LAST TRIBUTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 647, 27 September 1933, Page 5

LAST TRIBUTES

(Press Assn.-

DECEASED MEMBERS memory of legislators honoured by house records of service

-By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

Wellington, Tuesday. Moving the customary motion expressing appreciation of the services rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr. J. McCombs and expressing sympathy with his relatives the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Foi'bes, in the House to-day, said that it was with a feeling of sadness that he had received the cabled news, of Mi\ McComb's death. Mr. MqCombs had been a keen and very able debater. , He had held strong views and expressed them strongly; he had believed most sincerely iri the opinions he held and the things he had stood for and had. been a man to whom one could listen with a good deal of interest and respect. Despite the differenee in shades of political opinions, one had come» to regard Mr. McCombs as an old comrade. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, seconding the motion> said that Mr. McCombs had joined the Labour Party at a time when the road of the Labour advocate was not an easy one and was more likely to lead to prison than to Parliament. His greatness of charaeter had never been as outstandingly demonstrated than during the war years when he : had never subordinatecL.principle to j expediency. It was interesting to recall that Mr. McCombs had been the first member to introduce the bill to give women the right to sit in Parliament. His temperament had been permanently buoyant and cheerful. "It is fitting," Mr. Holland concluded, "that she who was his helpmate in life — and to whom he owed so much of his success — should come to represent in this House the people he loved and served. It is fitting too,. that she should occupy the place he filled with such outstanding capacity and distinction. He sleeps the long sleep of death in Waimairi cemetery. Skies were leaden the day we laid i him to rest, but in the hearts of those who stood round that open ' g'rave, there was no bewildering sensation of doubt or despair for we knew that he had not lived in vain. His monument is the record of his life's work written into the annals of the nation and engraved imperishably on the hearts of the men and women with whom and for whom he laboured." Tributes were also paid by Messrs. D. G. Sullivan, H. S. Kyle, A. J. Stalworthy and E. J. Howard. Late Sir T. Sidey In moving a similar motion of respect to the memory of the late Sir Thomas Sidey, Mr. Forbes said Sir Thomas had always been a most searching and helpful critie whose views had always heen the outcome of most searching examination and study. He had always been scrupulously fair and had been trusted implicitly by members. Throughout his long fight for daylight saving legislation, he had never lost the friendship of anyone. He had been devoted to the cause of education and in particular had regarded his services to the Otago University as a sacred duty. Seconding the motion the Leader of the Opposition said that Sir Thomas Sidey had had a wonderful record. He had been keenly interested in everything relative to education and had also been deeply concerned about the welfare of women and children. He had in every possible way advanced the interests of art and science, music and literature, and had always heen extremely courteous to everyone with whom he had come in contact. Tributes were also paid by other members. Late Hon. G. M. Thomson Moving a similar motion of respect to the memory of the late Hon. G. M. Thomson, Mr. Forbes said that he had devoted a life-time to a study of scientific questions. He had left behind a very admirable record of_ser- ' vice to the country. The Leader of the Opposition also paid tribute to the late member's services to science and education. The motions were adopted. Similar motions were passed in respect to the late Mr. A. McNicol and Hon. Weremu Rikihana, members paying tribute to their services to the Dominion and the manner in which they had carried out their duties. The House adjourned at 4.48 p.m. as a mark of respect to the deceased legislators.