MR L. E. JACKSON.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9095, 14 March 1908, Page 5

MR L. E. JACKSON.

ENTERTAINED AT. FEILDING. Last night at-the Feilding Hotel, members of. the-Feilding A. & P. Association gave Mr L. E. Jackson a complimentary banquet in recognition of the good work he did as president of the Association during 1906-7. Tug chair was occupied by Mr H. J. Booth, president of the Association, and subsequently by Mr H. Burrell. There were about 50 members present. The toast “The King” having been duly honoured, the President proposed" 1 ' The Guest. ” He said he was not aware whether Mr Jackson was leaving the district, but he was changing his home, so the Association thought it was a fitting time to show their appreciation of his work. Mr Jackson was a man who, when he took a thing in hand, generally saw it through. He was a man of resource, and to prove this Mr Booth related several incidents including the extension of the show to two days, and the commencement of the school garden competitions, which had been the work of Mr Jackson, in spite of considerable opposition, his own included.

The president then presented an illuminated address as follows; — Dear Sir.—The members of the Feilding Industrial A. & P. Association desire on the occasion of your departure from the district, to place upon record their appreciation of the services rendered by you to the Association. There can he no doubt that the success attained by the Association is in a large measure due to the untiring energy and enthusiasm displayed by you during your term of office as president. The Association is deeply grateful for the many helpful and practical suggestions from time to time made by you. Your departure from the district will necessarily involve a withdrawal, to some extent, of the assistance so cheerfully given by you, but it is hoped that you will still retain an interest in the Association which ' you have done so much to place on its present successful footing. (Signed by the President and Secretary for the Association.) The toast was heartily drunk.

In responding to the toast Mr Jackson spoke of the great improvement that had taken place from the time ho first saw the district 3(5 years ago, until 14 years later when, he came to reside in it. It had been such as to impress him with the desire to take part in assisting to continue that improvement. The greatest compliment he had been paid in connection with his work for the Association was the acknowledgement by others who had not been in agreement with him at first, that ho had been right in his anticipations of the good that would result from the movement. He spoke in favor of the formation of an organisation federating all the A. & P. Associations of the Dominion. He felt extremely grateful for the mark of honour shown him by so many representative men attending that night, and also for the kind-ness-shown to him generally since he came to reside in the district.

Mr J. W. B. Trewin, Mayor of Feildiug, in proposing the Industrial and A. & P. Association, gave a short history of the Association since its formation in 1901. The object of the promoters had been the welfare of the district and as several of them were keen business men, success had resulted from their efforts.

The President, in responding, said there was nothing that Feilding' had taken up but what had been a success. The committee of the show was a committee of met. (A Voice, “No ladies in it.” Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Booth said the committee could not carry ou without friends, and as it had no power to strike a rate it depended in a large measure upon donations, and what he wished to impress upon those donors was • that they were getting indirect benefits through the business brought to the town. The Vice-President, Mr H. Burrell, also responding, said Feildiug had one of the best autumn shows in the Dominion. Its success had been even greater than the most sanguine had anticipated. Mr F. 'Y. Lethbridge, M.P., in proposing the toast “The Stewards,” pointed out how important these officials were to the success of the show, and Feildiug had the best. Messrs A. Campbell and F. Haggitt responded. Mr J. W. Bramwell proposed “The President.” He said he would like to add his tribute to the work done hv the guest towards agricultural education. When the history of agricultural was written the name of Mr Jackson would be written large in it. He also spoke in terms of appreciation of the president. The toast, was heartily received. Mr J. G. Oobbe proposed “The Secretary” of the Association, Mr B. H. Fisher, and praised his energy. . , The toast was drunk with musical honours.

“The Press” was proposed by Mr A. H. Atkinson, and was responded to by the members of the Press present.