MR STEVENS HONOURED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 18 March 1909, Page 3

MR STEVENS HONOURED.

Mr John Stevens ex-M.P. ior Manawatu, was entertained at a social in the Martou Town Hall on Tuesday evening Dr. Skerman presided, with the guest of the evening on his right and the Prime Minister on his-left. Among those present were Messrs Newman and Remington, M’s.P.

The chairman (Dr. Skermau) welcomed the Premier and expressed felicitation, to the guest. The gathering represented alll shades of politics in the constituency. As all parties were represented he asked the speakers to avoid anything like controversial politics.

Dr. Skermau in proposing the toast of Parliament, spoke of the high character which the Parliament of New Zealand had always maintained.

The Premier, who was received with cheer«, expressed great pleasure at finding Mr Stevens improved in health and a man who had led so active a life still so full of mental activity. The chairman had said they weieuot to introduce party politics and he was therefore not going to deliver a policy speech. He would have that duty to perform elsewhere shortly, as there were many large matters to be discussed. The Parliament of New Zealand held a high place among Parliaments, its members, tried to do their best for the country as a whole. It had long since passed a scheme of legislation in advance of that of any other country, and generations in advance of the Old Land, which was now trying to emerge from conditions that were not very creditable. We had been able to profit by their mistakes. He wasglad to inform them that on the financial side the p-’;;-ple of New Zealand had nothing to fear. Everything was strong in this respect for a very long time ahead. (Applause), Many were complaining of the stringency of the time, but New Zealand had come through much worse times than these, times when they had all their eggs in one basket. Some would recollect those conditions, when they were boiling down sheep and giving them away. The one thing they had to depend on then was wool. Now there were very lew men who were depending on one product. They were going in for mixed farming. Surely they were not going to say they had not the same courage and hope and faith in their country in every direction. They were most positive signs of the increasing practical wealth of the people. There was not a thing in this district that had not increased. Population in five years had increased by 2,000, sheep had increased by 337,000, everything had increased. Let them recognise that they must support the member they had elected, that he was there to support them as a whole, and to serve them and his country as a whole to the best of his ability.