HON. W. HALL-JONES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2363, 2 December 1908, Page 5

HON. W. HALL-JONES.

LUNCHEON AT WELLINGTON.

SPEECH BY

NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER,

IPkess Association.!

WELLINGTON, Dec. 1

The new High Commissioner woe entertained at luncheon to-day. Am. ong those present wore the Premier, the Mayor, the Hon. J. A. Millar, the Hon. J. McGowan., and several members of Parliament and representative bodies. Mr. H. C. Tewsley, president of the Chamber of Commerce, presided. and said he hoped that the Premier would give the new High Comnissioner all the backing up he required. particularly in regard to immigration and the advertising department. The position should be made more a commercial one than a literary one. He also suggested that the Hon. J. A. Millar would mate a good Minister of Railwavs.

The Premier, however, refused to he drawn, and merely intimated that rlio selection would be made in a few weeks.

The Mayor, the Hon. T. K. MacDonald, and Messrs Harkness and Dutliie were tlie other speakers, all of whom spoke in complimentary terms of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones. The latter received a warm welcome on rising to reply. He thanked the previous speakers for the tributes to hint, and said that he. too, went back to the old daystevhen lie first faced the electors. Turning to the duties awaiting him, he hinted at measures which could be taken to impress the value of all New Zealand’s produce upon the people of Great Britain. He said that there was ordinarily no sentiment in business, hut- there should be a sentiment which should touch tho people of the Empire to reciprocate in matters of business for tlieir mutual advantage. If common sense were brought to bear on all the problems which occurred in the line, success would he assured. Referring to the London office, lie mentioned that he would like to see an exhibit of the country’s products-in connection with the establishment. He believed that such a display would he seen by hundreds, of thousands of people in the course of the year. With the opportunity of exhibiting our products in all parts of the country, he thought a demand for them would be created, which would result in competition. Competition would result in an increase of the price of products, Inifc that meant money, and lie hoped that there would he no carping at- ail expenditure which would increase our output a hundredfold. (Applause.) It was pleasing t-o him to feel that lie carried with him the good wishes of so many people in New Zealand. His whole energies'would he devoted to trying to fulfil tlieir expectations and trying to do his best for New Zealand. He hoped, at any rate, to end his days in New to sec our present prosperity continued and extended. and lie saw* l no reason why it should not be. His first duty would, be to New Zealand, and in doing that he believed lie would bo doing his best work for the Empire as a whole. (Loud applause.)

AN EVENING GATHERING. WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. There was a largo crowd at the Town Hall to-niglit, avlicii a public Withering was held -to bid Mr. HallJones farewell. -Speeches -wer© delivered bv tlio Mayor, the Prime Minister, ;yid the High Commissioner.