AN APPRECIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1925, Page 2

AN APPRECIATION.

v 'il! a- ipu a high plum to Mr Mc.-sey aiuong the hig-l'i'-a: ted. patriotic men wl’.o haii- spent t ie. ■in vc ■* tingnidg--111 gi y 111 the -i' it ;ce of New Zealand. •As Priie. 1 Mi,'is-ter his legn- lative and adtni ni ra live a* h'cve.ncnts are i-1.111-I'linihlr* with tho-e of ti:e gi-ailcsL ol la- jircdei essors, and as a leader of the people Ills ariicia 1111). via li-m. liis dsn o'* to.-- coil rage, ami I,is insisicnt Ipi iuosMi in a t line ol unpa ra 11* del I Iry with 1 11*• •av 1 >.:.!'.* 1•: 1 v and d.'t.-r----mtiiulioii. i■ may have linen lacking ill vi'ieii ain I imagination. and even in some of the *ili:cr 1 rmiu* ijtlulit ie- of stall siaau-iiip : hat he was rich in 1 lie po.-scssion in tho tail 11 that moves mountain -. in the h po t : a,t springs eterniil aml remains 1 *ll •i, ■ imiyed. and in the 1 hiirity that s*i(jcret!i long; and is kind. hi:- own choosing. Cream.*ss was tbiis! icon him ra tiler ; ban When he !ir-t cutcrod the House ol lor tin* te-k h*' had i.micrtaken, with lit! !:■ till.light for Ihe men oii . con.-ist- «*,| of a sanguine temperament, a undoing :i* j 11ai! I*. 1111 "1 ■ with a .solionl primer eii iioiii n I economy. am! a 'tout heart 4h" sun '.inn;' t map. 1 ra me n I am! the stout hear! -cre.-d him well, hui li 1 , -ii' 'ill* m! m w h'l I '>!i- ---: I io.nl bn undoing. .At ihe <-n i 1 I la first session. ilisap; omi 1 ei! caul di n 'iitai'in. heivll n! many ideals and some illusions, never to return. Hut the oilier uionihers ol hi- party. seeing much promise in the young man. utssiiaded him. Irom his purpose, ami he returned to Parliament to light valiantly in Opposition ior eighteen years and to hold oilin' with high nistinrt Inn aml credit for a fll in her Ila rt ecu .

Tit:-: Rc.ai. Mtt Mass Rut to-day most of tlicsi; who ala mourning the passing ol tins .-Irikmc liptire in Hie public lile of the Dominion. are thinking: rather of the man than of the politician. A steadfast friend, a ia i v;t i rot t s opot: non t . kindly hearted and intensely human. Alt' .Masset- was a lovable ma:i to all who cam, near to him to appreciate In- (plant.e----111 heart and ham!, hi- strength and ids weakness. Though in- lad read diligently and thought h < pl, alien he iirst ealee to I’arlia tueitt. lie a If.-cled neither th - grac.-s of the ("tinier nor the cull ure ol l lie .-indent, and i i aathe fashion among : ttpei ciiions oh- rvers at tlial tim.o to tvpar.l him as a

The Rr. Don. William Ferguson Massey, R.C., fritnc Ahui-ter of Xew Ze-!ailil "a- Cl) y, tit's ol ape. lie aa> an Irishman Irom the m.rth of Ireland, who t-niiir to Xea Zeeland liflyfour years ago. He wa- a typi sal • ' fly set t ler m tli.it ft om small l-e- ---. teni .v, aid with it all rose to the highest (din e ill the gill of the | '-sole. His early life in N- v.- Zealand aas devoted mainly to :he land. Ia; hided in Ids tir.-i experiences in this country ants the I'm t that he i'olloa.-d the plough for two years a- a farm-hand on the v. e!!-k n . ■ a 1.0, :hoM I, e-ture of Can terlni ry. ! u tins' l i oomo he went to Hie North 1.-hnd. and lecante a st-.c, e-.-l ul farmer in the Am!.lattrl province. The litre-- sign t o-i - in -, ha poiit is:,! career . f Mr Alc-.ov he.-.;- the' follow, imp y-e 1 r date-; 1S! 11 : I it:!.'! ; I Pig. In IS!) I .Mr Massey v. a- eh--ted t o and entered ’Parliament. In iP'M he keen me header of the tI; po-it iott. and in Idl'd he he- a.ne Prime Minister of the Dominion. lie created a Privy- Councillor in IPI I. and in. IPP-t paid his first- vi-it to Knglan.l as Prime Minister. On Pith. .Jtilv. ‘iPPJ. the first .Massey- Ministry (time info n fit - and retired on lpi.it. A npit.-t. 191 o. 'then the National Ministrv. with Mr Ma-'cv a- Prime Minister took ( Hie- . <’n dot h. August. 1! n: *. v hen til., .X a:i■ in a I Ministry retired from eftire, the soeond Mo--sey Ministry hepan it,- term, lidding

(’"• ~—it i - : i to dal". Mr Mn.s-1-v It: filled nil th- urinaip.il pottfoli. - in tl Cabinet, including Minister • t i' ati e. i! ai I way-. kids a. Ito it:.-; rh-Sta-inr Duties. Min,... <-t.-. SO.MF XoTARI.K KVKNTS. During Mr M:i»m-v's Pretniersbi the following are s,,me i f tic- jirinoi'" halpi-ninp.s in the history ot the If niinnm : 191L’~~Pn’dio Service rimed unde Cetnmis jollet" eoutrol. If! a Visit (I H.M.S. X■■ ■ v.- /..-dan t . the Dominion. Kxrr-u-ive -trikes '-'a- ond Ball’t A-t lenealed. 19PF Outbreak of Clear War. Wes tern >'rtmun n - tit i. .i hv X.Z. F-m* AT : ’ i 11 In el v loft for I'pvtt. Hunt)-, coal disaster. 4M live- 1, t. 1915. —Alt' it, kodv engaged in or-r-ra-tions on Galliprli peninsula. Xc. tional Cabinet formed. Xateual rep ister of men compiled. 1916. —X.Z. Division transferred to

polnuian of the sloiid, unimaginative type, a soniewhal dull fellow inclined to take hmi.-elf ami his mission in life too seriously. Hut the older and more sagacious members of hi- own party saw further below the sui'fni e and discovered in the sturdy young man Irom AVaiiemnla. with his rough exterior and blunt speech, the makings of the persistent critic and streiiimus lighter (heir cause sorely needed at that particular time. Timki.y Favorn.u:mmn.vr. It was William Hollcsloii. as Air .Massey afterwards was proud to toll, who tiv the won! in season induced the iutnre Prime Minister, when assailed with don I it-s and misgivings to hold last to the opportunities destiny and liis own eli'orts had hronghl his way. He wa- a long time reaching tin* goal his iricU'l and meaioa laid set before him,

hut tiiose eighteen years he spent in Opp.iut ici. never again < j:: * *-tnmnig the derive of Fate, were invaluable ill his preparation for t!:<• great w ork that lay awaiting him 1:1 the year- i eyelid. Long; b"lore their expiration In* had he • ■nine one ol the best eijuippetl im'lllb""**l the 11 on -e. ail mil t ctily the readiest oi its debaters and the most tactful and inspiring of it - 1 aiders. WUUN OITDII'ITMTV ('.'.'.111. Hi- •*. pen unit v for Ihe wider exercise oi 11 esc pii.'ilni' at ions *. aim* will; ; h ' general election of Pd I 1 which left lb" at ("Unateil 1 .1 her. l l Pa rt v clinging lie Ig ibs c.i-lmg mis of the Sponh-r. Tim ilhstarrcd Alackcimh' Mim-try held tic rcmnai'.! - of Mr Seddoii’s big I'littakons together fur a few months, and then .Mr Aia-o'y came into I.is own. .And yet not fully into his own. lie laid led the Cones of Deform to victory by liis almcst unaided ellorl : hut the spoils were not 10 he his alone, ills pal ly had been out of inliee lor twenty-one years ; it had not sat oil the Treasury Pouches since lie had teen in Parliament. In these cii'eiimstauecs Ins colleagues of necessity were drawn almost entirely iivm the more j inert and less progressive section ol the old Conservative party which never would have had tin* wit to -hane its police towards modern ihoiighi nor to change its name to "Kelorm.

I!a!!I> FitaiTtNil. For two vein's l,e made tin- best h> . cottl.l of th"' load he "a - carrying, oar rnv.lv e-caoing l.mug soul: land: to tie cool shades ui Opposition at the poll oral (lection four months alter the colitimencettielU of the Lt'eat war. llt -it came the .National Cabinet and the suspension n! pariv si rile till ;'.t'-t helore I the g.-nerai el.a lion of Idl'd. w hi-. Ii pave i him the ottlv sttlist aniinl nui'oidty he Fran, a. Mounted Ring' d,- retained in i-'gynt. t'uii|i:i!.o ry < iirodncti t lot ! (Hi ru tunnel picn td. I tiflttettza .•; ill; :t, i , <r. or ■' ill I death.-, s ,s. Wuiv.un s'Pik ' y et.einy mine <IV tin,l.o- i do, ci'd Ran. Second vt.-it of H..M.S. Xova Zen la u I v. if h A limiral .1 olliu’ ;. Women made eligiide Id:;:' sea Us in i'ar lia men f. |i i.-sol mit n ol j National Mmi-try. Mr M at j Id'Jf. Vi-it. i i Prim., of Wako. jo (, d. ;-t r.i: t. A nza .• ! lay const ifat'd gallon 1 ludidav. PNi . Compulsory regi-traf ion of tin.puis. Samoa At mis.-ml. X.Z. represented at Disarm.-imei;; ( ouf.-r----emo. i pil’d. l-.arth tremors over seven j p-de in T.iupo di.-trie!. Meat (dm- | trol Rout'd so, up. Ftiridmeut <f | Vnlunl: sis in :i,■ \ \ ol ;, ,l,!e out- I hrn.ik of v, ar v. ith Turkey. Ida’,'!.- De-tni-ti'o flood,s Railway | acoidetit. at (tiiparue. 17 live- 10.-t. i t.ipi-ning of Arthur'.-. Pa-.- tnum I. I Ih-s, l»e; .-uden.-y proclaimed. High-! "ay d: - 1 : i-t s , tea tod. Penny pr.-tag© j n-it.tr,Mured. Hairy I'roiim-e Control j A.t I a.s-ed. Westland Kxhibitiott. j Pd-’l. - .V-W Land Art. -Motor \V. j deiluoi- tetit'o,! iuont Covonior-Cener- I [hv TKI.WiUU’II I'KK l'ltl.SS ARtiOCIAT'OV.] WKI.UNt, ft t.X. May 11. | (di -a:.-.- a- the rr-ople learn d the n,-w- ; "t li..- (i'-ath of Mr Mis ey. C|, till j e. If" (If.it,■ pea, , lull u. Ail : |.„ mem- !

- Mean Walt",- W. Ma .d. X,,"- I man Ma . and t d-otp.- Ala - an..' i In. Iv, ■, daughter-. Mr. .1. 1am..a,...; Tat !.,( and Mr- ( . W :-:,d,.0u Ih- i late Pi.-lioer's l.noh,nu Mr do,an Mined a'-,, ua- |it- nt. Alt- Ala .-ev if.eannp up V.el! io ike vetv trying oil— A New Ze.thiuJ Time- " tepreseii- * .it i vc* a|,]>r. ached a tm truer of the hit • Prime M .nn-lc; ' - family to-night, stig-

sip. Wellington. c\cr enjoyed. It was during the life of that Parliament that he was seen at liis strongest: and host. During the ' war he had become the undoubted donl~'*v muni force in the Cabinet, and he never after relaxed liis hold upon affairs of State that mattered, Ju the interval he had forgotten the precepts of the political economy of his youth ; had renounced the timidity of liis old associates, had I rallied a progressive policy of his own and had frankly confessed his conversion to the tenent.s of I,i 1 torn ns a*. if not to their popular interpretation. POi.tTK'.W, I.i'AMNCS. .til tin’s has been counted against Mr .Massey by liis opponents, and, indeed, hy some of his friends, as inconsistency and insini erily, as bidding for totes and renouncing principles, T)ut~ v no politician ever was more in earnest cr more courageous than was the Prime .Minister when he stood up in the House am! admitted in reply to taunts of this ;cit Hint with the passage of the tear:, he had changed his mind oil

many quest inns ; that lie had not been ashamed to learn from other people, A. e\ en from, his political opponents, and that, hi;- com-vivnee accused him of no v. ring in having profited by observation am! expci'i.on e during his journey through life. Act (Jcotations. lie knew his Fmerson well, as lie knew many other literary giants, hub \ ii was on mini tier oci asion. and with a, dilfcivin purpose. that he quoted tile great .American’s description of consistency a- "Hie hobgoblin of little minds, adored hy liLtle statesmen and philosophers and divines." liis facility in tha use of happy quotations oi this kind wa- astounding, considering how little time lie can have had lor reading ill the later years of his life ; and his acqi! a 111 1 a lU".' V. 1 11 1 the text ol his Bible, from inter to cover, was simply marvellous. A friendly biographer has pietu.vd him as a deeply religious man, v. ho rev ai\ ie, 1 tlie Bible as the liliest

hook that ever was written. Jt to- . nibr-d no depth of religion to shape • Vi. estimate ol the Creat Rook, but in V erv faut this zealous servant t,l the, Plate v. ns an earnest, print eal, broadminded Citristir.n. who found expressiou ler ike rug-mil faith ot his fores | w.u ks w ithout number, ln oatjeut f, ihearamc and in devotion what he i oiiceived to he the host itl-re-is of his country. Tut: 1.!•:•.;.u-v To Nkw /.kai.and. He leaves to New Zealand a rich j.en,. r:-.- ol retta-iahri-.ti.e and inspiratio n.

■ j o Doit it wa - a matter ol Homititon » ide interest that a, mething of the act uni nature of Mr .Massey's last illties- should lie made known, hut it was explained that the suhieet was naturally a very painful one to Mrs Massey, and that out of consideration lor her feelings, it was dysiivd that no relere,K e should he made to it for the pres--1 < nt til least. A piivnfe burial ground for the lata Prime Mini-tor will 1.0 constituted by Ills Kxcellem-y's warranl. A small part of the Del'etice reserve, at Point llulswell, „v, Hook it ip Wellington Harbour, has keen e.-pe - tally -of apart for that 'ill.- why Will he interred there on Thut - la-., i !.-• t an. ini service being >„(•:,Vt !,,w . Ccot-pe Miller. M0d-,.,-:p,,r oi the I’f.-uhy terititi Cetier.-il As- | -■ j 11 !, Iv, who will (ume from Dunedin 1.0- ,1m ■ duty. CARINKT MKKTS. ( ahtttet met ill Sir Francis Roll's room to-night. All the Ministers were * pl'e-ellt, except the Holt A. I). Mcl.cod, is in tin- Wairarapa. At tin* conclusion ol th,- mooting. Sir !■'. Roll said tin:! he had no statement to make, exc. - 1 , t that tie- dot a:!.- of the funeral bad I.ee.i erratum,!. Ihe political positmu Th" Coverunr-Cetii-ra! and Lady For* gu-on will arrive in Wellington in the jmouii’ig. It was snip* --.kle lor them to

('!.(Wi.NC (IF Till-: SCHOOLS. The Covernnn-nt iia- suggested to tiie Fduealeiotl Roards that oil the -> lie. !-’ a--.-mhling on Monday morninn. .suitable reference he made by- th© i.-aoh.-i-s to the demise of tin- Prim© Mini-ioi-. and that thereafter th© -I bool- he rinsed for the day. and that they ! ,■ . io ...1 on Thursday, t to, which a- the da-, oi the funeral. It has been -.ugge- led that the Seiotidary and Prime rv kuoi - -hold.l tollotv a similar IM'RI.IC nk'l-’K FW Tu ( I.OSF. '! he l’ukln sko vi,a- Cotmntssnmer has .td-.'l-ed the I )ep:i! t iltent s under lli- control that till oliices are to he closed fiom .Monday to Thursday. inclusive, cxi opt iLo.-e offices neecssafv tor the t ran-adion of nubile business. In-tru, t iim- have been issued for all flag- mu public buildings to he halfmasted till Thursdav.