LATE SIR. ARTHUR GUINNESS, M.P.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1773, 11 June 1913, Page 8

LATE SIR. ARTHUR GUINNESS, M.P.

HIS SUDDEN DEMISE.

SKETCH OF HIS CAREER,

PREMIER'S TRIBUTE. SHOCK TO THE WEST COAST. (By Telegraph.—Press Associati'on.) Greymouth,' June 10. A great shopk was given to tho town when tho death of Sir Arthur Guinness became known. Ho was about his duties on Saturday, and cleared his mail at tho post oflice tho samo night, going through his budget of correspondence till midnight. He was unwell on Sunday, and complained of severe headache. Tho case took a very bad turn yesterday. He became unconscious, and, with one brief interval, remained so till death ensued at ■f.L'O p.m. to-day. Deceased had been very busy during the past few weeks forming binnohes of a Deep Sea Harbour League. On Wednesday night he addressed a public meeting at liokitika, returning to Greymouth on Thursday morning in time to tako part in the official visit to tho battleship. The party went out iu the tug, and heavy rain fell during the trip, tho sea also being very rough. Sir Arthur Guinness suffered severely from seasickness, and was thoroughly drenched, and it is thought that this may have brought on the illness. OPENING PARLIAMENT. Tho death of Sir Arthur Guinness will cause a brief delay and an alteration of procedure at tho opening of Parliament on June 2G. Parliament will bo openedby commission and instead of hearing tho Governor's Speech on 'the opening day tho House of Representatives will proceed to clect a Speaker. Tho Speecli from the Throne will bo delivered on the following day. The Government will be represented at tho funeral by tho Hon. A. L. Hordman, who will leave for tho West Coast tomorrow evening. BIOGRAPHICAL. Sir Arthur Guinness was born at Calcutta, India, on January 11, 18-JG. Educated <it Christ's College Grammar School, Christchurch, he was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court on May 2(1, 18G7, and was appointed a Notary Public in ISBB. He practised at Greymouth from December, 1567, to tlio timo of his death. In 1874 ho was elected to tho Westland Provincial Council, and continued as a member of that body until Provincial Government was abolished in 187. G. In 1876 Mr. Guinness, os lie then was, entered tho Grey County Council, and was chairman of .that body for tlio succeeding nine vears. He was a member of the Greymouth Borough Council for one year from 1888, and remained a member of tho County Council until

1890. For many years Mr. Guinness was a Government representative upon the Greymouth Harbour Board. In July, ISSi, lie '.vas elected to the llouso of Representatives as member for Grey, and held the seat until tho time of his death. On July 13, 1893, Mr. Guinness was elccted Chairman of Committees, and continued in that office until June, 1903, when he was elected as Speaker, which office ho filled continuously to the time of his death. For . many J'ears Mr. Guinness was Governor of tho Greymoutli District High School. Ho was knighted in June, 1911. It will to noted that tho death of Sir Arthur Guinness occurred uoon the anniversary of the day upon whini tho late Mr. Seddon died in 190 G. v POLITICAL POSITION NOW. RUMOUR ALREADY BUSY. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Hokitika, June 10. Sir Arthur Guinness was the last of the members of the first and only Wc-stland Provincial Council which controlled the affairs of this province in the seventies. Associated with tho deceased on that Council were James A. Bonar, who was Super-, intendent, and was afterwards called to the Legislative Council, It. J. Seddon, W. Todd, J?. C. Tabart, W. Silcocks, Jas. M'Gaffin, J. Laharmann, Hamilton Gumming, A. Houlahan, S. Mitchell, John White, E. T. Robinson, and G. Canavan, many of whom afterwards held high public positions. As a member, deceased, who sat in the House as the representative of tlio Grey since 1874, and he never suffered defeat. Ho was popular with all classes ■of .the community, and it was his personality—more than his politics—which ensured his election for so many years. Tho Grey eleetorato is peculiarly difficult, as tliero are so many conflicting interests. It includes Reefton and I'unanga, and the man who finds favour in Greymouth is almost certain, to experience determined opposition at liunanga and such placcs. The chances are that, there will be a triangular contest! It isj considered almost certain that Mr. P. C/'Webb, who contested the last election in tho Labour interest, and polled surprisingly well (considering that it was his initial effort), will be a candidate. Whether the setback which the Federation of Labour lias received of lato will niako any material difference to a Labour candidate's chances remains to be seen. There is some talk in Greymouth of Mr. M. Hanan, solicitor, coming out. Mr. Hanan contested the seat in tho Liberal Government's interests in 1899, and polled 1874 votes against Sir Arthur's 2GGU. The election was not fought on political, but on personal, grounds. It is also rumoured' that a movement is on foot- to persuade Mr. H. L. Michel, who contested the Westland seat, to conw- out for Grey. Mr. Michel has a very strong backing in tho Grey district and tho northern portion of the Westland electorate, and would probably receive very strong support. Of course there are plenty of rumours in circulation, but it is too early yet to prognosticate. The names of the present Mayor of Greyraouth (Mr. E. Perkins) and Mr. W. R. Kettlo have been mentioned, but tliat is all. Tho chances of the Reform party winning the seat depend very largely upon tho personality of th<j Government candidate. There are in Greymouth a considerable'number of supporters of the Reform Government, but both tie Grey papers are opposed to the presont Government. Tho only Eeform party paper published on the West Coast is "The West Coast Times,' issued at Hokitika. It may be mentioned that Sir Arthur Guinness did not always receive the; support of tho Grey papers. In fact ho lias won the seat on more than ono'occasion against the combined opposition of the press of Greymouth. ' It will take a few days for the political currents to take shape, and a better idea of the position will then be possible. . A LOSS TO THE DOMINION. PRIME MINISTER'S TRIBUTE. Tho Hon. W. P. Massey (Prime Minister) telegraphed his condolences tb Lady Guinness last evening. Speaking to a reporter' last evening, Mr. Masse.v said that tho news of the death of Sir Arthur Guinness had como as a great shock to him. "Only yesterday," ho remarked, "I received a letter from him; on a matter affccting theWe.'.t Coast, written in his own handwriting and without anything to show that he was other than in his usual stato of health. Sir Arthur Guinness was not only my fellow-member for many years, but ho was also m.v personal friend, and I need hardly say I sincerely regret his death. As Speaker of the House, he was a groat success, firm, but tacliul, and verv considerate towards new members. He "had won not only tho respect, but also the afiection of the House in a degreo very seldom experienced. As member for tho district which he represented, lie was painstaking aud' conscientious. The smallest detail was never neglected, and I can say confidently that his death will be a loss not only to his electorate but to Parliament aad to tho Dominion as u. whole."