A LUNCHEON.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 323, 25 January 1902, Page 2

A LUNCHEON.

SPEECHES DY THE PREMIER AYE GENERAL BABINGTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. The luncheon on board the troopship. Surrey to-day was attended a large number ot prominent citize” Ministers of th-' Crown and General : .lgf n were a;.-o present. Tiit* Premier, in reply* ! > the toast of the Gove: nm nt. the Ministry, in its reply to the c. !, b • the Mother Country, had the prop . witi; it a'i rJonef He saul he had read svith amazement a press cablegram stating that a contract for t'ne supply of meat to the army in South Africa had gene to the Argentine. Bid the Home authorities need waking up ? If they did. the colonics would have to let them know with no uncertain voice that Australia and New Zealand could give them supplies, ample in quantity and of the best quality. He had cabled to ths Home Uilice pointing out the grave injustice which had been done by the action of the War Office regarding these meat contracts, and was anxiously awaiting a reply. He felt that there was evidently great ignorance of the powers of the supply of the colonies at Home, and he trusted that the foreign meat contracts would yet be cancelled. Replying to his health, General Babington said he could speak from experience of the New Zealanders and of the Imperial forces. He had had the honor of commanding the New Zealand Fourth Contingent in South Africa. He found them of the best and had never heard a word other than praise of the Fourth or of the men of any of ttie New Zealand Contingents. Any British officer who had the good fortune to command the New Zealanders was always afterwards anxious to have them under him. He had been honestly astonished at the welcome accorded him when he arrived yesterday, and he would do his very best to serve the colony.