OUR MEMBER HONOURED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3624, 15 March 1906, Page 2

OUR MEMBER HONOURED.

On Tuesday evening last the Public Hall seating accommodation was fully taxed at the appointed hour to do honour to Mr John Stevens, by banquetting. The building had been profusely decorated with flags and greenery, aud what with the beautiful dresses worn by the many ladias present, the effect was pleasing. Mr G. A, Simpson (President of the Foxton Chamber of Commerce) presided, on his right being the guest of the evening (Mr Stevens, M.H.R.), and on his left The Right Hon. The Premier. Visitors from other parts were numerous, whilst the members of Mr Stevens’ Foxton Electoral Committee occupied responsible chairs. At about eight o’clock, the strains of the piano denoted that the Premier had arrived, and the latter offering the blessings, full justice was done to the excellent menu provided by Uangley Bros., caterers, and their large staff of obliging waitresses and waiters. All forms of delicacies graced the tables, including fruits and wines. The usual toast of “ The King ” opened speechifying proceedings, the toast being musicially honored.

In proposing the toast of the evening, that of “Our Guest,” Mr Simpson stated that in Mr Stevens the Manawatu electors had the right man in the right place. He was of opinion that Mr Stevens was to blame himself for being defeated at. the elections three years ago, and he thought Mr Stevens would know better in future, and elect to pay Foxton more frequent visits whilst representing them politically. He was pleased that Mr Stevens had given an emphatic denial to a deliberate lie circulated in connection with the Motoa Estate. He thought that if anything was to be obtained in the shape of grants for the district Mr Stevens was the right man to obtain that grant. On rising, Mr John Stevens was received with prolonged applause. He said he never felt more highly honoured than on the present occasion. He felt he was honored by those who elected him to Parliament, also by those who differed in politics. The whole of the electors of Manawatu would be better treated now than if they had their own choice, if they only knew it. I never yet have looked upon this 1 part of the electorate from a personal as a political point of view. There was present as a special guest, the Premier, whose name is revered throughout the British speaking world and other countries. The reasons were too numerous to explain why he (the speaker) was a supporter of the present Government. It was almost uppermost in his mind to uplift the people to better spheres whereby they were given the opportunity to live as creation intended. This country held the most noble Premier of any country in the world. Our aim was to treat humanity as a farmer treats his horse, viz., give him sufficient to eat. That was the essence of good Government. It had been said, when the present party gained power, that capital would go down, and people would leave the country. Quite the contrary had happened. We would have room for 5,000,000 of people if we always had the same good Government we’ have to-day. He was pleased to hear the Premier say that day that his aim was to give higher education to the people. If we had more education, serious crimes would not happen that were recorded, and he was pleased to hear the Premier give parents such good advice. Re local matters he dealt at length, taking the opportunity to ask the Premier that we should re- j ceive the same fair consideration that all parts of the colony receive. He could claim that he always urged a lair share when representing the district, and he had not the least doubt that we would receive that fair consideration to which we were entitled. I desire to say nothing spurs me on more than to have a good solid blame 1 cast upom ms. If you wish me to | do much, don’t credit me with too j much. I have no personal feeling I against many of those who have 1 sunk into political oblivion, but I! believe the success of the present! party was the result of unjust and ’ unfair abuse from the other side. The people revolted, and !

said “No I We have a belief and knowledge of that which is right and just.” And the result xraM the Opposition found themselves in a hopeless minority. Dealing with aspersions cast upon my own character with reference to the purchase of the Motoa Estate, it had been said that the Premier had aided the syndicate to purchase same. The Premier could bear out his statement giving same an emphatic denial. In conclusion he thanked them for thek loyalty, and it would always be his desire to do his best politically for the colony, and for his own Electorate in particular. He resumed his seat believing that the people of this colony had done themselves justice, as was shown by the last poll of New Zealand. (Prolonged Applause.) The toast of “ The Right Hon. The Premier” was entrusted to Mr F. W. Frankland, and it may be said it could not have been entrusted in better hands. His speech was masterly, full of oratory and sound logic. The speaker modestly thanked those responsible for the honour conferred upon him, and then dealt at length with the reason why it was pleasing to propose the toast. The reason was not far to seek. Travel had done much good in giving knowledge of good government, and he had been favoured by travel. The time at disposal would not permit dealing at length with the many reasons why the present Government should be supported. They were many. The plan of Imperialism adopted by the Premier maybe mentioned, and generally there seemed no fear of the colony degrading with the Premier jX the head of affairs. Whereas those opposed to the Government complained that we were heavily in debt, outside financers were only too willing to lend us money—so safeguarded were our finances. The speaker pictured life worth the living to people brought up under New Zealand’s skies, who could not even imagine the distress and poverty extant in other countries. In asking you to charge your glasses to the health of the “Right Hon. The Premier,” which was more important than j anything else to this country, it I was pleasing to notice other countries copying our laws. , The Premier had appealed to the country . on the eve of last election in the J correct spirit, and we must be all pleased with the result. Loud applause greeted the rise o 'the Premier, who was naturally pleased o : complimenting Foxton on the honour conferred upon him. He especially complimented them on having the ladies with them, which was an advance on other places he had visited. _ He felt proud’of being able to rejoice with all in honouring the member for the district, and he firmly believed he (Mr Stevens) was more fit than anyone else to represent the Manawatn. He thought he scarcely deserved all the euconiums cast ■ on him by the proposer of last toast, but he firmly trusted those who wrote the history of this country in time to come would always aim at good Government. Above all we must have good Government, To think that 12,000,* 000 in the Home land were on the verge of starvation! That was not Government! Our good Creator never intended that only a few should have all that they, wanted, aud the majority live in poverty aud distress. The people of this country saw in 1890 what was coming, and the result was a revolution and a change, and now we were the most satisfied people on the face of the civilised world. The people of this country were more enlightened than before, and they had a more enlightened Government, and realised it. Even during the last election, back to the old lines they (the Opposition) wanted you to go, but the people rose against such a policy. Before the last general elections you were told that the Premier was to be a thing of the. past by the Opposition press. After the election the same press told you the election was lost to the Opposition through lack of organisation. The real reason the Opposition lost was because they did not have a sufficient number of votes. The real reason of progress, was what ? In the days of Conservation, the system of taxation was that unimproved properties paid no tax, and the struggling farmer who improved his property was laden, When that property tax was repealed, 8000 farmers of this colony were emancipated. All wealth comes from the land. If then you allow a small few to be the possessors of that laud, you will have the same condidions existing as in the Mother Country. •I _ firmly pray that something may alter the conditions existing at Horae. Millions were living under conditions which you in this colony would no* allow even your cattle or horses to survive on. He would like to ask what principally effected the change. The first

mention of the change in obtaining cheap money was made at a meeting in Foxton. He was present by invitation. It hac struck him that interest was high, and you all know what the Lands lor Settlement Act had done. We wanted cheap money, and have got it to our advantage. The noted Cheviot Estate had about 70 settlers before it was acquired by Government. Now it had about two or three thousand souls on the same estate —due to the opportunities given by the Act. The party opposed to progress had opposed this as all other measures. Cheap money was the life-blood of progress, commerce, &c., and the large amount of progress was in a great measure due to the cheap money schemes adopted by the present Government. Under Lands for Settlement Act, the Cheviot Estate had been obtained. That estate, whereas it was worth about ,£270,000, is now worth about ,£1,000,000 sterling. The administrators in the past had such a hold on the people of Waikato that when I visited there 15 years ago, they were afraid to speak to me, and I had to be received at the back door. To-day Waikato is one of our most prosperous towns, and at my last visit over 1500 people assembled to a meeting addressed by myself. Tht Premier said it was the strike of 1890 that caused the fundamental change in the Government of New Zealand. That strike paralysed labour, and the result was disaster generally. And at the elections in that year the people said ‘ ‘ we will have no more of it,” and John Ballance (whose name will always be revered) and party were placed in power to commence the present march of progress. Referring further to labour, it was much better to have an impartial court settle disputes, giving justice to both parties, instead of as formerly. Time after time an attempt bad been made to damage our credit, but New Zealand was today- the wealthiest country, per head, in the world. The present Government had borrowed £35,000,000, but they had increased our value ,£70,000,000. Our Post and Telegraphs, Railways, &c., were owned by the State, not by private individuals as in other countries, and they could realise much of the indebtedness if needs be. The speaker referred to the Old Age Pensions’ Act. He was pleased to say the death rate was lower than in any country. Ir five years there had beer 2000 deaths of children under five years of age, and he asked the women of the colony why that was so. His aim was to prolong life. There was not sufficient nurses in New Zealand, and he favoured the establishment of maternity homes. We could not stop until we put trained nursing within the reach of every woman. He was endeavouring to find out how many nurses all the hospitals could take. His Government had been termed the “ Seddon Devils of Socialism.” The Government had a terrible struggle, and they had more to do, but it was satisfactory to know that their measures had resulted in giving satisfaction to all. Re-flax, in the past the New Zealand producer had been paid a third-class price for articles which had been disposed of elsewhere at first-class prices. It would be the duty of Government to study the best ininterests of the flax industry, as all other industries. In conclusion he trusted people would pause to geek the truth when they read of the Government’s actions being unduly criticised. He was proud of the people of this fair land, and they had demonstrated on the 6th of December last they would have none of the regression of the other side of politics. If we keep on the lines we arc now moving, the whole world will follow the example set from one of the fairest spots on God’s earth.

In proposing “The Parliament of New Zealand,” Mr Alf. Fraser, J.P., did so appropriately, eulogising the present Government in strong terms of approval. The speaker took the opportunity of placing before the Premier the fact that we were in need of J’s.P. here, and concluded his remarks by briefly referring to laws passed by the present Party in power in a congratulatory way.

Responding, the Premier said it would have been a sorry day for New Zealand to have joined the Commonwealth. It was pleasing to know that there had not been a single candidate seeking election last December that favoured repealing one single Act passed by present Party, which had ruled for the last fifteen years. There were no freer people on Geel’s earth that New Zealanders, and I trust Parliament will fully warrant the many good things said of it. Mr Stevens also responded to the toast, quoting facts to prove, as was well known, that the New Zealand Parliament was conducted second to none, under the leader-

ship of their able Premier. Mr Simpson in proposing the toast of the ‘‘Trade and Commerce,” strongly instanced that Foxton had many wants, and he trusted the present Government would not fail to keep our interests in view. Personally, he thought the people of Foxton and district were much to blame, and they were ‘‘slow” to their own interests. The speaker claimed that increased wharf accommodation was necessary. The port oi Foxton must eventually be the distributing port for a large district. We had asked for a railway to the Heads, also grading stores. He contended that if we had the railway to the heads there was every probability of having freezing works erected _ there. Personally he did not believe in taking “No” as an answer from the Government. We ought to continue asking for these requirements, and we intended to keep asking. Mr Simpson quoted figures to show that the flax industry must be fostered, and also that we must have grading stores erected, despite all assertions to the contrary. In response, Mr Nash, speaking at length, said that whereas 25 years ago Palmerstonians looked upon Foxton as the hub of the universe, so to say, still, what had become of those predictions ? Foxton had remained stagnant, whilst Palmerston was more like the hub of the universe.

Mr Stiles proposed “Foxton Borough Council,” ably complimenting the Government on enabling local bodies to borrow money at cheap rates, and referring to the necessity of a clause being inserted in the Reserves Act dealing with the transferring of monies from one reserve to another.

The Mayor (B. G. Gower, Esq.) responded. The toast of “The Visitors” was entrusted to Mr Herbert Austin, who briefly referred to visitors coming long distances to do honour to their guest. The oeople that evening had shown distinct approval of the present administration. It would afford all great pleasure to drink the toast proposed. Messrs J. Stansell (Shannon), J. Nash (Palmerston North) and O’Connor responded. The health of the “Chairman ” was proposed by The Right Hon. the Premier, and prior to Mr G. Simpson’s response, Mr F'. W. Frankland bespoke in favourable terms the good work done by Mr Stevens’ committee generally, and also by Mr Simpson, in securing the return of the Government nominee.

Mr Herston Frankland proposed “The Ladies ” in a manner which bespoke a promising oratorical future, Mr Fred Easton responded. The toast of “ The Press,” was proposed by Mr L. E. Reade, and replied to by Mr E. G. Sutherland, of the Manawatu Herald.

During the evening Messrs E. G. Sutherland and J. Stansell provided vocal items, the latter a composition of his own to the tune of ‘ * Good Old Mother. ’ ’ but dedicated to “ Good Old Richard ” and his Government work. Mr Bertbold acted as musician throughout the evening.

The Premier left for Levin yesterday morning on horseback. He was entertained at banquet there last evening;