LATE SIR A. GUINNESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 6

LATE SIR A. GUINNESS.

APPRECIATION AND REGRET. The Hon, H. D. BELL moved in the Legislative Council:— "That the Council place ,on record its high senso of the faithful and distinguished services' rendered to the Dominion by the lato Sir Arthur Guinness, Knight, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and member for Gcey,- and respectfully . tenders to Lady Guinness and relatives its sincere sympathy -with them in ithcir bereavement." Mr. Bell said that this was not one of the -ordinary and sometimes, perhaps, perfunctory expressions of regret at the death of a public man. After outlining the career of tho late Speaker, Mr. Bell went on to remark that Sir Arthur Guinness had been the Father of the House of Representatives, having eat in it continuously for 29 years. Tho record of his public career was an honourable one. Ho had < shown himself possessed of great capacity, both as Chairman of Committees and as Speaker, and his • ■undoubted and consistent firmness and impartiality liad been universally recognised. With otlier honourable gentlemen around him, Mr. Bell continued, lie- had sat under Sir Arthur Guifincss when tho latter was Chairman of Committees.. Even in tho.-e early days his qualities were npoarent, and all -who knew hiin. ihen had grateful recollections of his un'ailing courtesy. Filling a difficult public position,' Sir Arthur Guinness had sarned, though he liM no£ sought, approbation. He was amongst the front rank of bis own profession in the circumstances ■under which.he had worked. Sir Arthur Guinness had'died a comparatively poor man, and that fact added to the reputation which he had earned as a public man. Tho Hon. 0. SAMUEL said ho could.not but agree with the expression of sorrow which had been uttered by the Leader of the Council. Thousands would miss Sir Arthur Guinness who had found in him a wise, 1 courteous, and genial adviser, always capable of fupnishing wiso advice to those in doubt. New Zealand had lost in Sir Arthur Guinness a loyal and faithful servant, and his friends had -lost a tried and trusted comrade, who had fallen by the way. Tho Hon. George JONES said that Sir Arthur Guinness was one of a number of public men whoso death had been accelerated ly the unduly severe conditions under which Parliament did its workr Tho Hon. C. H. MILLS also expressed heartfelt sorrow at the death of Sir Arthur Guinness. Tho motion was agreed to.