THE MEMBER FOR RICCARTON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11507, 13 February 1903, Page 5

THE MEMBER FOR RICCARTON.

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL.

Mr G. Witty, the new member for Riccarton, was tendered a complimentary social by his constituents at the Canterbury Hall hist night. Mr F. Waymouth was in the chair, and about 250 Riccarton electors were present. Mr and Mre Witty, the Hon. W. C. Walker, the Hon. J. M. Twomey, and Messrs H. G. Ell, T. E. Taylor, T. H. Davey (M.H.R's. for Christchurch), G. Laurenson (M.H.R. for Lyttelton), C. Hall (M.HJR. for Waipawa), A. W. Rutherford (M.H.R. for HurunuiK G. Lewis (M.H.R. for Courtenay), and Mr Dunlop, occupied seats on the platform.

The Chairman eaid he felt proud at being requested to preside at the meeting. Their frtend, Mr Witty, had achieved greatness— (applause)—but he (the speaker) had nad greatness thrast upon him at beina asked to preside over the meeting as the Riccarton representative on the Tramways XSoard. Mr Waymouth then read apologies for absence from the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, the Hon. C. H. Mills, the Hon. T. 1. Duncan, the Hon. J. McQowan, Messrs C. A. 0. Hardy, M.H.R.,_and R. Westenra, and Sir (John Hnll.

The Hon. W. C Walker, who -was received with applause, said Mr Witty was in an enviiible position, for he was at the beginning of his political career, and stood before them as one who had gained the confidence of the Kiocarton constituency, and he (Mr Walker) felt quite certain, that at a subsequent election Mr Witty would have retained his old irisnds, and would have made many others by what he did in Parliament during the next threes years. It rested with Mr Witty during that perloa so to acjt as to justify his constituente in re-electing him. A district like Riccarton was a peculiarly interesting one,'embracing as it did.both town and country interests, and he was sure that whoever represented such a district satisfactorily and well would be a good man. The meeting was composed partly of Mr Witty's friends, so he would refrain from talking party politics, but it was a satisfaction to know that Riecarton had returned a man who was a supporter of the party that had been in power during the last twelve years. The policy of that party had been accompanied by material prosperity in every shape and form, and the policy of the future must be ft policy of progress to keep pace with the onward march of prosperity in the colony. Lands must be opened up as much as possible, onU settlers should be placed on those land*. Roads would have to bo built, schools erected, and the railways constructed. How was all that to be done? That was what ihe country had to face. A j great deal- had been heard against borrowing, bui many of the works he had indicated could not be carried on without borrowing, and the question for the politicians to consider was how far tlte borrowing for such works should go. He felt sure that a quantity of the unoccupied lands of the colony wanted opening up, and it was the.duty of the Government, as the successors of the old pioneers such as the late Hot*. William RollesUm, to open up euoh lands. Every year, howi ever, Parliament iiad to decide how far it was advisable to charge the people with the cost of carrying out these pubhc works. Another mat/ter that required attention was the increased expenditure in the way of providing educational facilities for the children of the colony, and he was pleased to Tiave been able to give the Education Jioards assurtance in establishing schools along the various .railway works. The borrowing in the future must be euoh as would not hamper seriously the successors to the present Government. 'flhe education of the young required State assistance, and how far the Government should go in making all education free was a matter that required the most careful consideration. Another important question was how to arrange the various schools or colleges in order to prevent In England, the questions which were now troubling New Zealand as regards the three sections of education, were still unsolved, although they had been under consideration for the last forty years. Hβ had been Satisfied and encouraged at the results achieved, by. the ■establishment of District High Schools up and down the colony. That work had interested him greatly during the Ja»t two years, but tho system had, so far, not reached satisfactorily the oenties of population, and he wished the town children to have the same advantages as the country children had from, the Diswict High Schools. He hoped that the matter would, -before long, be placed before Parliament and settled in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. (Applause) Personally h» preferred to tfee U» pubho schools emerge into District High Schools, rather than see so many email eo-oaUeo. High Schools eeal/tered over the colony. He felt satisfied that such a system would prove the greatest advantage to the children of the colony. He wished to congratulate Mr Witty upon winning the constituency of Riccarton. (Applause.) He asked 'the Riccarton electors to give Mr Witty their hearty support, to apply to him for anytndng they required in the district, to commend him when he vra* right, and to reason with him when he was wrong. (Applause.) The Chairman then read a just received from the Hon. R. J. Seddon, expressing his regret at being uaable to be present -on account of a prior engagement, and wi&wng the meeting a most enjoyable time. He felt assured that Mr Witty would be worthy of the bommm flttinglv tendered, and would prove worthy of the high position to which he bad been called. - , ~ Mr Taylor, M.H.R.. who was loudly applauded on rising said he was wondering whether the 'mi'.lerJnm had come, for the mixture of politicians that evening was appalling, and was a veritable political haggis. (Laughter.) He was sure that any man who was prepared to db honest ■hard work in the House would find a man he could respect in Mr Witty.. He himself proposed to work loyally with Mr Witty, who was distinctly honoured in following in tie footsteps of Mr Rolleeton, one of his predecessors in the Riccarton seat. (Applause.) Mr Witty a* present had no political sins, but during the next three yea-re he would pil« them up quickly enough, and would then have to account for them to his electors. (Laughter.) He felt sure that Mr Witty would worthily represent Riccarton, and in doing co would be*w-orking far the benefit of the colony as a whole. (Applause.) Mr C. Lewis, M.H.R., eaid that he was expected to ibe present as representing the country interests, but ho found it was difficult to separate towa and country interests. Hβ was not going to talk about the farmer being the backbone of the country, and that sort of thing, but would explain how he got among tie speakers that night All sorts and description* of men were on the platform, and he wae opposed to_every man. (Laughter.) That, however, would not prevent hhn from testifying to Mr Witty's worth w a man. (Applause.) If Riccarton would insist upon returning Government candidates, then the only thing they could do was to allow him to pick them-—(laughter)—<uid he must commend the selection made in Jlr Witty. Mr Witty and himself were ostensibly opposed, but he thought that when Mr Witty j returned from his first session, be would ! tell them that the ordinary conception as to the relation* between members of the different nides was altogether an erroneous I one. If Mr Witty wanted eb any time any assistance or advice concerning his work in the House, he would know where to come for it. (Applause.) He felt sure that Mr Witty would always plough a straight furrow, and be would congratulate the constituents of Riccarton upon -getting him. (Applause.) Air Rutherford said he tendered Mr! Witty hie most sincere ooagratulattoae. During the election campaign his heart j ■went out to Mr- Witty, who had to fight a great man in Mr Rueeell, as he himself had to fight a great man in Mr Meredith, end he could congratulate Sir Witty upon hie splendid victory. . (Loud applause.) Mr W. Bunion" said hB hid been aa-

time, and had always known him to be an "honourable and straightforward man, and one who would be a worthy representative for Riccarton. (Applause). Mr G. Laurensoa said he must express his unqualified pleasure at seeing Mr Witty the elected member for Riccarton, and he felt sure that Mr Witty would do honour to the electorate, and the constituency would never regret having elected him as its member. (Applause). Mr W»ymoutb said he wished to add his congratulations to the Riccarton elec-torat-e in having securing auch a representative as Mr Witty, and to Mr Witty in having such a constituency. He felb confident that Mr Witty, from the way l>3 had taken care of his own business, and the public business that he had undertaken in the past, would worthily represent the electorate. He felt confident that Mr Witty's representation would extend long beyond the three years. (Applause). Mr Witty, who was loudly applauded when he rose to reply, said he felt it a great honour to be asked to stand, and a greater honour to be elected, but the greatest honour of all was that done to him that evening. He recognised that it was due to the energy and ability of his friends in the electorate that secured his return, and he hoped that his friends would keep in with him, and would not hesit&t* to speak concerning what was wanted in the district. The markets of the colony made New Zealand prosperous, and the Government should do their utmost to retain and extend the present markets, and to find outlets for the colony's produce. He had been told to stick to his party, but he would stick to hie principles. (Applause.) He felt that in the future all the Canterbury members would pull together, and not, as they had done In the past, separated. Even if he had been defeated, he would have looked back to the campaign with pleasure, for everywhere n* was most courteously received. It waa the duty of the electors to let him know what was wanted in the district, and it was his duty to see that they got it, provided the requests were fair and reasonable. He would do the best he could for hie constituents, end for the general good of the colony. (Loud applause.) The Hon. W. C. Walker proposed a , hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was carried by acclamation. la the intervals between the addressee songs were sung by Miss M. Moon, Miss M. E. Bush, and Messrs J. E. Hanson, A, Young, C. Edgar, and R, Barry, and Mr l>. Ryaa contributed a recitation. At the conclusion of £he arranged programme, xefreshmente were handed round.