PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 393, 6 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HON. G. FOWLDS RESIGNS

s |UY TKIjmHUMI.-- i'ltl SS association.] :l y Wellington, Last, Night. After staling that, the Financial Statement, wouid be brought, down on Friday evening. Sir Joseph Wntd informed the, House that- the Hon. Geoige Fowlds had ro- ' sigm d his powtion m the Ministry, and his t rs : .g;-u n b:<d been accepted, jby she Gov riii'.eut. 11« said he re- ' I grot ted !v.s : everance from his eß- ' teemed fi Mr Fowlds had been 1 i in (he ,Vi it.t- tiy fi>r five years, and on no eieu>n ;t cross word taken ; ]llee bei ween :my of them. He ac- , i;itinv)eiij;(Mi flu- ability and great pubj lie spiri (. msi'd by Mr Fowlds. I "As fnetais we mel, as friends we j part, ami icn.b. we will always be," I coneloued 'Me i'l eiiiicr. I The Hon. Geo. j-owlds : aid he would i I ike to !-r,y a sr w wends- to KUpplej men; (he r: m rment «••{ Sir Joseph | Ward. iie had mil taker, the step o£ j retirement from the Cabinet on ac- ' count of any personal dihorrnce be- ] iween the ITime Mini: tri or bis coli leagues and himielf. hirame his rela- ! lions, personally and oSucinH.v, with | them, bad hi % n mo: i harmonious. | Not wi! bsl a no' ina : |:e tact, that his and | (heir poll tiers! i,1,50 been most widely «}iv< rgenl. or. many questions be could bogr a! iy :.v it was with deep regret (li.-: he was impelled to Sake the .'di phe n.nv took. To some extent, his e.ef ion had h< en precipitated by the division that i.oo); place, some j weeks ago on i!,r Totvi: Planning Bill. | The political sign' (leanee of the Vote | was momentous. That a su!)stantial I mimbei of me aih; rs. of the Govorn- ! rnt eg. Tarty should, by their votes, | say thai, while they were not prepared j to trust, the Government an a whole I silting with the Govrmnenl. in Council to do Oiriain inmortant. administrative Acts, ibi y wt re prepared to enl.rest t.iies'e, Arts to a hoard of Go--1 vernme:p, olliciai:-. no i i ]>. pt rhaps, one ! Minister sitting a: a member, as I chairman, u.is to hi: mind symptoj ma tie of a very so; ions condition of ! aJTains. Thai, condition, :m it. ap- ! pea rod to him, wr.a one nf < i issa (isf action and tins est in the party in its relations with •('.• ;a i e errs 'a i i ves who eompwsiai the (i ;■ vorna'cai!.. "roc<~eding, Mr :;r.o 11 i !ia\e had no indication that such on sat isfaction centres itself on me pertomWly, but I have felt it. arp.'s: tide ior me to remain a member of a Government which was ansCe • ecuro that tneasnre of parly myaity necessary to carry on the Gov> rnmi n*. of the country with some degree of dignity and self respect. 1 have never been great ly enamoured of party Government. but. until we hare evolved both marhim ry ami pu'dir : pi: i!. pec.essary to make some oiher I ore.: o{ Governm.ont po.'fible, >t ir < rrenGnl that a Government : i-.o»!d '»;•%••• : t;rh impport as wouhi <-n:ible to carry out. its functions in a T-rasaaiahiy dignilied manner. When 't r:- iniabl«» to do that, its u.-r fuliii k ; as gono. ,r Mr Fowld: 1 v.-ent on to Hint, he entered. juildic !i'i for the attainment of idea is. :mi not ivillt iho object of ri.ttsinin;: and maintaining place and jrnwi r. e;.d to tfie Ministry was un: oi ic; [ed, cith> r by or for bim, and is accepted >! in a spirit of so; vice, V dims, and anxious at any time to stop aside if ho could do better for his country mil, of officn them us That c.mviciion had now come to him, ami had dictated the step ho brd t; ken. He- thought he might claim in a modeM. way that his sbministra 1 ion of tbe departments entiustcd to hue, had not been a failnn . and !■•'■ m-l.newlrdged the able and h>y a I ass i: !,".rcr of h)S oilice.rs. He did not p.o out. i o lorn-, a. n.ovv cult. I[e wa.s consciom: <•( 'in p.reat work Idberalism had dene io: New /.ealand, mid he be J i even when iis history was written) a,.n hono:ir< d p'.-sce would be given to the legisiaimn of Sir.loseph Ward. " f'■t vt, " (aut'mnd Mr Fowlds, "the times in whicii v,a !i\e(iirnanua tioiv evangel, a gospG v, hich i have felt 1 could not prercn as a member of thepresent Govci mm nl, : o 1 have decided for ireeeom nn order that I. might O'psi my whole soul to the people of New d.rahsnu." Some of his friends on the Oppor-ilion sitio would iu'ohrsb'y say t'ns.i. be was scuttling out of a sinking shin, but the only inducement that would have kept, him en t bcGovernmcn', ship would have been that of bshMmg will).adverse Opposition gales. Is, his judgment the present Opposition did not const i(u t e a factor m the 'niuro political ii fe of Ins count: ;• . a: fa: as that parly was eoncened. :Ie bi beved not. n tlovcrnmciit m New aland ever went, to (he com try with less fear, in his opinion (In pre: < nf leader of the inborn! I'srly. c\< r mace (he last election, had bad his- eve focus-sod too much on the (I ppes:! img mj too Ij(,(,!e on the forces, thai lem been developing in advance of the 1 aberal thirty. In fairness Sir .ioseph Ward and hia colleagues he rrhwUed (In charges of corruption ami Ta.munnn i■ m which bad been levi-Meti s«grim I tin Government. Concluding, M i iknvids said: "And now 1 have on.iy io e;;press my thanks to member: >•;' the Government J'arly. and "i the iloa: e generally for the kmdn.'is ana dinwn mo while I l-ave hi i n a M inisder of the ('sown, and !i ' :ay that, whenever n truly dcmor.aiic pa; ty ai is.es in thin country: a party pledged to definite principles, ;n Inriife "'hich it believer in, a.mi which i> i■■ prepare<l to light for, 1! shall lame niy wholesouled support; and i| it should hecenne nnniorons enough to enable it to form a Government, and invites me to join 'i. my services will be available. in the mccntime 1 believe I can bo: ( serve the country as a private member."'