Banquet to the Hon. W. Rolleston.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 46, 20 August 1894, Page 3

Banquet to the Hon. W. Rolleston.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, August 19 The Hon. W. Rolleston was bunquetted fct Bellamy*, Parliament buildings, on Saturday night, by his political friends The company, which numbered about thirty, was almost exclusively composed of past and present members of the House of Representatives and members of the Legislative Council. — The Hon. Captain Russell presided. The guest of the evening was on his right and the Hon. J. Bryce on his left. The Hon E. Mitchelson occupied the vicechair. Mr Rolleston, in replying to the toast of bis health, said he did not 4e-ire to return to political life as a ghost of the. past when the present party was doing its duty in a way that would commend itself to the admiration of the country. Personally he would rather be out of Parliament, and if he ever returned to public life it would not be of his own seeking, but every man was bound to come to the fore if his fellow colonists asked him to do so. His own defeat at the last election came at a time of great difficulty when stronger and abler men might well have been glad M> be relieved of the responsibility. Comparing the land administration of the present with that of the past, he said he had reason to believe that the present land administration was in a terrible mess. He did not care whether they were called Conservatives or Liberals. They were working towards what was urgently needed— the. formation of a National party representing all that was ablest, beet, and truest, for' without truth nothing could be accomplished. His party had arrived at social progress as distinct from social fads, and though numerically weak the party in the House was a standing protest against the motion that an healthy Democracy could exist with a gagged press and muzzled Parliament. The colony was now passing through a severe crisis, and industrial classes were suffering severe privations owing to the loss of confidence occasioned by the Government leaving principles and passing on to fads. The country, however, had a great future before it, and those around him were quite able to grapple with the circumstances. Mr R. C. Bruce proposed the Legia lative Council, the Hon. C C Bowen replying. The Hon. V* r J. Bryce in proposing the House of Representatives, said it was evident that the weakness of Democracy consisted in the corruption, want of integrity, and above all the want of truth on the part of the leaden. Politics in this country would yet come right, though financial troubles were assuredly beiag created. The other toasts were " Former members of Parliament," " Press," and " The Chairman "