Banquetting.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3617, 3 February 1906, Page 3

Banquetting.

SIR JOSEPH WARD IN THE SOUTH. Sir Joseph Ward was banquet ted hv the electors of Awarna at Winton last Thursday evening. There was a large and representative gathering, including all the Southland M.H.R ’s., (he chairmen of public bodies, and prominent commercial men. “Prior to the banquet, the Minister was presented with a sword by (he Winton Kifl s. Replying to the toast of Ins health, enthu iast c llv honoured, Sir Joseph said his presence in South! md was entio Iv due to the invitation for thw b'liquct. He had no intention of maki g a political speech at such a ua’ln-dug rop'-e-witing all shad s of ■ ol 'ica 1 o-anions. The country was to he congiatul iff-d on the recent flo'afion of the man in Victoria at 4 per cen' nett. He was also glad to s> e that the Victorian Premier (Mr Rent) had be- n able tar provide for the financial requests of Viet ria without roi'ig outside of Australia, and did not agree with Mr He- ,t’-; cabled comments with regard to N--w Ze-Lud. The fact that New Zealand went to Victoria for money did no ! put Ne v Zeal -nd in a»i inferior category. As a, matte of fact, money-lending coir tr es had not geneially hcen the ino -t prosperous in -the broad sense. For many years London had Ir en supplying theßri ish colonies and all outside countn'es wi'h monev, hip the general conditions ot the masse- ot people in England were not so s hi fanto'-y as tho-e ot the people of New Zealand and other countries that obtained their money from London. The London money market had been hypersensitive lately, and if was not desirable to go there just now for anv largo loans. If necessary pr ductb c works of the colony were to be carried out, it was impossible to cease h -crowing. Some people believed New Zoaland had reached the ap gee of her prosperi'y. and must decline, hm there was no foundation hr such -1 theory. All the evidence we'd to shew that the p'osperity wa u going to contuuie. This was proved condu ively hv the barometer of the public exchequer, which stood at “ fair,” and showed no signs of falling. There was everv reason to believe that the bases of progress were sound and good. The tomist assets were more •mormons than was generally realised. Great strides had been made in recent years, and what used to be valueless streams mw teemed with front; and a man in the Old World who followed the sport of angling, was able to come to New Z aiand and enjov good sport, and make the whole tour at less cost than it would take to fish the waters ot Ire'and or Scotland. Sir Joseph Ward said he did not intend touching on what might happen when Parliament met, except to say that the Customs taiifL would he revised. At present there, were incoegrui'ics alike from the standpoint ot the business man. Home consumer, and the distributor. First of all, something must be done to cheapen commodities used daily in the hous‘>s of the people. The land laws woual also he considered, and Me

qnes o bf gvuiti g I'm (re hld discuss'd. 4c did nt tl'M; Ihe tr-ehnld w ■dd he g anfee d c mecti ■;) wive lauds i-'d 'r Mm Land 'or Settlcm* ms Act. Ti e quc-tion would have to be settled in accordance with the wish of the majority of the people. The Minister received an ovation, and was enthusiastically farcwelled by his constituents.