COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2644, 28 September 1882, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

A complimentary dinner took place last evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Colombo road, tendered by the Sydenham electors to their member, Mr W. White, M.H.8., as a token of their respeot and esteem for hi* services in Parliament daring the post session. There were about 120 persons present. The chair wa* occupied by hie Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Joyce), having on his right the guest of the evening, Messrs J. Holmes, M.H.K., W. Montgomery, M.H.8., and Ivess, M.H.8., the member* of the Sydenham Borough Council, Jw. The vice-chairs were occupied by Messrs B. Jones and Crowley. Ample justice having been done to the spread provided, The following telegram was read by the chairman from Mr B. J. Seddon, M.H.B.:—

“ Wish yon enjoyable evening j convey to the guests our hearty good wit bee. Proud to tee the electors of Sydenham properly appreciate the integrity and commendable efforts of their worthy member in the Liberal oanse.” A letter of apology was also read from Mr Thos. S. Weston, M.H.8., regretting his inability to be present. The usual loyal toasts were then proposed, the National Anthem being played by Mr Juncker at the piano, and snog by the visitors. The Chairman then gave the toast of “ The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” coupled with the name of Mr J. T. Fisher, which was drunk amid cheers. Mr J. T. Fisher, who was on riling received with cheers, briefly responded. The Chairman said that they had met there that evening to do honor to their representative, Mr White, and no party politics, ex* oapt from the visiting members of the Assembly and their guest, could be al lowed. It was the first public dinner held in Sydenham in honor of their first representative after the first session of Parliament. All therefore they wished to do was to talk of Sydenham and Sydenham matters. [Hear, hear. | Mr Crowley said the pleasing task of proposing the toast of “ Our Gneat” had been delegated to him. Ha felt sure they would ell agree with him that it was only right they should do honor to their representative that evening. [Cheers.] Mr White had begun his public career as a member of the Sydenham Borough Council, and as chairman of the works committee had by his practical knowledge rendered signal service to the ratepayers. It was in this capacity that the aptitude of Mr White for public affairs was manifested. Whilst in the Council seeing the depression which existed, Mr White had brought forward a motion for reducing the rate to 9d, which, however, be was sorry to say was not carried, only one other member of the Council assisting him. [Cheers.] Mr White, as a representative in the Assembly, represented more people than any other single member of the House, and the gathering that night proved that his efforts were most thoroughly appreciated by his constituents. Mr White had the satisfaction of knowing that his action as the representative of Sydenham had met with the approval of a large number of people. [Cheers.] Mr White, who, on rising, was received with loud cheers, said that it] only faintly expressed his feelings when he said ho felt proud. It was a day which he should look jack to with pride as long as he lived, and he felt that older politicians than himself would have reason to feel flattered at the reception he had met with. [Cheers.] As to politics, he hoped on some future occasion to meet them in that hall and explain to them the action he had taken during the past session. [Cheers.] He had no idea until he came into the hall that he had so many friends. It was true he had not spoken much but he had done his best for the Borough of Sydenham, and next session, if he were spared to go again, he should make his voice heard on the various subjects coming before the House. He trusted they would not judge a man’s conduct altogether bjr his votes, because in many oases a choice had to be made between two evil*. As there were a number of toasts to be got through, Le would not delay them longer. It was quite a surprise to him to receive so flattering a reception as they had that evening given to him. Ho had not expected any such honour, but ho felt greatly flattered that they should have recognised hi* efforts in the way they had. [Cheers ] Mr Jones proposed " The General Assembly,” coupled with the name of Mr W. Montgomery, M.H.B. The toast was drunk amid applause. Mr W. Montgomery, who on rising was received with loud applause, said that ha thanked them heartily for the cordial way in which the toast had been drunk and for the honour of coupling his name with it. Ho felt it an honour to belong to that Assembly, and he desired to tell them that after the heat of debate all the members were on friendly terms. The chairman had said that this was not a time for politics, and he quite agreed with him. For himself, he came there to do honor to a very worthy representative. [Cheers.] And now a word as to the House of Bepresentalives. Coming after a general election, of course there were a number of what were known as new men, but they were not new to public work, as they had graduated in the Boad Boards, the County Councils, and Municipal 1 Council*. [Cheers.] It had been said by the papers, and also in private conversation, that there was too much talk in the Assembly, but he desired to point out that members were not sent there alone to vote; that talking was a part of their duty, because when a member stood up it was with a wish to convince by

his arguments those opposed to him. Lot thorn remember that while the subjects discussed were oI the utmost importance to the welfare of New Zealand, quite as much as the subjects discussed in the British Parliament were to Great Britain—well, the English Parliament took six months to do their work, and the Parliaments of New South Wales and Tiotoria took a far longer time than they did. He said this, that the men sent up to Parliament were men fully representative, having the good of the country at heart, and they must remember that a great variety of topics had to be discussed, so that it was impossible for them to do work rapidly. With regard to Mr White, he desired to say this, that ho was a member who made up his mind on the subjects brought before him, and was unmoved by the blandishments of either one side or the other. [Oheers.J He ventured to say that when Mr White i spoke next session ho would speak good sound sense, and that waa what they wanted. [Cheers. 1 He thanked them very heartily for the way in which the toast had been drunk, and he desired to express his pleasure at being present that evening. [Cheers,] The Chairman said that he desired to propose the toast of “ Our Visitors,” coupled with the names of Messrs Holmes and Ive; a, [Cheers.] While speaking on this subject he desired to explain that the member for Christchurch North was not present that evening from no fault of his own, nor was any slight intended. He thin gave them the health of

3 “ Our Visitors,” coupled with the names of Messrs Holme* and Ives*. [Cheers.] Mr Ives* had some all the way from Aabburtun to do honor to Mr White, and Mr Holme* aI«o had expressed the pleature it gaye him to , he pretest. ("Cheer*.] The toast wo* drank with mniioal honor*, i. Mr Holmes, who was warmly applauded, | said that he had been accused of kissing the I blarney stone, but after hearing the Major j he felt anre that he could only come from one country—the green *od of Brin. [Oheers.] The visitors were flattered at being invited to be present on the occasion, and ho should have come there that evening even if he had not been invited, because he wished to *ee how the model borough entertained it* representative. It was a lesson to the larger cities how to treat their representative*. [Cheers.] He was delighted to see the class to whom he felt full political power should be entrusted doing honor to a gentleman like Mr White, who had done his duty like a man. [Cheers j Hi* friend Mr White and himself had fought shoulder to shoulder through an arduous campaign, and though not always successful, they had endeavored to do their best for Sydenham and Christchurch first, Canterbury second, and Now Zealand third. [Cheers ] They had not violated a promise they had made on the hustings, nor given a vote except in the interests ho had spoken of. Mr White had been most assiduous in the discharge of his Parliamentary duties, and it was mainly through hi* exertions that the extra 6i per day had been r. rested from the Government for the working classes, though they proposed to restore 10 per cent, to tho highly paid officials. [Cheers.] Mr White was an honor to the constituency of Sydenham. and they had done well in sending such a man to represent them. [Cheers.] There was only one littlo fault, and that was that since Mr White had returned home he had been patted on the back by the Conservative Press, and classed with such a thorough going Tory as Mr Conolly. He trasted their friend would not be cajoled by any soft things said of him by the Tory newspapers. He thanked them ouoa more for the way in which the toast had been drnnk. [Cheers.] Mr Ive*s also responded, bearing testimony to the admirable manner in which Mr White had discharged his parliamentary duties. Mr White had throughout by hi* votes done hie best to advance the interests of New Zealand, and his vote always followed his voice. He thsnked them cordially for the honor they had done him in coupling his name with the toast, and it gave him great pleasure to find so large and influential a gathering to do honor to their representative who had done hi* duty so well. [Cheers.] Mr G, Fisher proposed the next toast, " The liooal Industries, 1 ' pointing ont the vast benefit conferred on the oommanity by the growth in their midst of these manufactures. The greatest fostering that could be afforded to these industries would in hi* opinion be the construction of the West Coast railway. [Cheers,] He would couple with the toast the names of Messrs D. Beese and H. B. Kirk. [Cheers.] The toast was drunk amid oheers. Ur D. Beese responded, tracing the history of industries from the Israelites to the present day. : Mr H. B. Kirk also responded briefly. I The ether toasts proposed were “ The j Mayor and Council of Sydenham,” “The ] Working Men’s Political Association,” “The j Press,” “ The Ladies," and ‘‘Tho Caterer. 1 * ]