GUEST OF THE N.Z. CLUB

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 48, 20 November 1920, Page 10

GUEST OF THE N.Z. CLUB

SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE ENTERTAIN LD AN OPTIMISTIC SPEECH / bir Thomas Mackenzie (Into High Com* nussioner for New 'Zealand in Loudon) was two guest yesterday at a luiichcon given -by the New Zealand Club. Tho president of the club (Mr. W. 11. Pago) occupied the chair, Among thoxo present was ilr. Clutba j] Qckcnzio, who was warmly applauded (is ho took his S n'li t ■ was very large. Hie chairman extended to Sir Thomas Jlnckenzie n very hearty wolcomu from the club. Ho referred to the importance of the position that the guest had held (luring the past eight years—years of hard work, strain, and anxiety. New • ' le grateful i'or what its Iligh Commissioner had done, particu. 'WI.Y for the tvoo??. (Applause.) Lady Mackenzie also deserved praise for her share in the work. (Applause.) .He wished the guost continued health and strength and fresh opportunities of serv. ing the country;

Sir Tliomau Mackenzie returned thanks for tho welcome and for the praise hsslowed upon his labours. Ho said that lie was profoundly grateful to Providence for having given hiin strength for hin work and- for having inspired in New Zoalaiiders the kindly feelings with which thc.t' had greeted liiui oil his return. Noi: to lmve done what ho had done for New Zealand's soldiers at Home would have been to neglect an obvious duty. A finer body of men had never been in Britain, nnd no British family lmd over found the New Zealand soldiers anything but gentlemen. (Applause.) A Counterblast to Cassandra. Some were saying to-day that disaster loomed ahead, continued tho lato. High Commissioner. He had not been long enough in tho country sinco his return to know whether that was correct, but ho felt that it was not. Turing thirtythree years of public life ho had constantly met men .who prophesied disaster to New Zealand, but disaster had never come. He remgmbered that when Sir Julius Vogel introduced bis immigration and public works scheme troublo had been predicted, no believed that Sir Julius Vogel waa tho greatest statesman this country had ever 6eon. The work of the man proved that. At, the timo at which the policy referred to was inaugurated, things were exceedingly, bad. A little lator Fronde, tho historian, said that tho country was enjoying a mushroom prosperity, but vliat when tho spending of the millions had come to an end, tliey would 6to into what scondition New Zealand would fall. To-day it was apparent from tho very 6eale upon which .the Dominion ilind toeeu able to raiso money for« the war how far out tho Cassnndras were in their predictions. no was sure that the country would weather the storm. The lato war, disastrous an it had Veen, nnd served to reveal tho strength of tho countries that mndo up tho British Empire. A great many moro Biitisn «peoplo ought to be brought to New Zealand. At tho moment fully 10,000 good people were waiting to como out here, and ho was surft that, 50,000 desirable immigrant* eoulcl easily be obtained from tho Old Land. During the Inst twenty years a pronf many Britons had left tho Old Land for foreign countries, and the places of the majority of them had been filled by the off-ecourinerß of Kiiropei The Empire could not nfford to lose what it lost in that condition of things.' With regard to his own future. Sir Thomas Jfaekenzie said that wliilo he had not definite plans he hoped to give Ids- services, either hero or abroad, to the country. Offers had been made, to him on the other side, Jnit flidoring them ho' wished to seo- whether his services wero wanted here. Ho was not referring to politics. Ho had had enough of politics. i If his services wero not required by this country, hp would roturn to Britain. He was very grateful for the welcome extended to himself aiid his family. (Applause.) .. The gathering Bang a verse of. tho i\ational Anthem before dispersing.