“THE FATHER OF THE HOUSE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3324, 16 September 1911, Page 10

“THE FATHER OF THE HOUSE.”

FORTY YEARS’ SERVICE

SIR W. J- STEWARD RETIRING

The other morning. the approaching retirement of Sir William Steward, the lather of the House, who for . many years- lias represented the district of Waitaki in the House of Representatives, was annio-unced,.' Sir William, to use his own words, does not want to fight- any more elections,. as he is not so yc'unig as he was. He- will take np his residence in Johnsonville, a. suburb of Wellington. The probabilities are that tie will be given a seat in the Legislative Council.. Sir William Steward first entered the House in 1870 as member for Waitaki. In those years there were five-year Parliaments, and he remained in the House till 1875. During that Parliament —which was known as the Abolition Parliament, be carried through the North Otagoi Public Works Bill -which provided for the setting aside of £ 1 0,000 for public works in- North Otago. It was during that session that Sir. William Steward was asked by ex-Pre-mier Waterhouse to take charge of his Deceased Wifes’ Sister Bill, which Waterhouse had in 1871 introduced in the Council and lost. Sir William Steward agreed to father the Bill, and he brought it forward in four succesive years. During those years he came to be known in the Parliamentary - precincts as “Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill.” At the next election he was defeated, and it was left to Dr. Hodginson to get the Bill on the Statute Book. The reason of Sir William Steward’s defeat at that election was that he had succeeded in getting, two representatives for the Waitaki electorate. He was, however, unable to carry the other Liberal member on his back, so to speak, and Messrs Shrimski and Hislop won the two seats. He was elected Mayor of Oamar.u during three successive years, until he left for Waimate, and his former constituents, presented him with two hundred guineas on a silver salver. In the general election, of. 1881 he was again elected for Waitaki, and he won the seat at ten successive general elections, so that altogether he has a score of five years in Parliament during his first innings, and thirty in his second innings. During, all that time he only missed one session—-the short “Dreadnought session,” owing to the breakdown of a steamer by which he had to travel. During all these years he attended every session—except the one mentioned—to the end, and he does not think that he has been once reported absent in forty sessions. He was Whip to the Liberal Party at the time the Stafford Ministry was turned out of office.

Sir Wm. Steward lias, .it is , stated, brought forward and carried more Bills than any private member in the New Zealand" Legislature. Amongst the measures that he has successfully fathered are; —The Shearers’ Accommodation Bill, the Small Birds’ Nuisance Bill, the Mortgages Bill, the Compilation of Statutes Bill, and various other measures which, in language of the auction, are almost too numerous to mention.

It was on Sir William’s motion that a want of confidence was carried on behalf of the Liberal Part’" of which Mr Montgomery' was then leader, against the Atkinson. Government, which was then replaced by the Stout-Vogel Government. Sir William, (then Major) Steward was elected Speaker in 1893. He was subsequently knighted in consequence of his political serivices and of his holding this position. During his Parliamentary career he 'has done a great deal cf committee wouk in the House, and has served on many Royal Commissions. He acted as: chairman of the well-remembered Tariff Commission. He lias been chairman of the Reporting Debates Committee for about thirty years. He has also taken a keen interest,in volunteering. He started the City Guards in Christchurch, the Hampden Rifles, and the Otepopo Rifles, and reformed the Camara.." Rifles- Company. When a battery of ' artillery was established in Oamaru he was gazetted major in command. Altogether Sir William has been am interesting figure in the) Lower House, and' his tall, spare figure will be much missed next session. - v ; ' . ’ ■' L, '