LUNCHEON TO DELEGATES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 10

LUNCHEON TO DELEGATES

Tho delegates to the conference were entertained at luncheon by tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Lii-ke) ami the Ciiv Council in the Concert Chamber ot the Town Hall yesterday. Amongst the "nests wero the Prime Minister (Might Hon W. F Massev), the Hon. Sir James ■Mien (Minister of Finance), the Hon. W. Nosworthy Minister of Agriculture) the Hon. J. B. Hinc (Minister of Internal ■\ffaire), the Leader of the Opposition (Sir Joseph Wavd), the Speaker of the Legislative Council (Hon. W. C. 1. Cnrncross) -Mr. 11. E. Holland (chairman of tho Parliamentary Labour Parly), and a number of members of the Legislature. The Prime Minister proposed the (oust of tho "Prosperity of the Municipal Interests of New Zealand." In doing so he said that the application of the idea? that. orMimted in the municipalities had been in the 'best interests of the Dominion. Ho noticed that there was a lady delegato to tho conference (Miss .E. Melville, Auckland City Council), and this ho regarded as a happy augury lor the success of municipal work. It also indicated that in the near future some of the fair sex would bo taking their seats in Parliament. Three of the most important matters fo rthe consideration of municipalities were town-planning, hydro-electric supply, and housing. These throe matters for the oonsidorntioii of mnnicipaliposition in connection with tho work of municipal government. Tho municipalities and Parliament must combine in exchanging ideas which would result in (lie passing of laws that would be for llio benefit and the prosperity of the Dominion as a whole. Sir Joseph Ward referred to Ins visit to Paris, which, he said, vats a city that showed forth pre-eminently the results of municipal Activity. The great Napoleon had shown himself to be a far-seeing man when he laid out Paris in a manna 1 that portrayed the beauties of tho city. The Municipal Conference had very important functions lo perform. In the past Governmonls had given the .romiN passed by the conference very considerable attention. If the present Government did not appreciate to the full the importance of the remits that would be placed before it. and givo effect lo the recommendations of the conference, then,the best thing tho delegates could do would be to send tlm remits along to him, and no fault would be found .with (lie reception they would receive. (Laughter.) Air. 11. Holland, M.P., sincerely hoped that the combined wisdom of the conference would result in tho passing of enactments which would make the Dominion even more hnppy and prosperous than it was at the present time. At the request of Mr. Luke, Mr. C. E. Mackiiy (Mayor of Wn.tgiinui) expressed the thanks of the delegates to Hie conference for the speeches that had been made by the Prime Minister; Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr. Holland. Ho agreed that the work of the conference would ultimately result in tho adoption of many features of a very desirable character, not only from the utilitarian standpoint, b it f'.'iiu a social point.of view.'