DEATH OF MR LAURENSON.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 621, 22 November 1913, Page 5

DEATH OF MR LAURENSON.

TRIBUTE BY PREMIER. Wellington, Thursday. The sad and somewhat sudden death of Mr G. Laurenson, member for Lyttelton, stricken down in harness towards the ciose of a long and arduous session, was the subject in the House on Wednesday afternoon of numerous and heartfelt expressions of sorrow for the loss of a fellow member, and of sympathy with his widow and family j in their bereavement. The Prime Minister, in moving the usual expression by the House of regret of loss of its member, appreciation of his valuable public services, and of profound sympathy for his widow and family, paid an eloquent tribute to the mem >rj of his old political foeman, who for fourteen years occupied a seat on the Liberal benches of the New Zealand House of Representatives. It was very hard to realise that the member for Lyttelton, who was attending his Parliamentary duties only a few days has been eo abruptly called away, said the Prime Mini iter. The Angel of Death had been a too frequent visitor to the Parliamentary Buildings in the past few years, and at such times the insignificance of party strife, ambitions and interests was borne impressively by tha minds of all. Mr Massey, after referring to the strong sympathies and convictions which animated the deceased member, emphasised the abiding respect which he inspired, and the deep esteem which his keenest political opponents all felt for one in whom sincerity, strength of purpose, integrity, and aii intense, almost passionate desire to do right, we?e outstanding and compelling characteristics. A lover of books, he was widely read. Possessed of much more than average ability as a Parliamentary debater, he never allowed the heat of debate to inteifere with his friendships in the lobby. A really good Sypa of the born Briton was Mr Laurenson. The knowledge of general and genuine esteem in which he was held would tend to soften the blow of their great bereavement. As a member he would never be forgotten by the men who had worked with him in the Parliament of this country. Sir Jo?eph Ward paid the highest possible tribute to the deceased member in seconding the resolution, and others also expressed the keenest re gret at the untimely end of Buch a useful life.