PATUMAHOE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 158, 24 March 1916, Page 2

PATUMAHOE

PUBLIC BANQUET TO MR MASSEY. A STIRRING SPEECH. As briefly announce 1 in oar Tuesday's issu", .a banque', as a sequel to the opening of the now Post Otti :o earlier in fie day, was tendered to tlio Prime Miniver in the Patumahoo Public Hall mi Monday evening. The company numbered about 00. Mr J. Henry presided and seated at tho top table, in addition to Mr Massey, were the Hon. Dr. Pomaro MP, Mr J. Flanagan (Chairman of the Franklin County Council), tin Mayor of Pukekohe (Mr H. 0. R. Mason), and Mr Ivan A Motion. A most sumptuous repast, served in characteristically thorough style by Mr T. B. Bailey, proprietor of the Mauku Hotel, having been par'aken of, The chairman submitted the toast of the King, tho " Army and Navy" being next proposod by Mr M. Crispe and responded to by Lieut. Johns. The health of tho Prime Minister was then givjn by the chairman, who claimed that the electors of Franklin had a special interest in the Premier s°eing that he had been their member for over 20 years. They were exceedingly proud, he said, that Mr Massey had ftttainod the highest political position possible in the Dominion and as chief of tho National Cibinot ho had even done better than as leader of his party. Tho toast having been most enthusiastically honoured, Mr Massey, in reply, first alluded to tho heavy thunderstorm that had somewhat interfered with the day's proceedings. Farmers, ho said, would be smiling that night over tho heavy rains that had fallen, but whether they had good seasons or bad tho farmers iu tho Dominion iiad risen to tho occasion and did everything possible in producing food stuli'i. WAR AND FARMING.

The war, said Mr Massoy, had boon a good advertisement for New Zealand produce as itsgwdtpwlities bad bjcomo widely known by meat from the Dominion being used by tho troops. Moreover, Franco had legislated for frozen moat to bo admitted into that country for tho next two years. Eight million pounds sterling had been paid for meat produced in the Dominion, which had boon sent to all parts of the world. By exports they lived as if there wero no exports thoy would not havo money comiug into tho country. No country of the British dominions was so prosperous at the present lime as New Zealand and they even found people coming forward asking for increase taxation. They had, however, to look forward to the future and caution had to bo exorcised. New Z mland could not expect to got as much for its produce after tho war as it was getting now and it would have to provide employment for lirge Dumbers of returned men. The people sometimes torgot the enormous war expenditure of the country. The war was ccsting New Zealand £BOO,OOO per month, and there was a prospect of a slill further increase, tie believed, however, that the ountry would Rea tie war through to the end. There was one thing certain: No country would recover from the elficts of the war as New Zealand would, for the energy of her p2ople and the quality of her preuuets would etand by her. In the Boer war tho Imperial Government paid the Dominion's expenditure, but New Zealand was in tho war uow waging responsible for its own linancial share. In tho transport of troops, supplies and horses tho Dominion had twelve good sized ships engage I. Thoy had already sent 40,000 men to the frout and some 10,000 horses, whilst another 10,000 to 12,000 men were already in the training camps. UNIQUE TRAINING CAMPS.

Referring to the training camps, Mr Massoy admitted that through want of experience thero were some shortcomings last year, but now Trentham had improved out of all recognition. The wholo of the arrangoments were as perfect <j,B the human mind could make tlrom, and during his inspection ho could not think of one thing which would improYO them. The Featherston camp was built on exactly the same lines. Military ollioers who had come out from England described the Trentham and Featherston camps as tho two host in the world.

A CANARD. Dealing with thu rumour that tho Tenth Reinforcements had put back, the Prime Minister stated that iustead of tho same boing correct the meu wore well on their way to tho front, aud should arrive tbero in about a fortnight. PROVISION FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS. Mr Massey wout ou to deal with tho Pensions Act, which ho acknowledged when first introduced was very much iu tho way of an experiment, capable of improvement Tho Act, ho said, was at tho samo time the mobt liberal in the world in regard to allowances and it would be made still more liberal after Parliament had met. Provision, continued Mr Massey, was also being made tor finding employment for returned sjldiers, and tho ijoveiami.nt intended (o do every" thing possible to help them. He had already U9ked the Land Boards to see that no man physically lit or eligible to go to the front Bhould be alhwed to take part iu ballots. They were also arranging to set apart I nod for foldiere, in which no ballot would be required except as t-'twecn themselves. Trie eoldiers were doing their duty to their ouritry, and it behoved Hit country to do its duty to them i UHUMAN SCHEMING ? lie h:ped that peace would never be considered until the Germans had bciii tbrewn back on to their own boil. A promise had been giveij bythe Imperial Government that {be, Ministers of tbe colonies would by co gilteu before terms of peace were offered. It was now recog-

nised tbat Geimany had finaccel its war undertakings, for which it had schemed for mmj years, out ot profits derived from the people »sre meant to attack, and be trusted that tfte.-people would see that Germany was never placed in the same ro9ition as far as trade was concerned. A JUST AND RIGHTEOUS WAK In conclusion, Mr Massey retrarked tbat one effect of t':e WBr was that the British Empire was stronger ard more solid than at any time ia its history. Be could tell th:m with cocfidence that the Butisb Navy was also stronger than ever, and so it was with the Army. They were up pgainet the strongest military organisation tbat the wo-Id had ever seen. There could be no belting or 1 okng Lackwards until victory came to tbc Alließ. The Empire had men to the occasion. Prom every corn; rof the Empire men came forward to protect the Old Flag or to die in the at empt. All branches and classes or men were engaged, including the Maori?, and all were fighting for the cause of honour, liberty, justice and righteousness. (Loud cheers) OrBEK TOASTS Mr J Flanagan submitted the toast of "The Ministry" and acknowledged the assistance given by the Government in the form of grants and subsidies for works in thi Franklin County.—The Bon Dr Pomaie, MP, in responding, me> tiored that every member of Mr Mas-ey's late Ministry was so loyal that to make way for the National Cabinet all tendered tbeir resignations. As a member cf the National Cabinet re could truthfully say that instead of diesension prevailing, as had been reported, absolute and perfect harmeny existed amongst the Ministers. The toast of "Local Bodie." was proposed by Mr Stanley Hill and replied to by the Mayor ot Pukekohe and by Mr Flanagan The Premier eumbittfd the health of "The Chairman," and considered that the district was exceedingly fortunate in having a an energetic man like Mr Henry taking an active part in local affairs. Referrirg to the work of compiling the rolls that the novernment bad asked local authorities to undertake, Mr Massey said he hoped that compulsion would not become necessary, but in view of its possibility an accurate and reliable roll had to he p'epared.— Mr Benry briefly replied

A very successful concert in aid of lit Brida's Church, Mauku, was hrli in tte Falumalioe Hall on Thursday evening last. The building was crowded with an appreciative audience, and a ve.-y interesting wae eubmitlec'. The Vicar, the Rev J C Fusreil, ccctipie.l the chair, and Misses V Bailey and Olive Werin a ted as accompanists. The entertainment was opened by a pianoforte duet by (tie Misses Bailey. Mr long, of W?iuku, kept the audience convulsed with bis ragtime eongs and darcas. Miss Muir, of Aka Aka, was well received in singing King's Own." Humorous recituions by the Rev J C Fusaell caused great merriment. Mr Guthrie, of Mauku, tang "Down the Vale" and ♦'Jessie's Dream," and Mr Oldfuld contributed tie recitation "Texas Down by the Rio Grande." Songs were rendered by Mrs Bawke, Miss Swayne and Miss Aldndge. Oq the conclusion of the musical programme supper, Drovided by the ladies, was handed round. The hall was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up till the early hours of the morning, Mersrs Davis and E Rowe proving efficient M.C.'s. Friends of Mr and Mrs 1 Moore, of Patumahce, will be pleased to learn that their little son, wto was attacked with infantile paralysis Boino weeks ago, is now well on the way towards recovery