HONOR THE SPECIALS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 156, 23 December 1913, Page 2

HONOR THE SPECIALS.

Mauku's Welcome Home.

Big Function atPatumahoe.

About eighty Bettlers sat down to dinner in the Patumahoe htill on Thursday afternoon. Tiis hall was nicely decorated and n nosegay was at each man's place. The presidsnt (Mr T. A. Kemp) and the secretary (Mr M. C-rispe) had worked with splendid results. Host Bailey's house had charge of the catering. Over the platform was the banner of "The Patumahoe Roosters, No. 3 troop, A. squadron, 2nd regiment." which had served to distinguish the Mauku section in camp. At the right hand of che chairman (Mr Kemp) was Majjr Lusk and at his left was Mr Haeata, the local squadron leader. After the dinner had been dispensed ''The King" was honored at the call of the chairman.

Mr R. J. Eames proposed the Farmers' Union. There was not a toast, he sairl, that could give him greater pleasure to submit (hat day. He had seen and said so many good things of the "specials" who went to the front that he wai glad of the opportunity to aay something of the organisation thai stood behind them—the Farmers' Union, whose action had won the Dominion back from a state of disruption acd disorder to the realm of industrial paace. Coupled with the toast it was his duty to call upon the veteran at the chairman's right hand, Major Lusk, to respond. '1 hey would all agree that this choice was the happiest one that could have been mad?. (Applause). Fift} years ago in that very locality Major Link had fought for the lives and safely of the wives and children of the settlers, and it was due to the courage and resource of the Major and his gallant men of those times that the present generation was able to enjoy the smiling prosperity they saw at.out them to-day. (Loud Applause). And now, after the lapse of half-a-century, Major lusk nad again rendered the most signal service to his country by leading the movement which wrested the strangling hands of the Federation of Labour fiom the throat of industry, It could not be denied that the Atbitration Court always favoured the wage-earoer as against the wage-payer and so long as that essentially British characteristic continued—the spirit of helping the weak as against the strong—so long would there be no justification for Labour resorting to the bludgeon of the strike. Still strikes would occur, and the farmers should learn the lessons that this industrial upheaval had taught. Throughout New Zealand the Federation of Labour was sufficiently well organised to make a bold bid to throttle industry—but there was a force against which they had not counted. That was the force from the country which responded so loyally and so eagerly to the call of the Union; a better response, probably, tban the leaders of the Union themselves hoped for. The spread of the <urike to Australia practically failed —but if there were no opposing organisation it would not fail next time. What the Union Ehould do was to have not only a New Zealand Farmers' Union but an Australasian Farmer*' Union, so that in future industrial struggles the action of the Federation of Labour would be met as effectively in Australia as it had been checked m Auckland during the past two months. And after they had an Australasian Union they should follow the movement up along the red line around the globe until they embraced in one defensive force the agricultural and pastoral interests of the whole of the British Empire. He believed that the Farmers' Union here contained the live germ of such a world-wide organisation By its protective operations during the strike the Farmers' Union had made a brilliant justification of its existence and eveiy farmer should now b3 prepared to say that he would willingly join eveu though he had to pay twice the subscription that was asked of members. In a recognition of what had been so well accomplished the speaker asked the company to rise and drink to the indomitable spirit of the Farmers' Union. The toast was received with the utmost enthusiasm, and when Major Lusk rose to reply the applause was so loud ani prolonged that he was unable to proceed tor some minutes. Addressing his audience as "Brother farmers and members of the Farmers' Union," Major Lusk said he was pfbud to meet them on the old ground where he had striven amongst them. He thanked the men of Mauku and the surrounding districts who went to the front so freely and helped the country out of its trouble during the past few weeks. The proposer of the toast had said that possibly the promoters of the defence movement had doubted whether there would be such a noble response; perhaps that was so, but the response had come. (Applause). Eighteen months ago the Farmers' Union had a conference with the waterside workers about the weight of bags and other matters. The Union representatives recognised that the watersiders had some cause for complaint, and with a great deal of trouble they induced the manufacturers to reduce the size of the bags and remedy the other grievances. In return, the waterside workers agreed to handle farm produce until the end of the year whatever other troubles occurred. They had since 3een how the promise had been broken. When the agreement had been repudiated he wrote to the strikers' representa-, tives saving if they did not choose to unload the farmers' stuff they would do it themselves. That was thought to be bluff but the farmers had shown that they meant what they said. (Applause.) They would not allow the strikers to burst up New Zealand. (Applause.) They would not permit the strikers to use violence and disturb the farmers in the discharge of their work/ (Applause). The time had come when the people of New Zealand must divide themselves into two camps. The side of law and order was the | camp of the country people and the | Union was the nucleus of that camp, j That was the point to which they ! must rally 'if they wanted the j rights of a peaceful and law-abiding I community in New Zealand. (Applause). It had been suggested that an Auutraluoiuu Union uhuuld

be formed; it was his ambition to see the Farmers' Union the leading power in Australasia—not a power that would he abused but a power for the protection of peaceful industry. (Applause). He must cay that although they had a Farmers' Union nine out of ten ignored it altogether a;-d did not subscribe. Now the people had an opportunity of showing in a practical way that the Union had been of use. If they had had no sort of organisation to start the ball rolling the farmers would have been no better than a mob. He «want£d the people to join, to heartily as-ist and to acknowladge the Farmers' Union. He wanted the union to be the biggest power in the land, (Applaure). In conclusion Major Lusk asked all who were members or intended to be members of the Farmers' Union to stand uo! There was a big and instantaneous response, and as the company resumed their seats the Major smiled and said: "We have a big majority, anyhow." Mr J. Henry proposed "The Specials." It was, he said, a great pleasure to do so, but that pleasure had been tempered by the eloquent proposal and response made in connection with the previous toast. They must all feel gratified at the line work of tha specials, and they must be gratified at having men who could handle the forces of the country in such a masterly manner. They wore fortunate, too, in having those who remained at home to do the work. The incident reminded him of what he had been taught of the Romans of old who went from their ploughs and their counting-houses to do battl? for their country. The speaker proceeded to refer in affectionate terms to Major Lusk, under whom most of them in Patumahoe bad served. It was due, he said, to the discipline of Major Lusk and Captain Colbeck that the specials had done ro much. The toast cf the "specials" was gr.eted with loud applause and was accsrdeu hearty musical honours. Captain Colbeck s.id he wa3 pioud to reply because the specials who had gore dawn were an honour to the whole of the province. It was p ssihle that half the men had never been used to discipline. As chief staff officer to Major Lusk he had not time to be polite, but not in one instance had a man answered him back and if that was not an example of voluntary d'scipline he did not know what was. (Applause). Men of wealth and position in their own districts were peeling potatoes and doing the dirty work about the camp. That wsa a test of discipline; all honour to them! (Loud applause). these men did work in camp that they would hardly ask their employees to do on their own farms, WriW most impressed the people was the calm and quiet wav in which the specials faced the crowds. That was indeed a fine thing. Some people thought that the Government got these specials to Auckland, other thought the Mayor of Auckland asked them to come out. But it was the Farmers' Association who asked the men to come forward. They called' them into being without any authority at all. He did not care "a tinker's damn" whether they were authorised to come out or not. They simply told Semple and that crowd thst the farmers were going; to ship their stuff, and th 3 credit of doing it belonged in the first place to "Major Lusk and the executive Farmers' Union. And they would do it again. (Applause). They went to Auckland to do their own work, which the strikers would nut do, that was all about it. They did not go down to protect Auckland. They bad been given a royal welcome and he blushed right down his back at (he kind things that were said when they were regarded as the protectors of the city. The propo&er of the first toast had said that the leaders of the Union had built better than they knew; that was true. When the call wan made he felt there was a gcod deal of bluff in it himself, but within 24 hours a force of 10CO men were available and they could have got 5000. The speaker referred to the "new constabulary" and explained its constitution. In conclusion he said that if another such strike occurred a single telegram to each district would produce anything from 1000 to 2000 men within 24 hours, who would be prepared to protect the industries of the country. (Applause). ■Mr W. Finlay proposed "The Government," saying it was a matter for congratulation that the Government had brought them through one of the mest serious crises in the history cf New Zealand. Law and order had been defied, trade and commerce had been suspended, but the sympathy of the Government enabled them to be restored. Mr Schmitt, in reply, disclosed some secrets connected with the waterside difficulties. The Union disclaimed party politics, but he thought they could all congratulate the Government upon the good work done. Not only had the Government been sympathetic with the country people, but they bad, helper! to pay the expenses, and he felt he could say that the people could nut do better than support the Government. (Applause). "Our Own Specials" was a very popular tuast proposed by Mr T. A. Kemp, it was to entertain "our own" that this functiun was arranged. Although only a new-chum cockie. himself be was proud to belong to the Union and to be president of the local branch. All that had been said in praise ot the specials was not too much to say, and it was a credit to the district to know that withiu a few hours thirty men hud been unearthed, prepared to go to the front, leaving wives and children at home. Others provided horses and gear and all joined willingly in the movement. The toast was warmly honoured with the singing of "They are Jolly Good Fellows." Mr Haeata, the troop leader, was loudly applauded upon rising to respond. In thanking the company he paid a compliment to the good work done by the branch secretary, Mr Melvill Crispe. Mr C. Beloe also replied. Major Lusk paid a tribute to the wives and mothers who had done so nobly during the trying time, and suggested that women's branches of the Union should be formed. A hearty vote of thanks to Major Lusk, Captain Colbeck and Mr [ Schmitt, for coming from Auckland Ito the function, was carried by acclamation. _ ! I