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The Huron Expositor, 1962-02-01, Page 5The opening meeting of the. Senate . t t Canada on Tuesday featured as the first businesa. tributes to Senator W:11. Gold- ing and SenatorA, D.' Leger, who passed away ..during the period parliarpent-,. was pro- rogued. -Tlie Senate .Hansard records the tributes to Senator. Golding, who died in Scott Memorial Hospital: Hon. Walter M. Asteltine: Honourable senators, it is wry sad duty at this time to report that since prorogation took place last September two Prom- inent members of the Senate have passed to the Great Be- yond, namely, the Honourable Senator Aurele D. Leger and the Honourable Senator Wil- liam H. Golding. I would like to refer briefly to each of these deceased colleagues, ti I wish now . to refer to the late, Senator William B. Gold- ing. Senator Golding's death was a great shock to me be- cause at Christmastime I 'had received &a short letter from him da which he referred to the corning session of Parliament • and stated that he expected to be in attendance as usual. 1 re- ceived another letter from him written on December 30. This letter, which -arrived after he died, was written in his own firm, legible handwriting, and in it he congratulated me on • my having been. Made a mem- ber of Her Majesty's Canadian Privy Council. As 1 have said, that letter did not reach me until a few days after his death. I can. hardly believe, honourable 'senators, that he is no longer with us, • and • .I shall always treasure these' two letters that he wrote to me just shortly before he passed away. As we all know, the late Sen- atoiVolding spent a great many yearin the public' life of Can- ada, commencing as far back as • 1916, when he became a mem- ber of the Seaforth Town Coun- cil. In 1921 .he became Mayor. of Seaforth, and held that posi- tion for nine years. In 1924 he was responsible for the estab- lishment of the Scott Memorial Hospital, and took a great in- terest—in hospital work of all kinds. He was that hospital's first :chairman. Later he was also chairman of the local Pub- lic Utility Commission. Quite naturally, it seems- to me, when in. 1932 there was a vacancy in the South.,; Huron riding... which lead to be filled he • was chosen as. standard bearer. He "was elected on that occa4 sion and continued as Liberal member of Parliament until 1949,., In.,.. aarliament he was held in great esteem, and filled many important posts. He was chairman of the- party caucus and was also deputy chairman of the Committees of the Whole House. , In 1949 the late • William Gold- summoned old- sum oned go The Sen- ate, and I remember quite well that his first task in this house g e him the honour of moving the adoption of the Address in. Reply to the Speech from the Throne. That was on February 21, 1950. From that time for- ward he was on record ae being. one of our moat -faithful hon- ourable senators and was noted for always ' being in 'his place, • either in the Senate chamber or in -one-.of the committees of which he was a member: He became a_ -member of sev- eral important standing com- mittees to which he brought a wealth of experience and wis- dom. As honourable senators know it has been my great privilege and pleasure'te have known the late senator most intimately ev- er since he became a member, of the Senate, and even before that time he was a very close, dear, personal .friend to me. I valued his friendship most high- ly. - . For years he sat at my right at the meetings of the Standing Committee on Divorce, He was blessed with a very high degree of good, sound common sense. He hadrtlis feet firmly on the • ground, and was always present when he was most . wanted. I, as chairman -of that committee for some time, valued his advice and co-operation very much. Senator Golding was a fine Christian gentleman, beloved by all with whom he came in con- tact. He will be genuinely mourned on Parliament .Hill where he was a familiar figure for almost thirty years, and where he Was a most outstand- ing and painstaking parliamen- tarian. To his family of two sons and ' three daughters I wish to ex- press our deep sympathy'' for the loss of a good father and a distinguished Canadian. • 1 Hob. W. Ross Macdonald: 'Honourable senators, when Par- liament was prorogued in . Sep-. tember last Tittle did we think that our honourable colleagues, Aurele D. Leger, would not be with us today May I new refer to •our late colleague, the Honourable Wil- liam Henry Golding, more fam- iliarly known to us as Bill. He had not been well for some time but •that. was never obvious from any'• -Tack sof devotion to his duties. Indeed, no Senator has had a finer record of atten- dance and helpful, 'constructive participation hi the work of•the Senate than that of our dearly nxrti ;ti x:;Al itt4it'irr,is beloved deceased member. To the end 02 his distinguished career, even when his health was rapidly deteriorating, he continued, without a word of complaint, dedicated to his pax liamentary duties. it was my .,Privilege .to -be- come be•come acquainted with Senator Golding when T -tom elected -"to the House of Commons in J,935- He was then .a Member of that house. Our friendship increas- ed over the years. It • was also my good fortune that in 1945, when I was elected Deputy Speaker of the House, of Com,. mons; s he was elected—Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole" House. Though he had. no legal training;' he had had an unusually long term of office as mayor of the town of Seaforth, Ontario, and his experience in that office stood him in good stead in his more important of- fice in the House of Commons. Indeed, he soon had a grasp of the rules of that house dqual to that of any lawyer. who has held that very responsible po'Sl-' tion. Over and above 'the -letter of the law, he put a let of good ,common •sense into his rulings, which won the approval of members on both sides of the house. After coming to the Sen- ate he continued to take a keen. interest .in the rules and in the -proceedings of ° this chamber, and from time to time he was unanimously selected as Chair- man of the Committee of the Whole of this house: In debate Senator Golding's words caught and deserved the closest attention and respect from both sides of the house. This, and his unanimous choice as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, is. perhaps the most sincere' form of recognition that a member can achieve, and Senator Golding enjoyed it in full measure. We have indeed lost a true friend, and Canada has lost a great statesman and dedicated public servant. On different occasional the late -Senator spoke to me of -the - members of his familyand of his deep interest in their well- being. From what ''h'e said I know that their :love and devo- tion to him were indeed equal- led by -his- love -and -devotion' to them. - Honourable senators, , I join with the members, of this chamber in extending to them our deep sympathy. . L'honorable Clarence -Joseph Veniot: Honourable ` senators, there is little I can add to. what has already been said concern- ing the regrettable death of our colleague, the Honourable Wil- liam Golding. While. I am on my feet, I. should like to say a few words in appreciation • of the ,kindness"and the friendship with which 'he honoured me since I entered the--House„.Of, Commons a quarter of a cen- tury ago. In fact, he was one of the first • members of that body to extend- to me a warm - veleome,--a--weleome-- which--he- said was addressed ,to the son of one of his former esteemed colleagues and friends. His kindly advice to me in those early days and his friendly guid- ance.pn ever so many occasions later. were of great assistance -to me in learning the highways and Byways of law -making in Parliament. His sudden depar- ture was a great shock and a source of deep regret to me, and I join the ,previous speak- ers in expressing -deepest sym;,,,, pathy to the -members . of his bereaved family. •" Hon. William R. Brunt: Hon- ourable senators, I rise at this time to join my colleagues in paying a well-deserved tribute to the memory of a very .fine man, namely, William Henry Golding, who passed away at the Scott Memorial' Hospital, at Seaforth, Ontario, at the close of last year. . The late Senator Golding was a life-long resident of Huron County: 'He was first elected to the House of Commons in a by- election held during the year 1932, and was • re-elected at the general elections held in •1935, 1940 and 1945. While a mem- ber of the House of Commons he served as the Deputy Chair- man of Committees of the whole house, a position which he held on June 25, 1949, when he w s summoned to the Senate. Wh'i a member of this honourable body he served as a prominent member on the following stand- ing committees: Banking and Commerce, Finance, Public Health and Welfare, and Div- orce. I have been told that he took a rather more active part in the debates in the Senate than he did in the debatkes of the other place. This is readily understandable, since the late Senator Golding was of such a temperament that it was always a pleasure for him -to make his worthwhile contribution to the debates held in this chamber. His contribution Was always made in a very quiet, but most efficient manner. I have mentioned the com- mittees on which the late Sen- ator Golding served, and I know from personal. knowledge that on each of these committees he made a worthwhile and worthy contribution to their delibera- tions. We in this. chamber knew him as a solid, honest and highly competent fnember whose words, deserY'ed and received the' clos- est attenttoTi and respect cram me is the most :s ce forn i - f., It ishit cls • ° .H • , . n re � s#d duty hut � � ahlo a Qu1 '6aOry4 Irl $it*Ayt" Hon recognition that a ,-Herm* r can: .leasant one torr:be .able -to PO' 'own* senat s ci g p . y &h e, . or .� � would :l?e . . � p very remiss � tiny- dude were a .eve rn this chahiber- and res ect,. tip. hrnt :'wtFo des��Yea _ it; Bill Golding, enjoyed it in- full . Let us .raise pod. inert, who I not. to . say •h• word • becaus >f measure. are. no longer with 'ids, for they . Stand by one of the vacant In his death, Canada hits lost earned praise in life'and they, .chairs in this eizarnbeie,. a true gentlethan, who.quietly deserve rewemb ,nee fn death, -----...It was MY pa fortune to be carried on' with. his good works .a As citizen Ile ,Was a Man: appointed to "the Senate * the in a most efficient and effective without fear or reproach. ;tile- same time as the Honourable way. r .13layed-awblg-partici-the. life Of Grating;-arirt lre-bad-been The passing of our true this country.. He was a leader In desk -mate since then. Our friend and beloved colleague in many matters pertainii►g--trbornsn were on the same floor, leaves a great void in our midst. He will 1 e missed by all stance, he was, mayor of his of us. I tende% my_ profound ,home. .town, Seaforth, for a eon- si r 1 de ab time, and and e i told n heartfelt s m a m t' I rn .. y pa hY g his - that two sons and - three daughters � through him, the citizens who survive him, and I join built a local hospital of -Willa them and his many, many rhe became chairman and which friends in mourning he' ran for years without ing• calling on., ,geyiy umenti or mult- i It for Hon. Arthur W. Roebuck: Hey had many yeas 9f service Honourable senators, I have the in the other house and he play - honour to join others in the tri- ed no small' part there. 1 re- bute that has been paid to my member one time seeing,, a old friend and colleague, ,Sena- friend of mine, a former ,cab - tor Leger, whose passing I deep- inet minister, a man of differ- ly regret; but naturally my' ent political affiliations, talking mind',turns to that of the. loss to Senator Golding. Later I this chamber has sustained in said to the former minister, "I the death of a member front saw you talking to my friend my own province, a 'Colleague Senator Golding", and he re- resp&cted 'in both houses, and plied, "Yes, John, and he is a more' ' recently a colleague on fine fellow, an able man. I was the committee of which I ,have in Parliament with him for the honotir ,to be chairman. 1 many years and we became feel that I can speak on behalf great friends. He was chairman of all the ' members of the of the committees of the whole Standing Committee on Divorce on different occasions and he' of which he was a highly va- .handled that office in a most hied member: I• say also with admirable way; he is a man of confidence that the first thoughts great capability and a' thorough of all of us are of sympathy' for gentleiiiian." the members of his family, sym- Although of ' an easy-going pathy.for.them in the loss of a des osition and an even 'tem - kind and loving father and a per dialing turmoil a•n d distinguished member of their roughness, i think Senator Gold- ing old- family circle. The children of in could be aroused when the Senator Golding must have occasion demanded action, and been proud of his great career. I am sure he was never found They must have• recognized the wanting when public spirit was sterling worth of his character needed. He seemed to me to and the strength which he ex- be a man who could show an *felted on all occasions. indomitable will and a strength I knew Setor Golding ,for of purpose. His experience in many, many ears. I had the the art of politics must have honour to be his principal been profound. We can remem- speaker at one 'of the chief as- ber an occasion in this Senate seinblies of his campaign as chamber not so -long ago when long ago as 1932, and I knew he ended a debate by giving us him intimately and admired a short lecture on ways and hien ever since. He was sur- means, which finished the dis- cessful in that campaign and " others which followed, particti- Although he had long• passed tarty-inthat of 1935. In 1940 I the scriptural term of years, he followed him to -the Commons, kept his faculties to the last. where I found him to be, as he p the welfare of Canada, For in- and to -go to my door I had to ,pass him. The last three or four- years had heen very... - ry- ing for Senator g e r H i s wife was an invalid for wo or three years and passed away some two years ago. During the last two years, due to the abs- ence because of . illness of the honourable senator from Al- goma (Hon. Mr. Farquhar), Sen- ator Golding was alone in the room which they shared. Senator Golding set a very rigid, daily routine for himself. At 7.20 in the morning he could be seen arriving at this build- ing, and he . stayed here until 9.30 at night. He did this one day after another. It .was rather a killing pace, but that was the way he wanted to conduct his life. If I did ,.not look in at his door and say ,"Good morning" when I saw him the next morn- ing he would say, "You did not call in yesterday." So I made a point of going into his room and having a word or two with him. I had many conversations with him, and although I knew him perhaps not nearly _.so long as many honourable sena- tors, I think I knew him as well as most. In his youth he decided on a certain course of 'conduct that he intended to follow. It is one thing to ''have knowledge, to know what one should do,1but it is an entirely different thing to have the wisdom at all times to follow that course. His line was no crooked one; he followed .it to the letter. He knew when he got up each morning, where he was going, and what he was going to do. He was of an in- dependent nature. He was so independent that he refused to take the pension until he was over 80 years of age, and then only after- his daughter obtain- ed the necessary papers and got him to sign them. Until then he To the end his memory was as.was .perfectly content to get retentive as -ever, h voice"was' along without a pension. undisturbed, and his mind was Senator Golding was a ma - ever alert. Ile spent many years chinist by trade, and he was a :in the Senate' In the, short time. success in that occupation. The in which I served` here can Leader of the'' Government has speak from, firsthand knowledge told us about the various 'activi- that he wa's` one of the most ties which he pursued. He was important senators and, from chairman of the Scott Memor- what I have heard from others, ial Hospital at Seaforth for 20 he was always a great asset in years. When he retired from the deliberations of the Senate that position 'the hospital had and its various committees. AfT $18,000 in bonds after meetin ter all, he came to the Senate expenses. with long and broad experience in the other house. ' ng his pass many icipa i y a , m cussion. deserved to be, a prominent member, enjoying the confi- dence of 'the whole house, ,as was illustrated, I think; in the fact that he was chairman over and over again of the commit- tees of the whole. He had the confidence of the Government of that day,. I know very well, and was respected by all his colleagues in that 1W -use. ,t,.. came to the Senate in 1945 and he followed me in 1949, and as a member of this house he at once achieved an ascendency because of the confidence ,,which he inspired. His honesty of thought, his clearness of ex- pression, his genuine werth of -character , -endeared-him--to -us- all and we bung upon his words. I became chairman of the Sen- ate, Standing Committee on Div- orce in 1954. He was already a valued member of that' commit- tee, as the; honourable Leader of the Government (Hon. Mr. Aseltine)• has mentioned. It is the most exacting and burden- some committee of the whole Senate and he was number one in attendance. There were oth- er members who occasionally had as good a record of at- tendance but never •anyone bet- ter. But that was not all. He was not only a faithful attend- ant, he was a devoted and dedi- cated member of that commit- tee, assisting in its administra- tion of justice, and was always ready with a kindly word. We will miss him greatly in that committee, not only for his•con- tribution to the work, but his very presence will 'Se sadly ,-hissed.• I am sure that when we hold our initial meeting to- morrow morning his vacant chair will be a sad sight. I can add little to what has been said of the general facts. It is not necessary to say more. But I do say to his family that Canada ha, lost a faithful and valued public servant. His fam- ily loses a kind and loving father and we of the Senate have lost a tried, true and loyal friend. Hon. G. Percival Burchill: Honourable senators, I can add little to what has been said, and so well said, by the preced- ing speakers in tribute to our late senator colleague, William H. Golding. They have express- ed the feelings of us all with respect to him. My only words are, and I am sure you will all agree with me, that this cham- ber is poorer on account of the death of Senator Golding. Hon. John Of' Higgins: Hon- urable senators, I crave the in- dulgence of this assembly for a few minutes to pay tribute to one who in recent days was my guide, philosopher and friend. A short time ago there de- parted 'from our midst one who had graced both Houses of Par- liament,. but his memory will ever remain in the hearts of these who knew, respected and admired him. To him is given the eternal reward of a life well spent. To, his friends are left the aching pause, the awful blank. We mourn the goodness gone from earth. It is right and_proper that we both- sides of the aisle. This to paytributn) to Senator Golding. them. • He felt that one shoule'dtrave enough money on which to live How often have I gone to his and pay his bills, but beyond Senate room •to obtain some in- that he was not too much in- formation on a particular sub- terested in money. He told me jeeti-to-be enlightened on some .on one "occasion, --"When you point 'of political view, or in come to the end- of your life if some piece of history, and nev- you have not a good character er. was. -I -.disappointed. He had you go out of this life empty great knowledge of political is- handed and take nothing into sues of the past, of important the next world.” That is the historical events, and of out- standard by which Senator 'Gold - standing characters who had ing lived. made an impression on the pag- I had letters 'from him to the es of Canadian history. I was same effect as those which the not the only one to profit there- Leader of, the Government re - by. I know that many others ceived. I received one from him had gone to him looking for on- November 1. At that time adv,i.ce and information, and he Was quite., sick. . He wrote wh t -he told could be safely that he was diving from day to accepted; for he was a man day and was fully prepared for without guile or prejudice. It whatever might happen. I re - was pleasant being in his com- ceived another Ibng letter which pany at all 'times, because he he had written on December 28, possessed that characteristic in his own handwriting, and in which makes all other traits so it he said that he hoped -to meet attractive,• kindliness of heart, us here When Parliament met. and he had that in.abundance. Honourable senators, Senator Senator , Golding was deeply Golding left what he wanted to religious. I am sure that the leave, an honourable name to Sermon on the Mount appealed his family. This house is much to him and that the Ten Com- poorer for the loss that we mandments ruled his judgment have sustained, and I am sure and guided his actions. He had that I am joined by every hon - an abiding faith. He was a ourable senator in exteanding humble man. He held, to a rare sincere sympathy to his fam degree, that noblest of all . vir- ily. tues and the one most sparsely practised in his commercial, serf -advertising ager -he was the apotheosis of humility. He was ever charitable in his estimate of ether's, and he always paid respect to opinions that might have differed fromhis own. The success of others never aroused 41-iy, jealousy or antagonism in him, and envy could find no place in a nature that was so soft, placid and honourable. It was my lot to have known him but a short time, just for the three years I have served in the Senate, but that was long enough for me to evaluate the sterling character of the man, with his unselfishness, his char- ity, his beneficence, his probity and his ounbounded humility. All of us can feel and say: He was a man, -take him, for all in all we shall not look upon his like again. ^I did not knew the Honour- able Mr. Leger, exeept in a very small way. He was a quiet gen- tlemen, but was very attentive to his Senate duties. There are many who can speak in a fuller way about him than I. Honourable senators, n o til+• that both these gentlemen have departed to the eternal bourns, I offer my deepest sympathy to their fatnilies and I express the kindest and most charitable wish that anyone could express about the dead: May the Lord have .rnerey oh their souls and may perpetual light shine upon it isrttrts . , ';.1 iy41.111 toiti- iv* "•h'a • Hon. Jean -Francois Pouliot: Honourable senators, I hesitate to rise, having listened to such fine tributes given in such a large number, to our deceased colleagues. In spite of their pro- verbial modesty, both of them had simar qualities, They had wisdom; they, had broad-mind- edness; they had loyalty to their friends; and they had all the qualities that are, to be ex- pected from public men. They were men with a very high sense of duty. Very - often I sought the advice of Senator Golding When I did not know exactly what course to follow. I relied on him. What will not surprise hon- ourable senators is that all of the good things that. have been, said about both 'of our lament- ed colleagues was said by them, during their lifetime, about all of us. I wrote to the. .family of Sena- tor Golding, after having heard of his.departure, and one of his daughters replied as follows: Dad talked so much about his friends in the Senate and - in Ottawa that I feel I have known most of them -all my life, even though I have not met them personally. I know Dad valued, your friendship oVer these many years that,. you have been' together In Parliament. ' That is a tribute that honours all of us. Both Senator Leger and Sen- ator folding wee. the salt•` of, the earth., a elle s:them' in this ch. ,el;., 'We *hail.xniss. them in the Gonunittees- where they sat. ,arid, where they dem:' onstrated their experience. and good judg.. ent. Vie will re- .e r b. hfriends � e t. AP good � and good citizens; `Hon.. Cyr'iife Valila, Honourable senators,- may an; other Quebec member express his condolence to . the families r -two--eel1eague 1lb'�left us' sine` the last session. They have; b th -passed on. They are 1 no One on us rbut m their a .g memory will endure. It seems to me that two things could be learned from the lives of both those late col- leagues: Senator. Leger, always gentle, 'quiet, but true to his duties, seemsto-;.pave always lived according to ; S e"saying that: good seldoni'comgs. from noise and is almost '• always done without noise. He was a stead- fast worker. Senator Golding, .whilehe was not a lawyer, always made relevant remarks. I always won- dered how he could remember such relevant comments. One day I asked him and he re, plied:. "I lived among the peo- pie; and do you know that the people teach us many good things". And the great popu- larity of Senator, Golding was due to his calm and kind char- acter, at eighty, • he remained quite a young man. To the families of both de- ceased members, I "offer my USBORNE AND HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO. HEAD OFFICE — Exeter, Ont. President: Milton McCully - RR 1, Kirkton Vice -President: 'Timothy B. 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