PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8171, 29 June 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

J • . THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. 'lho first session of the sixteenth ) Parliament of New Zeuland waa opened yesterday by the Uovernor, when his Excellency made tbe fol lowing speech:—My pleasure at meeting you in Parliament assembled ■ is marred by the death of my late chief adviser, the Right Honourable Riobard John Seddon, who for more than thirteeen years occupied tbe oosition of Prime Minister of this colony. His long and uninterrupted tenure of tbat high offioe is unparalleled, 1 believe, in tbe annals of the British Dominions and is tbe most convincing proof of tbe confidence reposed in him by the Farlia ment and people of New Zealand. It was, however, not in colonial affairs only that Mr Seddon achieved a positon of great eminence and responsibility. For apart from the services bo rendered to New Zealand, his ardent devotion to the great cause of the unity of the Empire makes him a notable figure in the domain of Imperial politics. The universal sorrow and sympathy evoked throughout the Empire show that his strenuous advocacy of great Imperial and Democratic ideals was appreciated in other land-s than our own and it is fitting that as the King's representative in the presence of the representatives of the people whom Mr Seddon served so faithfully, and so long, and in whose service be died, I should bear testimony to the logs which has been sustained by bis untimely death. At my. request; the Honourable William Hf>ll-Jones undertook tbe formation of a Ministry which has now assumed office. I am happy to be able to inform you that the Estimates passed last sessinn of Parliament to cover tbe expenditure of tbe ibeu current financial year, proved amply sufficient, and that the year closed with a surplus of receipts over expenditure. My advisers believe tbat with prudent administration there is every reason to anticipate tbat the financial results of tbe current yeai will be equally satisfactory. You will bo' j invited to consider proposals baving for their object tbe extension of 'appropriations to a suitable date. I oongrntulate you upon tbe continued proofs of the strength of the colony's fiuanoial positiou,. and also upon the substantial progress made in itß on««f industries | which is shown by the continued inoreaje iu the volume of exports. It i<? my earnest desire to co-operate with you iu all that may promote the welfare pud prosperity of New Zealand, and. I trust tbat with tbe aid of Divine Providence your labours may result iu the well-being and happiness of the people. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 28. The Council assembled at 3 p.m. The Attorney - General at once moved, with the leave of the Council and without notice, that "This Council desires to place on record its high sense of the devoted and distinguished sen ices rendered to New Zealand, and. to tbe Empire, by the late Prime Miniaer, the Right Hou. Richard John Seddou, P. 0., of the loss the colony has sustained by bis death, and respectfully teqder to Mrs Seddon and her family the assurance of its sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement." Their hearts to-day were, he said, filled with sorrow that so commanding a leader and representative figure had passed away in the late Premier, after a strenuous life, passed from his early youth to tbe time of hiß death in the service of tbe puolic. He had gone to his rest more distinguished and honoured than any other man who had ever lived in the colony. From hia first entrance into publio life he demonstrated that be was a man who was bound to succeed. Mr Pitt briefly sketched the life of tne late Premier. There were to-day many thousands of colonists who blessed the name of Seddon, for tbe passage of the Old Age Pensions BUI. The sympathy of the colony hid gone out to the late Premier's family in their bereavement. Mr Pitt referred to the sending out of the Soutb Afrioan contingents, and the splendid reception the 'ate Premier had > received in Australia. No colonial statesman, he said, had ever received such an ovation and reception outside his , own colony. I The motion was carried in silence, the members standing. The Attorney-General then moved without notice that "This Oounoii desires to place on record its high sense of the faithful and distinHuished services rendered to New Zealand by tbe late Hon. Courtney William Aylmer Thoa. Kenny, M.L.C., by the late Han. David Pinkerton, M.L.G., and by the late Mr Job Vile, formerly a member of the House of Representatives, and of the serious loss the oolony has sustained by their deaths, and respectfully tenders to their relatives tbe assurance of its sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement." The Hon. W. D. H. Baillie seconded, the motion, which was carried. The Hon. VV. 0. F. Oaruoross gave notice to move the Address-in-Keply to-morrow. On the motion of the AttorneyGeneral the Council then adjourned until 2.30 p.tr., next day, fas a mark of respect to the late Prime Minister, Legislative Councillors and Mr Vile. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 o'clock, and adjourned to the Legislative Oounoii Chambers. Ihey heard tbe Governor's Speech read, arid then returned members, Messrs Rutherford, Mander, Wood and E. G. Allen, were sworn in. Mr Miller gave notice that be would next day move the Address-in-Reply. Tbe Premier gave notice of mo- ; tion for leave of absenoe for tbe re- J mainder to the session to Sir J. j Ward and Messrs Fowids, MoNab ■ and Aitken. <

The Prime Minister asked leave o the House to make a motion with out notice, and leave having beei granted, he expressed bis sense ol the mournful duty incumbent or him of asking the House to express its regret for the late Premier, and i its appreciation of his services. The colony mourns not only a great statesman but a friend, and Ministers lose a valued colleague. In 1866 the late Mr Seddon came to the West Coast of the South island. After three years his natural inclination drew him into politics, and bis first office was a membership of the Arabura Road Board. He went from oifloe to offloe until in 1878 he was made Chairman of the Westland County Council, and in 1879 the House first felt the foroe of bis great personality In 1882 he was' elected foi the district of Kutnara, and represet'.tod the same to the day of his death. In 1831 he got Ministerial rink for the first time, terving as Minister of PubIjo Works, and oven now and again filling the office of Acting-Premier. In 1893 he became Premier. The Leader ot the Opposition (Mr Massey), in seconding the motion, referred to the many losses sustained by death by Parliament during the year, among the rest that of the late Premier, whioh gave the publio of the colony the greatest sbookgit had <wer sustained. The late Mr Seddon, he said, bad become so associated with the business of this Chamber that the absence of his stalwart form could hardly be realised. He had differed from the late Right Hon. gentleman, but he had no hesitation in saying that he had left bis mark on the legislation of the country. In concluding he tendered bis heartfelt sympathy to the bsreaved widow and family. j The Native Minister Jas. Carroll) spoke on the universal mourning for the great man. He sketched the career of the late Premier from the lowest to the I highest position. Mr R. Mackenzie testified to the great grief of the people amongst whom the late Premier had lived for 40 years. Mr McKenzie bad been associated with the late Premier's oareer from the first election wheu he wonthe confidence of his people , which be had retained to the last. 1 Mr Fraser (Wakatipu; spuke of the years that had gone past and increasing the respect he had for the dear] statesman. His experience on the Assets Board on whioh the late Premier had a seat with him qualified him to declare solemnly that the sole motive of the late Right Hon. gemlemau at every turn had been the interest of the colony and the cause of justice. I Sir W. Steward, as the father of i the House, voiced its deep feeling of sorrow and Its appreciation of the spleudid services rendered to New Zealand, and the Empire by the late Mr Seddou. There was no doubt that the strain imposed on our political leaders was excessive. \ He | denounced it as almost a species of j suicide : ■ . I The resolution was passed in silence. The Prime Minister referred tu the other losses sustained during the recess, referring first to the late Mr Vile. Then came tbe late Captain Kenny, the Crimean veteran, who had died full of years and honours; thirdly, there was Mr Pinkerton, who was once well-known and liked in the House. Mr Hall-Oones referred sympathetically to those he had mentioned, and concluded by moving the resolution passed by the Council. Mr Massey seconded the motion, whioh was carried. Tbe Prime Minister annjuhoed to the House the personnel of the new Government as Gazetted. Mr Massey promised him the utmost support in his power. The Prime Minister thanked him on behalf of the Government. The House adjourned at 4.30 o'clock to 4 p.m. next day. ~ Out of a House of 80, all but 10 were present at the opening of Par- j liament on Wednesday. The absentees were Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs McNab, Fowlds, Aitken, E. G. Allen, Bollard, Rutherford and Wood. The four first-named members are out of the colony. The re-arrangement of the seats has given a new aspect to the interior of the popular Chamber, I for most of the seats have undergone [ a change. Amongst the "old familiars" of former days one missed Sir William Russell. Mesari Duthi*>, Buchanan, Moss, Lang, Taylor, Herdman and others. The last elections, although so disast- ' rous to the Opposition, did not bring j , tbe usual quota of new members. It is computed that 25 members on I an average usually loso their seats. On this occasion there are 15 memI bers who did not sit in the previous j Parliament, though three of the 15 I have sat in former Parliaments. The changes in political life are rapid. Harking back to the short i session of Parliament held in April, 1897, only niue years ago, it will be found that no fewer than 42 members who sat in the House that year have since been left out iu the cold, and 13 of them are dead. Going baok to the session of 1890, wheu', the Liberal party took over the reins of Government, it is noteworthy that the only members left of that Parliament, and occupying seats in the House at the present time, are tbe Hon. W. Hall-Jones (now Premier), Sir Joseph Ward, Hon. James Carroll, Hon. T. I'. Duncan, Hon 0. H. Mills (Ministers), Hon. Mr Guinness, Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Messrs Hogg, Lawry, T. Maokenzie, Parata, E. M. Smith, and W. W. Tanner. Out of the whol» number who formed that Parliament 17 have passed away. The Speaker of tbe Legislative Council iB elected for five years. Consequently there is no necessity for an election for four years. Tbe < Hon. 0. 0. Bowen was elected Speaker last year.—-N.Z. Times.