REFERENCES IN PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 47, 20 November 1918, Page 4

REFERENCES IN PARLIAMENT

TRIBUTES BY MEMBERS. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister (Kt. Hon. W. I l '. Massey) moved :-'That tins House records its high sense of the faithful service rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr. David Buick, member for l'almorstoh, and respectfully tenders 10 his family an assurance- of sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement." Mr Massey said that the late member had been a man of very strong character and outspoken opinion;.. He had meant what ho said and said what ]w meant. He'had never sought voles by sacrificing opinion, and he had possessed the respect of very many people who were opposed to him in the political field. Mr. Buick had been a keen lover of sport, and for many years he had owned and raced horses. Those who were in the habit of frequenting race meetings know that his colours were immensely popular with the public,,because the pconle felt sure of Retting a nia for their money as far as Mr. Buick s horses were concerned. His horses ivero out to win, and very often they wore successful in doing Ho would be remembered with affection and iv epect by those who had been associated with him. ' Sir Joseph Ward said it wai a sad thing that the scourge now sweeping over New Zealand was dimming the joy (had had been aroused by the armistice. "Clio epidemic was no respecter of persons, and (wo members of the Houso had fallen before it. Mr. 'Buick had been a renrosontalivo of the old nioneers. He had won and held the adoption, of a groat manv neonle, who nad learned that a rugged manner covered a kind heart and a sterling character. Mr. G. Hunter (Waipaw-i) referred to tho place held* by Mr. Buicl; in the .snorting life of the Dominion. He said that one of the reasons why the dark green jacket and pink cap of the late member had been so popular all over the Dominion was that wherever these colours were carried the public was sure of getting a straight run. The sport of the Dominion lost one of its best supporters lyhen the turf covered the late Mr. Buick. He believed that one of the proudest moments of Mr. BuickV life liad been when his horse Tangimoana won the H,r.vke's Bay Cup in 1909, and probably he iiad been still more pleased when' the same mare won the Manawatu Cup in 190 S. The sportsmen of New Zealand would mourn sincerely the loss of a man who hod done 1 his best at all times to make racing 'worthy of being called the snort of kings. Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) also paid a tribute to Mr. Buick. He said that the late member had been a stock-breeder whoso loss would bs telt severely. Mr. Buick had possessed a knowledge of Shorthorn cattle probably second to none, in the Dominion, and the reputation of his herd, dispersed some time ago, had travelled beyond the shores of New Zealand.

The Hon. T\ M. Wilton! said he had known Mr. Buick since boyhood days. The late member had .been a straightout sport, without a kink or a fad in him. He had never been a kill-joy; he' had never ken one of those who were anti-everything that went for pleasure and'the joy of living. His death was a loss to the House and to the country. The motion was carried, and the House Inter adjourned in respect to tho memory of the late member. REFERENCE IN LEGISLATIVE . , COUNCIL. Reference to the. death of Mr. Buiek was made in the Legislative Council by the Loader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell), who said that Mr. Buick was one of the old settlers of New Zealand. His ■ father came to New Zealand in 1841, ond he himself was born at Karori in 1818. All his life he had lived in Hie country, and 1 the esteem and honour in which lie was held was proved by his having sat in three Parliaments. . Although he had never risen lo any great height politically, yet his'words were always listened to with respect. In private life he had been successful as a farmer, and al-' though he had lived the allotted span of life, it seemed a cruel fate that he should be carried olf by tho epidemic when attending to his Parliamentary duties. Sir Francis Bell moved: "That the Council express its sense of the faithful service rendered to New Zealand by (Jie late Mr. David Buick, and respectfully tenders to his family the assurance of its sincero sympathy in their bereavement." The motion was carried.