, the Hon., Mr Garroll, spoke of , the 'universal mduriiing for the great man. who is tjone. . He dwelt on the sorrow of every, section of the people of New Zealand., He. sketched the career of the late Premier from, the' lowest.to the 'highest- ind pointer? to the tribntes to his memory that flowed from the base to the anex of the social structure, as proof of the -enormous and touching versatility of the man. Speaking for the' native Tace, Mr Carroll ispoke of the late Premier as the strong arm that had upheld them: the shield that had protected them: he was the sheltering ratai tree: the" strong champion. JETe was. moreover, a great example to the people —as father, husbaad, worker, . statesman; and one whose personality will be fpuhd stamped on. the hearts of his countrymien. His (strong voice .had' ; thundered, of Imperial rarity. » He stood out on the skyline of politics I —a great' figure, a forward statesman, a striver for. Airmail! benefit, a striking personality, the apostle of Imperial imity. „■ -_j, .-_•• Mr Carroll eoncludedwdththe "Fare-, well, the Farewell" of his race iS? Richard John Seddon.

Mr R. Mackenzie (Motueka) testified to the great grief of the people amongst whom the late Tranier fiad lived for forty yeare, which, naturally, was greater tlan that of the nation. To have enjoyed the friendship of the late Mr R. J. Sfedddn/ was a, privilege and an Sonoro. " He (Mr Mackenzie) had been associated, with his career from the first election wjien he won the confidence of his -people, which he had retained to the last. He had justified that confidence by. doing more fop Inrmauity than any man had ever compressed into the same space of. time. t His many great otialitaes they all knew—hiscourage, his love of. -children, hi? devotion to duty, 'his sagacity, -hist "human shrewdness, t Of all the eulogiums that had, the one that appealed most 'was the Rev. Mr Fairwhich iad. appeared in The Outlook." The. bulk- of thin. Mr 'Mackenzie read ,for/the House.

Mr W. Fraser (Wajbrtipu) : was grateful for the opportunity afforded him of. saying a few words., /rpoke.. of the years that had gone past increasing the respect he had for the' dead statesman.

His experience on the Assets Board, on "which the late Premier had had a seat with him, qualified him to declare solemnly that the sole motive of the late right hon.gentleman at. every turn had been the interest of the colony and the cause of justice. He, moreover, bad never attempted in any way to over-rate or t&Tvarfc the verdict of his colleagues. He deplored the fact that the right hon. gentleman had not lived to see the culminating success of his banking policy, in the complete freedom of the bank from all liability regarding the Assets Board. He took the opportunity of referring to his vast courage, of which his decisive interference 12 years ago in the affairs of the bank was a strong instance of this courage, and it was that which, together with his other great qualities, had made him successful as a statesman. A great personality had passed away. He tendered his deepest sympathy to his sorrowing relatives. Sir W. Steward, as the Father of the House, voiced its deep feeling of sorrow and its appreciation of the splendid services rendered to New Zealand and the Empire by the great man who is gone. He -wished he had a better equipment! fox his work. He felt that whatever he could say of Richard Seddon must be miserably inadequate; He oould butl say that among the iThjstriousmen w£» had; gone from ns to the silent lamL, Richard John Seddon had the highest j>face. He had died in harness. There was no doubt that the strain impogfifl oit .-our. political leaders w excessive. ' He denounced; it, as almost a species of stdcide: He hoped that the House wouKB : do all in its power to obviate such losses as the last and the greatest which they had just sustained. Cut off in the very zenith, of his wonderful career,, wearing the highest honours in human power to bestow, he had crossed the narrow line carrying the blessing of the poor as well as the plaudits of the multitude, who in < sorrow he had left behind, and that unhappily was ■ the lot of his' nearest and dearest. > "To him death has opened the gate of fame and closed the door of envy." Sir W. J. Steward quoted in conclusion, from Bacon, and sat down like the pre- ' ceding speakers in solemn silence. _,JThe resolution was passed silently.. OTHER LOSSES BY DEATH. . The Prime Minister referred to the other- " r losses sutained during the recess referring first to the late Mr Yale. -He eulogised his character, and sketched his career since ~ he had gone up into the Wairarapa- where he had won most- of the honours of local ' government. _ He spoke of his entry into Parliamentary life and expressed the gen- v _- era! sorrow at his'untimdy death. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones came next to the late Captain Kenny, the Crimean veteran; who had died full of glory and honours. Thirdly; there was Mr' Pinkerton, once well known and liked in the House, sub- ' i seuently a useful member of the Council, • i and a prominent labour member. Hia ; i Parliamentary career dated from 1890-and-, . a |of late years he had served on:the Otago .|< i Harbour Board. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones referred sympathetically to those he had mentioned and concluded by moving , a similar resolution: to that passed by: the. ■ Council." . . ,

; Mr Massey seconded the motion. With. . . deep sympathy he Vpoke of Mr Yale as w One of the straightest and'most conscießr itious men who ever, sat in the house; one' , " who ruled hi_s life Jay principle; and . brought to his* work the most intimate knowledge of. ,the wants bad wishes of ■ tne_ farming community. . He could rieyer 'forget the impressive scene of a certain ... "Famous Saturday night when. Mr • VaTer 57 ;. refused.-to ; work after midnight. He en- \ dorsed all that had .been said about Captain Kenny and Mr PMkerfcon,.. characterising the latter in specially 'warm terms. Mr Stevens said he could not . let the" occasion, pass without adding his testimony especially with respect to his predecessor .in the Manawatu seat, Mr Vale. Though differing from that gentleman be must express his high regard and i personal esteem, for the: unkindly taking 1 of that good, true settler, had sadly marred .his. own victory at the hustings'. He added his commiseration, to that of the House for the relatives of the late Member. for -Manawatu.

Mr Lawry spoke of the pure democracy,, high ideals and simple life of t.he'Tate Mr •Pihkertofl.

Mr Tanner traced his political beginningand Mr Pinkerton's both to the great crisis.of 1890. Many had regarded tke ! ' advent of the labour party then.' as the obtrusion of a dangerous' element. Those doleful anticipations had been falsified. No man had exhibited' during that, critical time such.sagacity and moderation as David Pinkerton. To him was largely d*e the success of the new. departure- and the respect accorded to-the labour .party. . Mr Millar said that not only, in labotut matters was David Pinkerton greats but y in all other matters - he was ' entitled to large respect. He-joined the House in tendering his sympathy to the family of the grand democrat whose loss they wer& deploring.

THE NEW MINISTRY. The Prime Minister announced to the House the personnel cf the ; new. Government as Mr Massey promised "him : the utmost support in his power. •■

The Prime Minister thasfced' him on behalf of his Government. ; - The House adjourned at 4.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. next?- day.