PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 290, 3 September 1919, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

DAYLIGHT SAVING AGAIN TRIBUTES TO DECEASED LEGISLATORS The Legislative Council mot at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Sir Francis Bel! gave notice of the Companies Amendment Bill. The Statutes .Revision Committee reported the Chattels Transfer Amendment 4301. the Public Authorities (Party Wall) Kmpowering Bill, and the Official llocumenUj and Appointments without amendment.-. * THE LATE GENERAL BOTHA™ The Hon. SIB FRANCIS BELL (Leader of the. Council) moved a resolution ©v puessing the regret of the Parliament and people of Now Zealapd at tho mvs of the death of General Botha (Prime Minister of the Soutn African Union). Sir Francis Bell described General Botha as "our gallant enemy of former years," and "the great sttfesman of but yesterday." All knew lieneral Botha, by reputation, and no mark of discredit etiood anywhere against his natae. It might be moire than diinmilt for a etwoessor tfuly to ill hie place. The Bon. Sill JOHN SINCLAIR supported the resolution. The world,, he said, nad lost in Ueneral Botha a great figure. The statesmen of tho Enipiro had lost a valued colleague und 00-work-er. He was esteemed and trusted by ull. He had clear vision, and Knew whero Hβ could do his best work; thus when ne invited to the Peace Conference he preferred to remain with hie Union, uu& to send his lieutenant, Uenonu Smuts, abroad. "ThosSJ 'iVho knew him personally, and I waa one ol them," pursued tire speaker, "Vere always impressed by hie great reserve of strength. In nianner ne ivas quiet in demeanour, almost shy. You instinctively felt you were m tho presence of no ordinary man. He wna a, smdiy man, and a utrong man in the fullest aeaue of the word—one of Shoso inan iv-fio iorm the ceinent that binds peoples together." The resolution wa« carried. TRIBUTES TO LATE MEMBERS. SIR FlUNClfi BBLL movea resolutions recording the Council's senue of the seiTices rendered by several deceased legislators, ana ei.teno.ing sympathy to the bereaved relatives. £e nrm moved with reference to tne lato. Jlon. 1; h l> I'raser. The resolution was supported by other [ member of the CounciC on* carried. air JiYanoie ijoli rrferred to the passing of the late Hon. Thooiae Thompson, a former member of the Counoi} ana of the House & Representatives, and •for eonie. years a Minister of the Crown. In moving tho resolution of hi expressed his sense of personal lora in jthe doath of a friend. lie formal words of sorrow and sympathy expressed in the resolution, he eaid, wore hardly adequate to express how singular was the regard in wnieb. tbe Jate Mr, Thompson was held by hie 'colleagues. The Bon, Sir, William Hail-Jones, the Hon. J. Griaunowi, the Son, 0. Samuel, and the fLon, Q. J. Garland eepporbed the motion, wWoh wae carried. Tho late Mr. ltonald Reid/ said; Si* Franois Bell, in moving the next r*iolution,.was one of the pioneers of Otago. Up to 'the kat few years ho was o»o of tho most active business men in, Otego. I The mover reraemtared him as Provincial Secretary for Otago in 1869— "a. year in which," aadd Sir Francis Ml, "I trta attending etfhool with the late Mr. Rei&'e son." Sir. Reid was htudiy a oontem. porary of anyone in the Council. He had completed his pnblio life almost before the pubdio life of members present had begun; In Otego he waa in a peculiar position—that of the "grand old man" of the provinoe. Upon Ms entry into general politics he commanded us much respect aa he had doae in tie field of provincial politics j and apart from tho singular pnblio respect he enjoyed, he was in private'life looked upon as a man whose iriendahip was greatly to bo valued. .... .. ;,.... :.,-'. Several other mwnbeirß of the Council •supported the resolution, which was carried. The succeeding resolution tvbs moved with reference to the late Hr..Hamilton Gilmer, a former member of the Council. Sir Frauoia Bell eaid that the late Mr. Gilmer's public life iiad beeu confined to the years dialing which he had occupied p seat on the Council. Th-oe it waa mainly as a private citizen that he was known to the' public . He waa a quiet man, and reserved, but was, very much respeotod in the oity of Wellington; Many people in Wellington, and numbers on the West Ooast atoo, would sincerely deplore Mβ death. The Hon. J. Grimmond supported the resolution, and it was carried. Sir Francis Bell moved finally in reference to the late Mr. William Henry JSioker, another former member of the Council. The resolution was oorriod. The .Council adjobrned at I p.m.