SIR JOHN TAVERNER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 21 February 1913, Page 7

SIR JOHN TAVERNER

FAREWELL GATHERING IN LONDON. - LONDON, February'W. There was a large gathering at the Trocadero ; Alderman Trnsoott presiding, to bid farewell to Sir John Taverner, who is retiring from the position of AgenVGeneral for Victoria. Speakers expressed regret at Sir John’s coming departure. Sir John Taverner, in responding, referred to. his relations with Sir George Reid, High Commissioner for Australia. It was, he said, Untrue that the Agents-General had worked at cross purposes. He thought it would be a mistake to abolish the Agents-General, whoso duties did not dash with those of the Federal representative., He might fairly, say that Victoria had no national debt, because her railways represented the money borrowed. Ho suggested the establishment of an Imperial Emigration Department, under .a _ responsible Minister, to 00-operato with the oversea Governments, and _ advocated an extension of boy immigration. Thousands of likely lads were being wasted in the Motherland. Lord Emmott, representing the Government, proposed the toast of ‘.‘The Empire.” MOTHER COUNTRY “NOTYET A BACK NUMBER.’’ (Received February 20, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 20. The attendance at Sir J. Taverner’s banquet was 250, including Sir William Half-Jones, Sir Joseph Ward, and Hon. T. Mackenzie, Lord Emmott stated that there were no signs that British enterprise was dead. The Mother Country was not yet a back number. The habit of dabbing her “Old England” tended to arouse ‘the disrespect of the daughter nations. Lord Emmott added that Britain received with real emotions the recent offers of help to bear the burdens of defence, which offers were magnificently generous.