COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON TO MAJOR LUSK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 69, 13 August 1915, Page 4

COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON TO MAJOR LUSK.

A pleasant function was held at the Star Hotel, Auckland, on Wednesday, when about forty farmers "of the Province and a number of representative city men sat down to an excellent luncheon tendered to Major Lusk, to mark the completion cf his five years tenancy of the Presidential chair of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union.

After the capital fare provided nad been partaken of, the President of the Union presented Major Lusk with a tastefully executed illuminated address, a handeoma gold watch and chain and a purse of sovereigns. He touched upon the great services Major Lusk had rendered to the community during a residence in the country exceeding by many years the allotted span cf man. Fifty-four years ago, before most of those present were born, he had commanded a force in the Maori war. Then he had spent useful years farming in the bush country—then a term ah sutvejor and ranger, and bad in his old age gone back into the King Country and brought in unbroken laid. Five yeara ago he had been elected president of the Farmers' Union, and had continued uninterruptedly in that office till last May. He had found the Uiion a languishing institution of which the branches might be counted on the lingers of one hand, and had left it with 120 live branchts and the largest membership of any of the Provinces. His name was now a household word auong the farmers not only of Ihe Province, but of tte whole Dominion.

The Hon. F. W. Lang, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that he could only speak as a "new-chum." When he landed in New Zealand forty years ago he found Major Lusk already an old gmd distinguished eolonißt, and he trusted he might lorg be spared to carry 011 the good work he had been doing. Mr C. J. Parr, M.P., euloxißed the excellent work Major Lusk had done during his long and distinguished career. It seemed marvellous that a man who fifty-four years ago had be;n holding back the rebel natives on the Mauku hills should be still working as actively as ever among them. And to the speaker's mind nothing in the Major's career had been more admirable than the manner in which he had commardel the force of Mounted Special Constables who less than two years ago had restored law and order in the streets of Auckland, and opened again the port during the general strike. By his tact, discretion and coutage during that trying time he had earned not only the admiration and respect of his friends, but also of his opponents. Colonel Hume, Officer Ucmmanding the Auckland district, - Mr Beddoe, representative of the Canadian Government, Mr Robert Burn?, president of th 3 Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and Mr G. J. Garland, chairman of the Auckland Board of Education, also spoke, and Major Lusk'a health was drunk with great enthusiasm and musical honours.

Major Lusk, iu replying to the toast, aaid he deeply felt the honour they had done him. He cordially thanked the gathering for the kind things they had said about him. If he could feel that he really deserved them all he would experience the keenest pleasure. The Farmers' Union wa9 a great deal more than a trade union. It aimed at binding the country into one harmnious whole by steadily working for the welfare of the entire community. New Zealand depended almost entirely on the prosperity of farmers and pastoralist®, and those who iguored their interests ignored the welfare of the country. With the aid of their many rity fritntfs he hoped yet to see the Farmers' Union a great factor for good. The beautiful presents they bad given him that das he would cherish with pride for *he rest of his life. In spite of having reached the age of 84 years he did not by any means look upon his career as closed, but hoped to lend a hand to more things alocg for many years to come, (frolonged applause). The following is the text of the address

"To Major Luak, "Provincial President, 1910-1915. "We, the undersigned members of the Executive of the Auckland Farmers' Union, wish to place on record our appreciation of the singal services rendered by you to the farming interests generally and to tender to you on behalf of the whole of the farmers of Auckland frovince our heartfelt wishes that you may long be spared to see the growth and development ot the Union with which you have b:en so long ably associated."