PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 28 June 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Per Press Association.] | AVellington, June 27. IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill for £772,- I 400 passed all its final stances un- ! amended. THE LATE SPEAKER. The Hon. H. D. Bell moved a motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Sir A. Guinness in their sad bereavement. He reviewed the public career of the late Speaker, and paid a high tribute to his services as a great Parliamentarian. The Hon. 0. Samuel and Hon. C. H. Mills also spoke in feeling terms. The motion was carried, and the Council adjourned until Wednesday, as a mark of respect. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. Mr Buddo gave notice of his intention to. introduce a Saturday halfholiday Bill. Mr Sidey moved similarly in connection with the Daylight Saving Bill. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr Wilkinson gave notice of his intention to move that a respectful address be presented to the Governor. STATE EMPLOYEES. Mr Veitch gave notice that the time had arrived when full social and political rights should be granted to all State employees.

BILLS TO COME. Mr Herdman gave notice of motion to introduce a Land Transfer Amendment Bill, amendment® to the Corporations Bill, and New Zealand Architects Bill. Leave of absence was granted for six days to Mr Vigor Brown, of one month to Mr Buxton, Sir Jas. Carroll and Sir J. G. Ward, and ten days to Mr Ngata. IMPREST SUPPLY. • •MV . An Imprest Supply Bill for £772,400 was introduced by Governor’s message. ' j On the motion for the second reading, Mr Sidey asked what the Government’s intentions were in respect to the election df .meihbers of. the. Upper! House. Mr Buddo asked the'Prime Minister to indicate what was likely to be done in connection with the" local bodies law.

Replying to Mr Sidey, Mr Massey said that there were far more important Bills to be considered -than those mentioned by Mr Sidey. Amendments to the electoral law jvill certainly come before Parliament before next election. Mr Massey mentioned in connection with the Grey election, that the law had been adhered to to the.,very letter,. Mr Allen said tfiai! reference was made in the Governor’s Speech to advances- to workers.

In reply to Mr Wilford' Mr Fraser said that there was about 500 cooperative workers employed, at the present time.

The Bill passed through all its stages without amendment. SIR A. GUINNESS.

Mr Massey then moved: “That this House records its high sense of the distinguished services rendered to the country and Parliament by the late Sir A. R. Guinness, member for Grey, and further extends to Lady Guinness the sympathy of the House in her bereavement.” Mr Massey, continuing, said that the House had lost a great man in Sir A. Guinness. His unfailing courtesy and kindness had endeared him to everyone with whom he came in contact. Who, he said, could have imagined when Sir A. Guinness bade them good-bye at the end of last session, that he would not again adorn the chair ? Unfortunately, he would never again occupy the position which he had so well and ably filled for ten years. He had gone to his rest, and had left a great record behind him. He had come in contact with the late Speaker as a man, as Chairman of Committee, as Speaker, and lately as member for Grey. His death had touched him very deeply. He only hoped that the expressions of feeling which were being given vent to that afternoon would, in some way, mitigate the blow which had fallen on Lady Guinness. Mr Hanan said that the late Speaker’s popularity was due to those sterling qualities which Sir Arthur possessed, and which he knew so well how to use in politics. He was unswerving, he was a staunch and true friend to the worker, and his works would live after him. Mr* Colvin said that every miner on* the Coast loved Sir Arthur, and also every (pensioner. Those were the people who would miss him most. He had ever been their staunch friend. Sir Arthur’s funeral, he concluded, was the largest ever seen on the Coast. M essrs Malcolm, Russell, Coatee and Wittv feelingly expressed deep regret at the loss sustained by the country through the death of the late S]>eaker. 1 4 Mr Massey’s motion was carried in silence, all the members standing. All- Massey nioved the adjournment of the Hofise till 2.30 on Wednesday, ns a mark of respect to the late Speaker. The motion was carried, and the House rose at LlO.