THE COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2498, 26 June 1915, Page 3

THE COUNCIL

Tho Council resumed at 2.50 p.m., after His Excellency's Message had been delivered, t-lic Speaker (Sir C. C. Uowcn) presidinL'. Tho Hon. SIR FRANCIS BELL nave notice that at next sitting of the Council lie would move that one month's leave of absence should be granted to tiift Hons.' W. IC. Nikora, R. K. Simpson. and W. .Morgan, on account of illness in each case. The Hon. SIR FRANCIS BELL gave notice, that at next sitting day he would move that Wednesday, July 7, should be appointed the date 011 which the roll of the Council should bo called, and the Speaker elected. He would also movn that the Standing Order pro-

riding for the election of a Chairman of Committees should bo suspended, and that the Hon. Mr. Carncross should continuo to act as Chairman of Committees until tho Council gave further direction. Tho following members were appointed the Committee of Standing Orders: Tho Hons, the Speaker (Sir C. C. Bowen), Sir Francis Bell, Captain Bailey, Barr, Carncross, Duthie, Hardy, Jones, and Maginnity. A motion was also carried that it should be an instruction to the Committee to consider Standing Orders regarding the election of a Speaker and Chairman of Committees, and report at the next sitting day of tlio Council. A Message was received from His Excellency the Governor, stating that tho Hon. Chas. Louisson had retired from the Council through effluxion of time, and the Hon. E. C. J. Stevens through death. A further Message stated that the Hon. Sir Walter Buchanan and the Hon. J. A. Millar had been summoned to the Legislative Council. DECEASED MEMBERS. MARKS OP REGRET. The Hon. SIR FRANCIS BELL moved that the Council express its regret, and place on record its appreciation of tho distinguished services rendered the country by the late Hon. Wm. Montgomery. The deceased arrived in New Zealand in 1860, and settled in Canterbury, where he was Provincial Treasurer from 1868 to 1870. He entered the House of Representatives as member of Akaroa in 1874, and in 1884 he was Minister of Education. Ho retired from Parliament-, and was called to the Council in 1892, and in 1907 resigned. Few had not known him by repute, and none had heard anything to his discredit. The Hon. H. F. WIGRAM seconded the motion, and spoke in eulogistic terms of the deceased's qualities. The Hon. R. MOORE said that he had known the late Mr. Montgomery as long as he could remember, and he had never heard a Canterbury man say a word against him. Although they did not always agree with liis views in Canterbury, they always honoured them. The motion was passed. The Hon. SIR FRANCIS BELL also moved a motion recording the loss felt in the death of tho Hon. E. C. J. Stevens, of Canterbury, who since 1882 had been a. member of the Council. He died in his 78th year. "I find it difficult to speak of him," said Sir Francis. "He was a very great friend of my father, and took that interest in myself that a father would take in his son." It was difficult for. him to speak of the loss as other than a personal one. They all remembered his powerful speech in connection with the proposal to alter the constitution of the Council. He had had a vei7 honourable, and in its way a very distinguished, career. He tool: on interest in all forms of athletic exercises, as well as in the business affairs which he conducted with success, and in the political world, in which he created for himself a singular position. 'There were few so looked up to, and there was no place in' which his loss would be so much felt as in the Council. Their sympathy went out sincerely and genuinely to those left behind. He moved that the Council record its sense of appreciation of the distinguished services rendered by the Hon. E. C. J. Stevens, and tender its sympathy to his bereaved ones. Tho Hon. 0. SAMUEL said that he had never known a man wiili 'it greater impartiality of mind than the late Mr. Stevens. It would be a long time before they ceased to remember his absence. The Hons. H. F. WIGRAM, G. CARSON, G. JONES, and V. MOORE also spoke. Tho motion was carried. SIR FRANCIS BELL also moved that tlie Council record a sense of the appreciation of the services of the lato Hon. E. Richardson, also a Canterbury man, and Minister of Public Works in 1872. Ho was appointed to the Council in 1892, and remained a member for seven years. He was a very capable Minister, and a highly respected man. In Wellington, where, he lived his last days, there were very many who would join the Council in appreciation of his distinguished services, and extend sympathy to his family. The motion was carried. Similar motions were also passed with respect to the late Hon. Francis ArkwrigM, the late Mr. John Bollard, the late Mr. Felix M'Guire, and the late Mr. F. Y. Lethbridge, and members spoke in appreciative terms of their services to the country. IMPREST SUPPLY. The Imprest Supply Bill was received from the House of Representatives, and put through all stages without discussion. Tho Council rose at 4.25 p.m. till 2.20 p.m. on Monday, when tho Leader will move an amendment to the Standing Orders.