THE LATE SIR WM. STEWARD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1587, 2 November 1912, Page 6

THE LATE SIR WM. STEWARD.

MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY. ', In tho House of Representatives yesterday, tho Hon. W. l'\ Massey (Priirio Minister) moved that' tho House record its high sense of the distinguished. services rendered' to tho Dominion by Sir William Jukes Steward, member of tho'Legislative Council, and . a former member and o, Speaker of tho Houso of Representatives, and express its sympathy with his family in their'boreavement. Tho deceased gentleman had, said Mr. Massey, owing to his long Parliamentary career',-, desorved his title, wnieh ho had acquired of recent years, of "father of the House," He (Mr. Massey) could say of Sir William Steward that he knew of no member of Parliament who looked more closely' after his' Parliamentary duties, and-who'was more regularly'in his> sent than the lato member for Waitaki.In all his torm. in Parliament he had nover known Sir William Steward to use one harsh or offensive word towards his followi-mombew. ;The result waa that he had. not left a single pergonal enemy, and his political enemies had nothing but. tho kindliest memories of him. That he enjoyed the cotifidenco of tho. people of this country in a very large degree was shown by his long Parliamentary career, It was to his credit that he had passed more legislation on to the Statute Book than any other private • member of '.the Parliament of New Zealand, Only, a few days ago he had been about the. lobbies well and in his usual spirits, arid now it Was hard to realise that he had passed over, as ho' himself; would have'said, to tho Land a* tlo Leal. _ ''The honourable member has gone," said Mr. Massey, in conclusion, "and I think tho feelings of members on both sides'of .tho House may bo expressed in one line: 'Honour to his inemoryr peace to his ashes.'" , . . Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon), seconding the motion, said the late member had been in many respects tho most..striking figure in' the Parliament of New Zealand, and in his 10 years as a member ' lie had dorio valuable work, and had .held every position within the gift of Parliament. On behalf of tho Opposition.party, he ioined in the tribute that had been paid to'their departed friend and comrade. Mr. F. H, Smi,th (Waitaki) said that the late- member had once been his political opponent, but he (Mr. Smith) never desired to' havo'a more honourable or More • upright - fee, thai Sir ■ William' Steyrard.. .... . . ■'.. . Messrs.- Craigie, Wilford, R. M'Kenzie, Hatjan, and Buchanan spoke to the motion, which was affirmed by the House. '". Oji the motion, of th*» Prime Minister,. the House adjourned' out of respect for the memory of the lafo Sir William. Steward, ' • :'' •On the motion of the Hon: H. D. Bell, the Legislative Council; in similar terms, paid its tribute to. the memory of; the deceased gentleman,'^and. extended its sympathy to his relatives in their bereavement. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Bell referred .to tho long and distinguished public'service.of the late' Councillor, and' especially' to the efforts of' Sir William over a.: : long,!peripd'.Qf,.ye.ar3;to refo'rm'Mft, methods of Parliament, in addition, to his advocacy of various, amendments to the Statute laws' of tho country. That the late gentleman had lived to see these 'effected was dtio to his'persistent:advo-'. cacy—ho had not lived in vain*-and a notable compliment was .paid him t _ when ho entered.upon, liis'last. illness,' in. the' action of.both Houses of-Parliament in placing in a prominent position on their legislative programmo those '.matters which were tho late hon. • gentleman's deepest concern.. .■,,,.. ■ ■■~... The hon. Captain Baillie seconded the motion, and, in the course, of > brief eulogium, referred to-the late hoi. gentleman's philanthropic character, and his readiness to assist in the alleviation'of tho sufferings of his felloiv-men. . The Hon. Messrs, Carncross, Mills, and Samuel also sptikc.' '' ' „. '^','.. ', The funeral of the- lafo Sir -William Steward will take place at Waimate on Monday afternoon next. The defence an-, thorities bad arranged to accord -to this deceased fall military honours on the journey south, but it: was the special wish of relatives here that there should be no military formalities attendant upon theputting of the body aboard: the ferry •steamer .to-night. On arrival at ..Christ" ohuroh, on Sunday, a military escort will meet the train and place the casket m tho mortuary van. Oil Monday morning, the same escort will, see that the casket is properly entrained, and they will accompany it bv train to,Waimate. There. tluo coffin wi'll be plnced upon a< guncarriage which >will "be in waiting, and tho late Major Steward Will be. accorded 'the Ml military .lonours proper to his rank. .-■.»■ . ■•■ . .■ . v