IN MUFTI.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1926, Page 4

IN MUFTI.

J I.M " TT'j! IA! AS'S Sl’Kl-X i|. STOPPIXG A SIR iK E. LON BOX. .lan. 20. > f mhmbudly Hie hit ~| the Empire Press l iiiun dinner to velcome the delegates from Australia and New Zealand was the speech made bv "•lint" Thomas—Mr .!. 11. Tin-mas. u ho was Secretary lor the Colonies in the Labour .Ministry. Ills speech was punctuated with rimers, tor lie brought the meeting ’ news u liieli was warmly welcomed. The occasion was a festive one. and everybody but "Jim" appeared in evening dress. lie was late of arrival too. and in jaet del not speak unlii (be end n| tin- evening. He -aid. •• I do not. apologise tor n-q being in evening dress, lor, alter all. dress dues not count tor every tiling. I had a eheue In-tun, it meeting eighty delegates who had determined <ui a strike, or ol being here earlier. “I knew that my linn! speech would I ab.auL (>.!•>. and I said to my wife. " Aggie, what Cod’s chance is there of carrying this re-uiiition it I appear in evening dressy ” f won by a lew voles. 'Vital would have happened if I had a | pea red respect a 1 la : I Inn-.- had a eery worrying lime ol my eh,.-.- or my people. I ne-o-r infeud to apologise lor tight ing for the working class, hut- I realise thtil. notwithstanding the ku | that. we have passed eight year- since peace was declared and t •voile years siine the world involution, it is only a blind and a foolish person who will not realise that we a- • passing unconsciously now through a revolution.

Allocaters lit list l-e made, and I'".Tt-lorc I have fell Unit diif'n-uh as was the period during the war. far more dillieult and dangerous would be t 1- p--riod following the war. " But I -ay t , v-ui willi all siu-

eerily that I believe that we have reached I lie depths. I believe that we have passed through, the worst, and ! can just see the p .ssihilit v of a turn, and to have had. as looke'd evident a few In,urs ago, a railway .-trike on Thursday night, would have been to me not only a disaster but I believe it would have put ihe (lock hack. Thai i- why I do not 1.-iicve I made a mistake in advocating peace. " In connection with this dispute,” .Mr Thomas went on, " I felt I had no right Lo throw oxerboard the people who bale made me. I a-Ted as i did, nol with the f.-eimg of throwing them (.1 art. lilt'd. but with a tine recognition that no seeiiou of the community, lu.wevcr important, is as important as the r immunity as a w hole, and lor that i-.as ui my e.Uilude wa- directed, and I hope ii will always In- directed, into the channel of peace. " I am proud that I have succeeded. I am proud beeaii-e I believe that I have dene the right thing lor them, and believe a!--'- that i have done the right tiling for the country. That is whv I am so happy with ihe result.” .Mr Thomas has an orpinal way < f perpariiig i-i speak, and the tab!.--, iota ai his place at the high table was decorate'! with the rough notes he made while the oilier spaakers were on their foot. Tin- iabic-i-lot !i was eagerly examined alter the dinner by the assembled guests, many of whom afterwards adjourned to dance to file strain-- of the celebrated Savoy Fumy. The success of the evening, which was attended hy all of the returned delegates and the leading members of the newspaper world lure, was due to the organisation of the committee w hich comprised 'sir lloluo! Donald Air I’. A. B. Brett. Mr N. K. Korney. Colonel K. |- . Lawson and Colonel YY. F. Hetty.