SIR CHAS. BOWEN AGAIN CHOSEN

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 860, 5 July 1910, Page 2

SIR CHAS. BOWEN AGAIN CHOSEN

CONGRATULATORY SPEECHES,

j An exceedingly pleasant function took place in the Legislative Council yesterday when members attended for the purposo of holding tlio election of Speaker which resulted in tlio unopposed return, for another term of five years, of the retiring Speaker, Sir Chas. Bowen, in regard to whom a number of eulogistic speeches were made. Prior to the calling over of the Council The Hon. H. SCOTLAND (Taranaki) said that he would like to call attention to tho fact that members had been called together on very short notice. Al- | though it was only five days since tho notices were sent out to members he presumed that if ho had not been in his place that afternoon he would have been liable to a fine of ,£SO. If there had been time all the members, he felt sure, would have been only too delighted to have been present on such an important occasion as the choice of Speaker of tho Council. He understood that in the past, from 10 to 14 days' notice had been given when tho Council was to bo called over. The Speaker replied that under tho rules tho Council might be called together • if five days' uotico we're given members. Only Eight Councillors Absent. When-the roll was called over all-the members answered to their names with the exception of the Hon. S. T. George (Auckland), H. Gilmer (Wellington), O. ..Louisson (Canterbury;, Sir H. J. Miller (Otago), J. D. Orinond (Hawke's Bay), Sir G. M. O'Rorkc (Auckland), Wiremu Pere (Hawke's Bay), and W. C. Smith (Hawke's Bay). Apologies were received from the Hon. Sir If. Miller, "who is in ill-health; tho Hon, J. D. Orinond, who was too unwell to make the journey, but is nowbetter and is leaving for Wellington; the Hon. Sir G. M. O'Rorke, who stated that Lady O'Rorkc was indisposed, and tho Hon. W. C. Smith, who is sufforing : from a chill, and it was resolved that they should bo excused. As regards tho Hons. George Louisson, and Gilmer, the Hon. Dr. Findlay stated that they were all in the Old World. The Hon. .1. E. Jenkinson: Havo they got leave of absence? Dr. Findlay: Yes, from tho Governor. It was then resolved that these members should also be excused. ; With reference to the Hon. Wi Pore, the Attorney-General said that ho was informed that he was in a remote part i of the North Island, and that the earliest ! time at which he could have reached | Wellington was that evening. : .The Council decided to defer consideration regarding his absenco until Friday next. "I Shall Again Do My Very Best." '"The time has now come to elect a Speaker," announced Mr. A. T. Bothamley, tho Clerk of the Council, at this stage. Proceeding, Mr. Bothamley said:— "There being no other candidate nominated, I declare Sir Charles Bowen duly electcd Speaker." After the applause with which this announcement was greeted had subsided, members rose from their seats whilst Sir CHARLES BOWEN acknowledged tho honour which had been conferred upon him. Ko said that he had to thank them all for the consideration which they had always extended to him, and which he knew' well would again!'be: extended to him. "I shall again- do niy ve.ry best," he added, "and I hopo that the council will be as well satisfied at tho end of my term as they have expressed themselves to be on this occasion." (Hearty applause.) Tho Hon. Captain BAILLIE (Marlborough) extended his congratulations to Sir Charles, both upon his re-election as Speaker and the fact that his Majesty the King had been pleased to honour him with knighthood, and hoped that he would bo long spared to enjov his honours. " The Hon. Dr. FINDLAY (Leader of the Council) said that he felt certain that the Council felt a special pleasure in the fact that Sir Charles would, God willing, continue to preside over its deliberations for another five years. Membens recognised that the history of New : Zealand might' not irrelevantly be written in tho history of Sir Charles's own life. When Sir Charles came to New Zealand over . half a century ago ho t()und this country in her cradle. . No More Distinguished Public Man. iHe had, as they all knew, helped to guide her infant footsteps along the paths which made for her well-being, and since then this country had had tho advantage in its public life of his counsels ..and his wisdom, and to-day it was no exaggeration of speech to sny that no public man standing before tho people of New Zealand was more distinguished for his public service, rectitude of life, and the graces which had adorned his career throughout the whole period. They all sincerely trusted that throughout the remaining years of his life, which they hoped would be many, this country would still ' havo tlio advantage of his- services. It •was recognised that to a man who had seen so' much of this existence as Sir Charles had, life takes on something of the character of' tho warrior visiting at twilight a deserted battlefield. There had vanished many forms and figures associated with- him in public and private life, but if much was taken much abided, including tho memories and associations of men who had done their part in this country; men who respccted him and loved him as his fellow members in the Council loved.him. In conclusion, Dr. Findlay stated that members hoped Sir Charles would long enjoy the distinction which His Majesty tho King had conferred upon him—an honour which was as well earned as that of any other living man. "We delight in the presenco to-day of Sir Charles," added Dr. Findlay, "and, above all, our desire is that you may be long with us to grace our counsels and earn our increasing admiration." (Loud applause.) Further Eulogistic References. The Hon.-T. KELLY (Taranalii) said that he was present in the House when Sir Charles introduced his Bill to give education to the people of this country, which remained practically unaltered to this day, and had proved of immense advantage. . Tho Hon. H. F. WIGRAM (Canterbury)' said that as a member representing Canterbury it gave him very great pleasure to extend his congratulations to Sir Charles, who had done so much for that province, in which he had made his liome. Tho Hon. 1 CV II; MILLS (Wellington) referred -to the kindness and courtesy with which Sir Charles had always treated members of the Council. Tho Hon. J. T. PAUL (Otago) doclared that Sir Charles's great career could not fail to impress his fellow members, especiallv tho younger ones. Sir CHARLES BOWEN, in reply, remarked that ho could only say that ho thought members bad over-estimated tlio work which ho had done in this country. During the whole time that lie had been in the Council he had been struck by the extreme kindness extended to him by his colleagues. Their kind remarks would not fail to be on incentive to all to do their best for the Dominion. To havo enjoyed tho confideneo of the Council for so' long was a sufficient reward in itself. (Loud applause.) Tho Council then adjourned until this afternoon.

GOVERNMENT'S WATER-POWER PROPOSALS. On every hand thero are indications that the Government's proposal to assume the control o£ the water powers of tho Dominion will be strenuously opposed. In this connection, Jlr. Marnier M.l'. foi- Mavsden, considers it will not ba wise far the Government to lock uo

the whole of the water power of the Do-, minion for an indefinite period. Rather he thinks the (government should decide what power it is capable ot' handling during the next ten or twenty years, deal with this, and throw the remainder open to 1)0 developed by private enterprise, retaining certain controlling rights. Industries which conld bo developed in the north by means of water power are the preparation of jam and the manufacture of paper from wood pulp. Sir. Slander considers that there are large areas suitable for afforestation, and he considers the planting of trees suitable tor such purposes as paper-making would te preferable to the planting of fruit trees, as suggested by Dr. Findlny.