FEDERAL HOUSE ADJOURNS.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 55

FEDERAL HOUSE ADJOURNS.

SPEECHES BY THE LEADERS. MELBOURNE, June 12. When the House of Representatives met to-day’ Mr. Deakin moved":— ' That this House places on record its profound regret at the untimely decease of Mr. Seddon. and expresses its deep sympathy with his family and the people of New Zealand.” “The motion,” he said," “is couched in simple terms, such as becomes the man and this unhappy event. It surely needs no justification when we remember to whom it relates and his claim upon us as a man and as a statesman and a guest, who only on cur last day of meeting oceu pied a chair on the floor of the House. Under these circumstances, recalling that none of us could have apprehended that which has happened, since no one believed it possible that this would be the last Parliament upon which he would look, he has passed from us in the full strength of buoyant manhood, with his-great capacities unweakened, capacities which have been manifested throughout his- whole career. Those who had the privilege of being associated with him during his stay in this country will realise how completely and entirely he fulfilled the duties east upon him, and all those many others which he, perhaps too generously’, assumed. We looked upon him as he came here crowned with success in his own ebuntrv where, after a long and strong political life,, he teemed to have won over to a sense of eonfidenc? and admiration the whole of the people whom he so admirably represented, and so do we remember the royal reception he received in Australia from all classes and all parties. (Hear, hear.) If we remind ourselves, as members of this Government arc peculiarly able to do, of the manner in which he entered into the discussion with us of matters of far-reaching importance and most intricate detail, exhibiting mastery of both principle and substance which witnessed to the great extent of his knowledge and the broad character of his political views—all those ■ t hings seemed to give us the assurance of a much prolonged and splendidly, progressing career, continuing far beyond the hour at we bade him good-bye. Never was man more alive than the right lion. gentleman proved himself during the duties and welcomes crowded on him during his stay in Australia.” - Mr. Deakin continued: “He eame to us as r visitor, it ia true, but a visitor who would have been honoured because of his great achievements in the past, and the great ideals with which he was associated, if it had not been because of his abundant and most impressive personality. (Hear, hear.) He was a man who stepped at once into the regard and esteem of all those with whom he associated. No stranger could he be anywhere in Australia, and particularly in this State, and this city. It was in this city where he first landed in the new world, it was in this State he worked as a mechanical engineer, it was under the Government of Victoria that he was in the first instance an employee, it was on cur goldfields at Ballarat that he became a digger, and,' as he was proud to admit, it was here that he won his helpmate to whom he owed so much, both in his private and his public career. The mere recollection of his affection will soften the blow whieh shattered her hopes, and laid her home desolate. It needs no turning to the records to dignify the memory of Mr. Seddon. 'flic tasks that he has faced and accomplished are too opulent even for the briefest summary. The pages of the Statute Book of New Zealand will contain for all time the legislative embodiment which lie gave to his ennobled aims, - and his administration, prolonged beyond-, any which we have ever witnessed in this hemisphere, was equally crowded- with* unnumbered dteds of usefulness and service to his country. He has gone to his well-earned fest.”

Mr. Deakin reviewed Mr. Seddon’s car 7 eer at length and; concluding, said: “His indomitable individuality is taken from us, leaving us poorer, and leaving a high place vacant, so absolutely vacant of his potent personality that we ask ourselves, indeed, who is he that -wiH be bold enough to fill itt He leaves behind him a-great figure in the life of these new eowutries, and a great figure, even when measured by the standards of the Mother, Country. Mr. McLean. on.behalf -of;the Opposition. said he seconded the motion so eloquently propoeefijiy Mr. Deakin.. There was something irnnqi<e.ur?bljf sad in the

reflection that a man who m is amongst theui at the last meeting in full vigour, had in the interval gone to his last long home. It would b? perhaps too much to say that during his long public career Richard Seddon had never committed any errors of judgment; still everyone among us would concede that he was a strong and powerful personality. (Cheers.) He was a natural leader of men, able, tactful, and resourceful. He was a true Democrat in the very highest sense of thi term, and he deeply sympathised with all sufferings of the community, and had the kindliest disposition towards all legitimate aspirations of the great masses of th? people. A splendid patriotism he had always shown towards his adopted country, but it was j>atriotism that was part and parcel of that wider patriotism, as a true Briton he ever exhibited towards the great and glorious Empire of which he was so worthy a son. His name world live long in the annals of his country to many succeeding generations. Mr. Watson said: “I desire merely to say that 1 join in every expression of regret uttered by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition." He raid he would have preferred that Mr. Seddon’s life-work could have bren completed. He jioped, though he was gone, the work which he intended to promote would be still carried on. Australasian democracy, indeed, had lost its chanip’on. The motion was agreed to unanimously', and the Speaker was requested to convey it i'.i th ’ Government of New Zealand. LATER. MELBOURNE, this day. Mr. Deakin’s motion was carried, all the members standing. The House then adjourned.