MINISTERIAL VISIT,

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1918, Page 4

MINISTERIAL VISIT,

STR JAMES ALLEN IN WESTLAND Sir James Alien Minister of Defence and Acting Prime Minister, left Greymouth yesterday morning at 11 o’clock On arrival at Knniara a number of deputations wore heard and a visit ot inspection made to Knmara old People’s Home and the scene of the river encroachment on the Zig Zag road. The Minister, who was accompanied by the lions. Griminoml and Michel, lett by motor car for Hokitika about two o’clock. Just before passing Callaghans track the car ran into a washout on the road which stopped progress for a few minutes. Short stoppages were made at Goldsboroiigh and Stafford. AT WESTLAND HOSPITAL.

Westland Hospital was reached at p.m. where the Minister was welI,uni'll by Mat roil Little. the President (Mr J. J. Breeze) and several other members of the Charitable Aid Hoard. Sir James Alien, aoompanied by the Matron, Dr. idePlierson, the President and others then visited the several wards, and made ail examination of the aid portioni of the Hospital buildings.' Afternoon tea was then served to the visitors who include the Mayor and County Chairman. Mr.' J. J. Breeze (President) then referred to the Question of too completion of the third wing and ndministra tive Quarters of the hospital to complete the building of which two wings had been erected one in 15)07 and one in 1900. Mr. Breeze estimated that £ lo, ooo would he reQiiired and stated the Board were prepared to find £‘s,o )0. if the Government- would find £IO,OOO. In answer lo the Minister it was stated that the now. additions would he required if treatment were to be given to returning soldiers of whom about 1100 bad left Wostinild for the front. Mr Breeze asked for the utmost consideration to the proposals, the ground plan of which was placed before the Minister.

Sir .Tames Allen said the principle of Mm Defence Department that had been agreed upon was that they wore willing to provide for an expenditure for temporary accommodation for soldiers, hub if it were desired to p’*t m permanent worlt than they proposed to put in the amount they would have found lor temporary accommodation towards the permanent work. They estimated that the cost per bed they would have to find would he £IOO, this to include administrative Quarters as well. Hie matter laid 'between the Defence Department. the Hospital Department and the Hospital Board. What he was prepared to do was to provide an amount that would he required to provide foi; .the accommodation of soldiers. He would have to ascertain how many soldiers were likely to have to he prepared for and then they would find about £IOO per bed. Tie would have to consult with the Minister of Hospitals when he went back to Wellington. Ho would ask General Henderson to report as to how many soldiers were likely to he required to lie provided for.

Mr. J. Cameron asked if the Minister would recommend to the .Minister ol Hospitals the necessity of iho re-erect-ion of the administrative quarters. Sir James Allen said lie had seen them and Was of the opinion that their renewal was an urgent necessity, hut lie did not think it would he wise to go on with the whole work at I lie present time. If they did part he thought that would meet Lho case. .Mr. Blank asked if tin* Minister would recommend Cabinet to find the money necessary for the work. Sir James Alien said he thought the Board should at once make application lo the Hospitals Department for the work they required and lie would eonsuit with the Minister and he thought that their requirements would he reasonably met. Mr 11. Williams drew attention to the fact that their Surgeon-Superinten-dent (Dr. Teichehnnntn was at present seriously ill. At present they had Di McPherson relieving, hut the Board wished to ask Mint his services he granted as long as possible, or another medical provided. They also wished to ask lo have Dr. Doctor brought hack Ironi t'm> front, lie knew Mu* district, and the district knew him and would he well satisfied if his services could he secured, lie pointed out that a lew years ago Mu* district had seven doctors and now there was only one. Sir James Allen said he would consult with Hon. G. AY. Russell and lie promised if the Hospital Department was unable to allow Dr McPherson to continue and is unable to provide another officer then he Sir James) would find one from the Defence Department. They could rest assured that they would not he left without a doctor. As for securing the services of l)r. Doctor that would he a Question for the Defence authorities to deal with.

Mr. Breeze l supported the request for the return of • Doctor. Hon J. Grimmond also supported the request for l)r Doctor being recalled from service from he had recently been promoted to b? major.Tin* Minister stated that this request was purely one for tin* DeTeiiee authorities to deal with, as it was arranged on a matter of service rendered at the front. Mr. Breeze thanked the Minister for his visit and attention and trusted that good would result. Sir James Allen said their member Captain Seddon was serving his eountyy at the front, and the members of the Government desired to do their utmost to assist the district and that was the reason why lie had come down here on on the present visit. Mr. T. AY. Bruce thanked the Minister for his courteous hearing and visit. ’This concluded the business and the gathering dispersed,, the Minister and party motoring into town which was reached about 5.30 p.m.

WELCOME AT TOAVX HALL. A TIE ARTY GATHERING. At 8 o’clock a joint welcome by the Hokitika Borough and AA’estland County was given the Alinister. 'The chair was occupied by the Afayor (Mr. G. A. Rerrv) and there were on the Mat form. Sir .fames Allen, Hon. 11. L. Afichel, Tloii ,T. Grimmond, the County Chairman. 05. AYard Esq.) and Mr. J. Mfliidl. Proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem, the assemblage, a fully representative one joining in heartily. .

ADDRESS OF WET.COME. The .Mayor called on the Town Clerk (Mr. A. A. Andrewes) who read the following address: — K TO THE HONOURABLE STR JAMES ALIEN, K.C.B. ACTING PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND, Hon. Sir,—On behalf of the inhabitants of the Borough of Hokitika and County of Westland, we tender you a very hearty welcome to this district. Your great work in connection with Defence matters especially in the equipment and despatch of the Expeditionary Forces is recognized and nppreeiated by all. We regret that the time at your disposal does not give you an opportunity of visiting the outlying parts of the dis-

trict, so that you might become fully acquainted with its possibilities and requirements, but we hope that at some future date we may have the pleasure of a more extended visit. In conclusion wo all unite in wishing you health and happiness and trust that you may be long spared to continue those services in the Government, of this Dominion which you have rendered with such conspicuous ability and success.

Wo beg to subscribe ourselves, Your Most Obedient Servants, GEORGE PERRY, Mayor of llokitika. BERNARD WARD, Chairman Westland County. Air. Perry in supplementing the address of welcome lie would like to say a few words. Some four years ago there was >:o thought that the war would last so long. Sir Janies Allen had shown remarkable foresight in his arrangements for the sending away of an expeditionary force. He thought they must all admit that the Government had acquitted itself well and deserved the hearty thanks and good will of the people for their actions during' the strenuous period. Their guest of Lho evening had acquitted himself remarkably well, and it was very great praise indeed to know that in equipment and other essentials the New Zealand troops had been better arranged for than any other reinforcements sent to ti.e iioiu, lroui any oilier oi the wkso

uii.:g ismpiiv. i nis lii.sLnet had been loft without its represonialive lor two or three years as Cape. Setiiion had gone to serve his cuiiuiry, and he had to acknowledge iliac any requests from the people had iv-coiviut caivi ill aLU’iuion at too hands ol tilt* Government, in conclusion lie extended a very hearty welcome to Hokitika and this district to their guest and trusted his stay would be a'pleasant one. (Appiatlst l ). -Mr. lierunrd Ward (County Chairman i said, oil behalf of the W'cstland

C«.limy lit* wished to endorse every remark the -Mayor had made. Ho was quite sure that they met with the apprnral of the people of this district, •sir James Allen had carried out his duties in a very praiseworthy manner and he did not think any man eoiihl have done better ill defence matters than he had done. As tlu-y knew their worthy member Captain Seddon had been away fighting for his King and Country, and for that period they had not been receiving what tiliey were entitled to. We had felt for a time that we were being forgotten. As a member of the County Council, this had come up before him on several occasions that they lin'd been neglected. ’Now, Sir James Allen had come along, even at this late hour to do what he could for us. Me regretted that the visit was lo he such a short one. lie would have liked to have taken him to that land of promise, South Westland. He had recently made a personal visit as County Chairman and he had seen the many difficulties that souk* of Hie settlers were labouring under the want of money to build the bridges. They had asked the Government for this assistance, hut lie regretted t.* say-that oil some occasions their requests had gone in one ear and out of the other. Now that their visitor was here lie

trusted that lie would do his host for the settlers of his district. They had a great hope for Westland, and lie trusted that the support needed would be forthcoming in the very near future, lie also wished to congratulate the Government oil their selection of Hons. Michel and Grimmond as members of the Legislative Council. He hoped that even if their member was still abv.'iit, that these gentlemen would have Lho support of tin* Government in urging the wants of this district. TTo again expressed his gratification at being able to welcome their visitor to the district. (Applause). Sir James Allen was received with loud applause. He thanked them for their great kindness in presenting him with the address which lie would always treasure. lie had conic down here because their member, Captain Seddon, was away at Hie front. During the last ‘Vnv days he lin'd visited the electorate of Captain Coates who was also serving his country, and now he was here to visit this district. He was sorry he I'-iulil not accept the invitation to visit Smith Westland but lie hoped at some future date to see that Eden of N*w Zealand. Tlis expressed his pleasure •it having present on the platform the two worthy members of the Legislative Council. He was sure that they would render good service to the Country. When lie was in England in 1913 lie had informed tile Government that New Zealand was prepared to put in the field a force of 8000 men. It was very lucky that this arrangement Was made for shortly after the war broke out, and t hey were able to send their expeditionary force to Samoa and it was still in their hands. He trusted that Samoa would never again go out of their hands. Who would ha’-p believed when the Mar broke out that New Zealand would by now have been able to send 97,000 meiifullv armed and well eouipped in the space of four years as had been done. Tic wished to express his pleasure at being able to conic to Hokitika. He was spurred up by the knowledge that in this district the people to a man were loyal to a degree. It was a, great stimulus to him to know that there was such a deep loyalty and it spurred him oil to further efforts, lie had come down to this electorate so as not to let them feel that they were being neglected because their member was at the war. The -Government desired to do their utmost for the district and every possible opportunity would he made to. attend to the wants of the electorate, with the feeling that the district would lie as well served as if their member were present here.. Our expeditionary force lias reached 97,000 men. Tt was a huge force, made up of New Zealand hays, Maoris, and quite recently he had inspected ‘25 Gilbert Islanders, a platoon of Fijian men would he in Now Zealand to go to the front. .The Maori contingent has done splendid service both a,t Gallipoli and in- France. There was only one tribe, the Waikatos, who had not taken part. Now they wen* under the Military Service Act, and were now drilling, preparing to go to the front. Sir James stated lie had received a telegram that day stating that Ena had come to a big Maori meeting and there had been approached for aid in recruiting and had settled the matter by offering JO men for active service immediately Referring to the future of the Pacific he said they could not ignore the conditions that at present existed and every effort must be made to see that these islands never went hack again into the hands of our enemies. Referring to the expeditionary force he claimed that they had done great honor to New Zealand and had gained a name that no one need he ashamed of. Reference was made to the splendid services in the battlefields that had made the name of the New Zealanders stand so high. AVe have pledged ourselves to keep up the strength of the New Zealand division and he felt that though their products were of value .unless we win the war the value of our products will not b e worth much. Ho felt that they j

were coming to the end of the war, though lie would not say it. would end j this year. He pointed out that man- I power was in our favour, the air service was in our favour and the submarine menace could not starve England out. We have made many sacrifices of men and money, and it would bo a erne] wrong if we did not complete the task our men had gone out lo carry to a successful conclusion. Speaking at Nelson he made a statement that he now repeated. For four years now hell had been let loose upon the earth and every commandment had been broken. He did not refer to the men who had been | killed in action. He referred to. Belgium to the Armenians and to many other atrocities that had been carried out by the Germans. All the laws of God had been broken and it rested with England and her Allies to see something of God was brought back on to the earth again before the war was ended. During last year, we had sent away 18,000 men, but there bad been 11,009 men had come back, and many of them had been able to take up their work again ill this country, thus relieving the shortage of men to some extent. At the present time they had been able to reduce their reinforcements and by present appearances it would be well into next year before the first, and second divisions were exhausted. He I paid a. tribute to the splendid work of our men, which would never bo effaced from memory. Ho bad been advised by All- Massey that a French mission was coming to Australia, and that an invitation had been extended to them i to come to New Zealand and lie holiev- | ed it would be accepted, and when ; tliev came he felt sure they would be

warmly welcomed. Referring to the returning men lie said they were going to do their utmost, to help them into work suitable for their condition. They were helping them in every possible way so as to have them doing something of a useful nature to help them become betker citizens even than they wore' before they wen I away. His duty as Minister of Defence was to ask them to stand by the men who had gone and made their sacrifices. He was very anxious that they should carry on for those who had gone away, so that when they can back they could take up their lives where they had left off. lie was very grateful for the way they had received him. He would go away feeling gratified at Ii is reception and their kind address whic-li he again assured them lie deeply appreciated. Refer'e was made to the report of the Defence Commission and he pointed out that several departments had grown up from small ones to huge departments. JJm they had done their best and he felt sure their efforts had been approved. The Commission had gone fully inf/ the work of the Department. They had found many faults hut they had aDo found much that was of a complimentary nature.

'They had found that they had spent forty million without any •fraud . They had found that their hospital ships were the envy of the world. They had found that their hospital ships were the envy of the world. They had found that their ohjr.rtors had been more economical than any others. But these results could not have been realised if the. officers of ilie Defence Department bad not been loyal, lo lus officers lie gave credit but credit was also due to the people of New Zealand who were behind them, lie asked them for as long as the war continued the loyal support Mini had always been given. He trusLed to he able to say at the end of the war as the Commission had stated that there was no fraud in the expenditure of their millions. He was of opinion that the system ol training that they had given their men was Hie proper one and it had stood to the New Zealanders on the battlefields. Praise was given lo the work of the medical and dental corps with the forces, which had proved of value that could hardly he Hilly appreciated. Dealing with history''of the war lie asked the people to help by letting them have letters to make extracts from, when they would he returned. He again thanked them for their welcome and loyalty and expressed his pleasure at being able to eonie into Captain S°ddon’s electorate. Their member had been honoured, by being selected as one of the two to represent New Zealand in an important mission in America Ho was doing a great service to you, to the country and Empire. Sir James again expressed bis thanks and s'

down amidst loud applause. Hon. TT. L. Alichol proposal a very hearty vote of thanks to Sir James lon for his very able and inspiring ad dross, for bis kindness in visiting this district and for his kind promises ol | nssistai.ee during Capt. S-ddon’s absence. He congratulatel Sir James A* 10,. on the finding of the Defence Comj mission, referring in glowing terms to the context of the report as it r* for red to their visitor that night. H' felt, sure that, there was a realisation by the people of New Zealand of the magnificent work of Sir James Allen ns I *,Minister of Defence during the many trying incidents of the past fun* years. (Applause). [Ton J. Grimmond seconded the motion and joined in the commendation of the work of Sir James Allen, was not a stranger to this dis‘»in his younger days he had been in the mining district. They appreciated his work as Defence Minister and congratulated him on the fine record lie had put up. He hoped Sir James Allen's visit would do him good and also do good lo ns. (Applause.) The motion was carried by acclamation and was followed by “I or he s a jolly good fellow’’ sung heartily. Sir James briefly expressed lus thanks for tlie kind words of the speakers and its reception at the hands of the assemblage. A very happy and whole-lieartc-d gathering then came to a successful 'conclusion with the singing of a verse -of the National Anthem. Subsequently the M blister was entertained at supper at Preston’s tea rooms.