THE DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8133, 13 June 1906, Page 2

THE DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

ME TRIBUTE OF A CONTINENT. MOTION IN THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. ELOQUENT SPEECH BY K DEAKIN. Received 12, 1.41 p.m. Melbocuse, Juno.l2. When the House met, Mr Deakin moved that "this House places on record its profound regret at the untimely decease of Mr Seddon, and expresses its deep sympathy with his family and the people of New Zealand." " The motion," he said, " is couched in simple terms, such as becomes the man and this unhappy event. It surely ueeds no justification when we remember to whom it relates, and his claim upon us as a man and a statesman, and guest, who only on our last day of meeting occupiod a chair on the floor of the House,

"JNono of us could have apprehended that which has happened, since no one believed it possible that this should be the last Parliament upon which he would look He passed from us in the full strength of buoyant manhood, with his great capacities unweakened, capacities which have been manifested throughout his whole career, "Those who hud the privilege of being associated with him during his stay in this country will realise how completely and entirely ho fulfilled the burdens cast upon him, aj 1 ill tVose many others which he prrhaps too generously assumed. " We looked upon him as he came here, crowned with success in his own country, where after a long strong political life he seemed to have won over to a sense of confidence and admiration the "'hole of the people whom he so admirably represented. So do wo remember the royal reception he received in Australia from all classes and all parties. (Hear, hear.) " it we remind ourselves, as members of this Government arc peculiarly able to do, oE tho manner in which he entered into discussion with us of matters of far reaching importance and most intricate detail, exhibiting a mastery of both principle and substance, and his knowledge and broad character, his political v • vs, all those things seemed to give us assurance of a much prolonged and splendidly progressing career continuing far beyond the hour at which we bade him goodbye. Never was a niau moro alive than tho Right. Hon. gentleman proved himself during the duties and welcomes crowded on him during his stay in Australia.

" He came to us a visitor it is true, a visitor who would have been honored because of his great achievements in the past and the great ideals with which he vas associated, if it had not also been because of his abundant aud most impressive personality. (Hoar, hear.) He was a man who stepped at once into (ho regard and esteem of all those with whom he was associated. No stranger could ho be anywhere in Australia, and particularly in this State and this City. It was in this City where he first landed in the new world. It was in this State he worked as a mechanical engineer. It was under Victoria that ho was in the first instance an employee. It was on our goldfields at Ballaral that he became a digger, and, as he was proud to admit, it was here ho won his helpmate, to whom he owed so much, both in his private and public career. The mere recollection of his affection will soften the terrible blow which shattered her hopes and laid her homo desolate. " It needs no turning to records to dignify the memory of Mr Seddon. The tasks that ho has faced and accomplished are too numerous eyen for the briefest summary. The pages of the Statute Book of Now Zealand will contain for all timo tho legislative embodiment which he gave to his ennobled aims, and his administration, prolonged beyond any which we have ] ever witnessed' in this hemisphere, was effectually crowded with unnumbered deeds of usefulness and soryice to his | country. He has gone to his wellearned rest." I

Mr McLean, on behalf of the Opposition, seconding the motion so eloquently proposed by Mr Deakiu, said there was something immeasureably sad in the relleetion that the man who was amongst them at their last meeting, in full vigor, had in the interval gone to his last long home. It would be, perhaps, too much to say that during his long public career ltichard Seddon never committed any errors of judgment. " Still overyone among us will concede that he was a strong and powerful personality." (Cheers.) He was a natural leader of men, able tactful and resourceful. Ho was a true democrat in the very highest sense of the term, _He deeply sympathised with all the sufferings of the community, and he had a kindliest disposition towards all legitimate aspirations of tho great masses of his people. A splendid patrotism lie always showed towards his adopted country, but it was a patriotism, part and p:ircel of that wider patriotism which, as a true Britain, he ever exhibited towards the great and glorious Empire of which he was so worthy a son. His name wil live long in the annals of the country to many succeeding generations.

Mr Watson said: " I desire to merely say I join in every expression of regret uttered by the Primo Minister and leader of the Opposition. The motion was agreed to unanimously, and the Speaker was requested to convey it to the Government of New Zealand. Keccived 13, 12.15 a.m.

Melbourne, June 12. Mr Dcakin reviewed Mr Seddon's career at length. Concluding he said : His indomitablo individuality is taken from us, leaving us the poorer, leaving a high place vacant; so absolutely vacant of his potent personalty that we ask ourselves, indeed, who is he that will be bold enough to fill it ? He leaves behiud him a great figure m the lifo of these new countries, and a great figure even when measured by the standard of the Mother Country.

Mr Watson, in his remarks, said they would have preferred that his life work oouhl bo complctod. lie hoped that though gone, the work which he promoted and extended would still be carried on. The A us. tralasian democracy had indeed lost a t'hilmpiou,

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