YORKSHIRE SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 926, 20 September 1910, Page 5

YORKSHIRE SOCIETY.

ANNUAL DINNER. V ' SPEECHES BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND MR..MASSEY. The fifteenth annual dinner of the Yorkshire Society was-held at Godber's Rooms, Cuba Street, last evening, and.well maintained its past reputation as one of tho most enjoyable and successful social functions held in Wellington during the year. Natives of the largest county in the British Isles and their friends mustered in strong foroo round tho festive board, and seemed to yield a cheerful and ready asquicscence to: the Yorkshire motto on the' menu: "Tuk in, lads, ov victuals there's no stint." The Rev. J. S. Sykes, president, occupied the chair. On his right were the Eight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward,.P.C. (Prime Minister), tho Eight Eev. Dr. Wallis (Bishop of . Wellington), and Mr. John Duthie. To the chairman's left were Mr. W. F. ; Massey, MiP. (Leader of the Opposition), and Mr! T. M. Wilford, M.P. (Mayor of Wellington). ■'■■'■ . Apologies were received from his Excellency the Governor and Sir Robert Stout (Chief. Justice). , -•:■.■■:" The customary loyal toasts of "The ■King" and "The Governor" were given by the chairman and duly honoured. "The Dominion of New Zealand." The Mayor proposed the toast of "The Dominion of New, Zealand.". In doing so he said that were he to let himself go on such an occasion—considering that the Primo Minister and the Leader of the Opposition .were to reply—he did not know where it would end. . (Laughter.) , The subject with which he had to deal was one which had no limitations, and which touched the heart of everyone. With "Dominion" was closely blended the word "Empire," and New Zealand was the first country whioh' had taught the world tho meaning of an imperialistic democracy. He did not consider that New Zealand today, was more than. partially developed; we were carving out a destiny of our own, and to his mind whoever ruled this: country, its politicians were actuated by the highest and noblest motives and had every confidence in its future.' (Applause.).-, . The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. ■ The Premier's Optimistic Speech. .. The ■ Prime Minister; in reply/' made tumorous allusion .to the .Mayor's. sue--cess'ia steering'dear of party, politics in his speech."- He desired to congratulate the ; men.'-.of Yorkshire oh being able to yearly their associations-. ;with , their native/ county in a manner which the representatives of no other "county in England, Ireland,- 3 or-Scotland could equal. (Applause.) Dealing with, the Dominion, lie thought he might* say that we were' better, than, a year or two ago.,: Happily for every one. of 'Mis,' there 'were signs of returning prosperity on all sides. (Hear, hear.) ■ The-best; indication was thatcompared with a-, similar;.'period of last year—that great barometer,; the Customs revenuo, was■ 4174,000 better-.than■ then.' (Applause.), That was a matter.on.which inen of all shades of politics might conv.gratulato; themselves/' ■ Ho referred" to the : great ;• undertaking. at present ,being carried'out in South Africa in the shape, of the federation of the': British colonies 'there, and - the'dispatch of :an emissary from New Zealand, to participate in the opening of the -'Union. Parliament. ..New ,Zealand was glad 'to assist. in building up;as a powerful >: portion: of; the, Empire, : its' latest acquisition. '. We were proud to see the, development 'going on,-and, : by sending'; ; a .'to: show that, we- were- one :in .«sentiment; one ':':'} in -~-' .'desire; ' "and '. certainly: one as ;far. as Empire-went. ■.}... Steering clear : of anything that might' hurt the most, fastidious politician,. he'•' might say tbat,/however'.we in New Zealand might differ "iw political matters, tve <were trying to push 'this Dominion forward, and to ;see that,,it:was in.; a better 'position' when; we. left .this world, ,or, departed, from' the'political arena/rth'an- when we came into' it.., He was proud to be' one/ of those who looked upon New Zealand as a country of: great; J( pos i sjbiJitjcsi., .and,-, Indeed its potentialities were'beyond; the power; of anyone in the smallest: way '- imaginable to forecast. : He was perfectly certain;that it'had.a great futuro,before it."; He- agreed-.with.'what .-had- been" said "as, to its attractiveness, its productiveness, ■ and-.its ability to grow.,'a: sturdy, taco. Though we:,were distant : from; the Old Land;we were still a powerful little conn-. ,try'.with great ambitions, and he believed' .that-in the future:these;ambitions would be. attained.,. (Applause.) ~,■-::. /Leader, of the Opposition.; ' ■ '.;Mr.: ITassey congratulated, the : society on. the success -of its annual gathering. New.Zealand:was now no insignificant part, of his Majesty's Dominions. '.It.-was : growing—not, perhaps as. rapidly .'as' some of, them would. like—but. growing ,in wealth and importance,- and in population..; As it grow, in population pur'responsibilities increased, both' towards ourselves and .the..great Empire !of •which .we formed a part.'.-; Whereas a few years ago we were-sending our.lads who couldride and shoot to South' Africa—when the country was devastated by all the' horrors of war—to-day we were dispatching a representative to the .opening of tlie first South African. Parliament. He'sin-' oerely ■'■ hoped .that, that: great function would ...be. successful.: He regarded/it'as one'. of'■";the': most satisfactory/:.and . events ; -'- that had.., occur'red '; in our: /time.' (Applause.) .-; Yet there ..were :,people . who said' tho British Empire was decaying. : It' was not, decaying, and there' was no./possibility, ;of its .decaying, so ldng' as 'the young ".and'!.vigorous nations • within the; Empire- : -Caha.da,- Australia, South Africa, and,, last, -but not least, New. Zealanddid, their- duty. We owed- out duty to the Empire, first, and afterwards to our own'-.country. It was-our duty,";whether' 'wg'.were public, men.or' private citizens;, to prepare for thetime- when the;'popu-'. lation'would be.nqt one.million, but ten millions,- and- fo promote those, qualities of grit, courage, enterprise, and energy for .which the old pionoers, and early, settlers were, so remarkable,. and which had helped to make' this; country. what it is. (Applause.)'-.. New; Zealand >as bound to produce a race equal.to any other people—a strong,' healthy," self-re-, 'liaht, and, he :hoped, an .educated,, democracy. He ; hoped its motto would-be; 'TJpward .and Onward." .(Applause.) Other Toasts, ■: Mr/ W.,S. Bedford gave the toast of. "Our County." Yorkshire was, he saidj still the biggest county in tho world, and a great county: besides—the biggest, bonniest, ■■ and best. - (Applause.) ■ : Tho toast' was enthusiastically honoured. •.'■■• . ":.' : "■':" '•'■'■.''■'■■'. : Mr Chas. Wilson, in responding,..retailed a. number of storiesi which pictured the Yorkshireraah in divers quaint and amiable lights. Yorkshire was the best country in the world, ho said, ex-' cept New Zealand, which was just a little better. (Applause.) ■ Tho Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Wallis), responding to the toas't of "Our Guests," which had been proposed by the president, paid a tribute .to the ■ greatness and beauty of Yorkshire, and the successful character and hospitality of'.its people. He hoped the,society would continue to flourish, and that they would have many more gatherings in honour of the county of. which thoy were so vitally proud; (Applause.) ~ . Professor Easterfield, in giving "Town and Trado," dwelt' on the conspicuous part played by Yorkshiremen in the growth and prosperity of Wellington, and the leading part taken by higher education in the development of other countries. He alluded to Mr. John Duthie, whoso name had been coupled with the toast, as tho founder of a great business in tho city, and one whose namo would always be "remembered for his connection with the development of Wellington. (Applause.) ~ .i ~ Mr. Duthie, in response, pointed out the many advantages possessed by Wellington as compared with other centres in its sunerior commercial and industrial 'institutions, its excellent water, drainago, and tramway'. services, wharves, and shipping accommodation, hospital and charitable institutions, and public buildings, and/as the healthiest city south of the lino. . . : During tho evening a number of agreeable songs and. recitations were contributed by Messrs. Roland Robertson, E.> H. Parkes, E. J. Hill, E, B. L: Reade, and Marcus Marks.