In Praise of Joseph Chamberlain

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11059, 22 September 1903, Page 5

In Praise of Joseph Chamberlain

Warm Tribute From the N.Z. House.

(From, Oiir- Parliamentary Special.) ■ >. . ' ■ (By- Telegraph.)

, .. WELLINGTON, September 21. Black Monday, the first of the Monday night' sittings, was ushered into Parliament by a' speech from the Premier in praise of Mr Joseph Chamberlain. It was a warm tribute to the greatness ofthe man, by one who has had exceptional ■ opportunities of making himself master of the contemporary Imperial^ history, and 1 has more than the average sympathy with the Chamberlain' policy. Mr Seddon placed the Imperial, idea above all other ideas ,of statesmanship, and Mr Chamberlain above hie fellows as one who, realising the greatness of the Empire; made himself the first Colonial Minister in the 'whole large British record. The colonies, he contended, showed tfte thoroughness of their appreciation of the Imperial idea by their magnificent demonstration during the Boer war, and astonished all the world except Mr Chamberlain, who knew them.. That statesman's special service in the war — the. special claim he has to the gratitude of the Empire — is that he did •so much to take advantage of this spirit, and endeavour to make the public of Great Britain realise what the colonial connection really means. Mr Seddon refrained from speaking of the fiscal issue, but, by glorifying Mr Chamberlain as- he did, he" glorified the attitude taken by»Mr Chamberlain with regard tojbhe fiscal is.sue. Thus lie sought .to take the , colony through the Parliament over to the side of the great Imperial statesman, ' to strengthen t his hands in the fight that is before him. Of course, he expressed in conclusion his warm hope that. Jie anight soon be in his place again. Mr Massey, Jjollo^ jng, ■ a» .leader, of the Opposition, echoed the praises and endorsed the Premier's description of the man, his character and his career. He added a few touches, lighting up the part Mr Chamberlain had taken at critical moments during the first months >of the great Boer struggle. , > ''

After ( SirTW. had spoken' very cordially and carefully and, I may say, preparedly, in whole-souled support of the resolution,

Mr Bedford raised a discordant note. .Very respectfully he spoke and very firmly, and to the point, as he seems one who was permitted by an appreciable number of the members of the House to lead the movement. Personally he had' 'the greatest respect for Mr Chamberlain; but he was . delighted, holding the views he did, when he heard that the Bt\ Hon. gentleman had retired. He did not agree with the fiscal policy of- Mr Chamberlain, and he did -not think"- that the people of England believed in it .either.. * Mr .Ell followed on the same side, pointing out emphatically that > passing the

resolution would mean supporting his j 2'olicy. . Mr E. M. Smith took the pair in hand, while Mr Seddon groaned in deepest boredom, spoke his mind plainly and ordered him down, that the House might go to division; but "E.M."_ is not in the habit of being ordered flown. He defied the Premier promptly. "I am here, sir t to speak my mind freely,, and I intend, to speak it." He pointed" out that he could not give a silent vote ' when it was his duty to speak" for Mr Chamberlain, , with whom he had exchanged ideas once for an hour. Tlie House laughed, and "E.M." went' on in the same strain, and so did the House, until he sa,t downj^nder the 'impression that laughter and incense are the same thing. Mr Fisher came in next with a vigorous and, boisterous banter ."Not any, business of ours to interfere between patfies, ,in the. House, of Commons." • ■ , , „ !' Mr Dutnie said ditto, without the banter.

Sir Joseph Ward came to the front to , repel these i attars, ■ . and pointed out rapidly that there -was • not- a word in the resolution -supporting the policy of Mr ' Chamberlain, <- the Premier very heartily assenting. Sir Joseph dwelt on this, and pointed out that the^House has a right to do honour to a Secretary of State for the Colonies.. As- to the fiscal issue, the House would have an Opportunity to discuss that, but as to the resolution, - which was confined solely to the personality and services of Mr Chamberlain, he called on the House yto- pafcs -i<)» unanimously Sir William Russell endorsed all tfyat from the bdttom of "his heart. He telt that, through, Mr " Chamberlain's action, he.* waV how,' not^a, citizen of Great j Britain,* but "of a great British Empire. ! Mr Thomson, of Wallace, followed in., the same strain, "strenuously, with considerable knowledge and, .power of quota--tion. 'Every day adds to this gentleman's prestige in the House. •

Mr Hanan said ditto remarkably well, and Mr. Buchanan thought, while, support-, ing' the resolution, that the wording in" one respect was unfortunate.

Mr • Hone Heke joined issue, and then the House went to supper.

Before dispersing, the Premier and a knot of members argued out the - question ■ of the wording, Messrs Massey * Kirkbride, Baume, ( Alison, Witty and Willis taking part. • " '" Mr Baume and Mr Wilford took the , line that the occasion? is exceptional. He is the only Colonial Secretary who has risen to the n conception of Empire which appeals to the colonies, and it is for the colonies to recognise his great services to the Empire, without any suspicion of reference to his fiscal proposals. Both made excellent speeches, calling for a unanimous resolution, urging that the, fiscal issue should be 'siinkJ They were moving, sensible appeals. The -Premier replied^ with great warmth, commenting with considerable severity on the position of those who were, unable to distinguish between the Chamberlain policy of the pa,st, ,asd ..the Chamberlain policy of the future, 'and refused to recognise his great -services to the Empire. Messrs Bedford and Ell having made personal explanatjom,)fj;he; House^ divided with those two gentlemen in the minority. The Speaker havlng^-been instructed to forward the resolution to the proper quarter, > ( ' . The House went, at 10.15 p.m., to ordinary , business. »,,--,,. . ,