FAREWELLED

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 137, 6 December 1929, Page 9

FAREWELLED

ME. AND MES. WILFOED

RETIREMENT FROM POLITICS

A large gathering of Hutt Valley residents farewelled the Hon. T. M. Wilford, K.C., and Mrs. Wilford at the Lyceum Theatre, Lower Hutt, last evening. Addresses were delivered by the Mayor of-Hutt (Sir Alexander Roberts) and the- Mayor of Petone (Mr. D. M'Kenzie). In his reply, Mr. Wilford announced his retirement from political life. Mr. and Mrs. Wilford leave for London on Saturday next. Mr. Wilford will on arrival in London take up his duties as High Commissioner for New Zealand. .

Sir A. F. Roberts congratulated Mr. Wilford on his appointment as High Commissioner. Mr. Wilford had, he said, represented the Hutt Valley in Parliament for over thirty years—■ which -was a record. During that period he had devoted his time to furthering ihe interests of the Hutt people and district. On behalf of tho residents the Speaker thanked Mr. "Wilford for his splendid services. Sir Alexander remarked that he was sure Mr. Wilford "would discharge tho duties of his high office with credit to himself and the Dominion.

Mr. D. M'Kenzie, Mayor o£ Petone, said that Mr. AVilford's services to the district were highly appreciated by the people. He had all the qualifications necessary for the successful discharge of his new duties. He presented Mr. and Mrs. Wilford with a souvenir album containing the signatures of large numbers of his friends in the Hutt district, with whom he had been so long associated. The album was inscribed: "To the Hon. T. M. Wilford and Mrs. Wilford, as a token, of appreciation of long and faithful services to the people of the Hutt constituency."

MR. WILFORD'S ADDRESS.

On rising to reply, Mr. Wilford was heartily cheered. He remarked he felt a delightful freedom that evening. '' This is a party without party," he said, "and for the first time for 3G years, as High Commissioner-elect I have no politics; and during the time of my occupancy of that position I shall have no politics. I hope some of you will come to the High Commissioner's office; and, when you do, write on your card: 'A little bit of Hutt.' (Laughter and applause.)

"I ani going to do my best. I am going to see if I can help to improve the trade and commerce of this country; to represent it at world conference;1, and wherever I may bo called upon to go: and when I come back, if you can still receive me as' having succeeded, it will be sufficient for me." He thanked those present, and those who had congratulated him from different parts of New Zealand —amongst whom were three ex-High Commissioners—Sir William Hall-Jones, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and Sir James Allen—all of-whom had written him splendid letters of appreciation, and said that he "could do the job." He did not know whether he could or not, but. he was going to try; and he. hoped when ho came back they would be able to have some kind things to say of him and of the efforts he had made.

A STRONG IMPERIALIST. "I propose to try and help to promote the growth of the national good. I am, a? you know, a strong Imperialist. (Applause.) You know that as far as the: Empire is concerned I will do. ■what I can to see that you are represented in a fitting manner, as part of the great commonwealth of nations.

"I would like to say to the young men of this country—if my message can reach them—'When you are young, fcitch your wagon to a star. Have some ambition. Don't tell anybody what it as. If you can, rather make them believe that it is other than you are Striving for; you have more chance then of getting there quickly. ' (Laughter.) The boy without ambition is as ■useless and futile in life as is playing football without goal-posts."

Mr. Wilford said that this was his fifth visit to England, and he knew a lot of people there—prominent people as well k He had visited thirty-two countries, and he knew numbers of leading men in. those countries, some of whom he wonld meet in world conferences. That acquaintance would not be to the disadvantage of this country, he hoped.

"GAINED MY AMBITION."

'.'I go away with mixed feelings. I Jiave gained my ambition, and I have lost, my seat. (Laughter.) I have often thought of retiring from 'political life, but each time when the smell of battle came I could not keep away; but now I have been able to break the long course of political work in which I have been engaged for thirty-six years—since I first stood for this constituency. The year 1893 was the time of my first election, and there are some in this room who were on my committee then. It is to those who have helped me that I owe all I have, and I wish fo tell you now that 1 do not intend, on returning to New Zealand, to re-enter political life as a candidate for any constituency. Even if it may be deemed somewhat egotistical to have expressed myself as I have, I think I have done my bit." (Applause.)

Mr. Wilford said that shortly after arriving in England ho would take part in a Five Power Conference on disarmament, and ho hoped his travels in different countries would assist him at that meeting.

KEEPING MONEY IN THE EMPIRE

"In conclusion," said Mr. Wilford, •'I would like to say that it is a great wrench to me to be no longer member for Hutt. I had no trouble or worry at all when I wrote my resignation as a member of the Executive Council and as Minister of Defence and Justice, but on the day I ■wrote my resignation as member for Hutt all the crowded memories of my

life canie back to me."

After returning thanks for the kind tilings that had been said of him that evening, Mr. Wilford remarked that the goodwill of one's fellow-citizens was more than riches. He was satisfied that he had made many friends, and that he would retain them. To the Manufacturers and business meu he would say that he had taken a keen interest in the commerce of the country—in the country's exports and imports—and the slogan he believed in •was that of keeping the money of the Empire in the family. He hoped to be able to help in the increase of trade between the Motherland and this coun-

try. "While to-day we could not take. for,reasons those present knew, a large! number of migrants from Home, still we could help them to get work where they were by buying their goods. (Applause.) Every time a New Zealander purchased British goods, and urged his neighbours to do so, he helped to reduce the army of unemployed in the Old Land, and lie helped to stabilise those industries which were much in need of assistance. If the Mother Country could not look to its children for that assistance—and we gtill called the Old Land "Homo" it ■was a poor look-out for us. "I <r 0 f or . •ward without any belief in my "power to do any groat thing, but I go forward as a. loyal 5w Zealander, determined to do his best." (Loud applause.) Mrs. Wilford, in a few feeling ancl graceful remarks, also.returned thanks for the kind things which had been j»sid of her and Mr. Wilford.