THE BANQUET.

Shannon News, 4 November 1924, Page 3

THE BANQUET.

After thoroughly ifhspeting the works, the official party returned to •Shannon where a banquet took place ill the Druids’ Hail. Some 300 guests, including the whole of the visiting members; of .Parliament to the number of over seventy, and- representatives of. ihe various- local bodies ■ Within the. urea of 'the scheme, were present. The Hall had been elaborately decorated with bunting, the wails being completely draped and fines of flags radiating from a central point of tne ceiling: The tables had been arranged in three long lines down tm length of the Hafi, with a -further table across the top, at which was seated the ministerial party, Mr R. A; Wright (Mayor of Wellington), ty Mayor of Shannon (Mr W, Murdoch; and prominent members Of Parliament and local body representatives. The stage had also been' used for extra table accommodation. The Levm Brass Band was in attendance and played a number of selections during tlie course of the banquet. Following the loyal toast, Mr Mur-, doch proposed the toast. Qf the Prime Minister. He felt, Mr Murdoch stated, that he could not do justice to the subject. Mr Massey liag carried the country through a very difficult time during the war and ‘the reconsrnotion period and for this reason was entitled to the gratitude of the‘country. He had personally spoken to many people wfiq had Visited other countries and his question to them had always been “How did New Zealand stand in the eyes of those countries and how did New Zealand compare with other countries as a place to live in?” The answer had- invariably been that New Zealand was Hie best country that a man could live in and that New Zealand was looked upon a, s one of the most progressive places in .the world. .(Applause): it might ,ne said, Air Murdoch con--turned, that the country’s progress was independent oi those who were in charge ot its. Parliament, but ue held that, however great the natural -advantages of a country, it could be spoilt by iincomipetent management. That New Zealand enjoyed Hie nigh reputation it did overseas, was a. tubutq to tlie able manner in which Mi; Massey had conducted its business during the years, of ip's Premiership. (Applausej.. There was one point on winch thq people of New Zealand and of tlie Empire united in admiring Mr Massey and that was his sturdy imperialism. There was no beating about the bush with Mr Massey; they knew where they stood with him at ail times and they Lad to .admire him/ for that. (Applause;. Mr Massey, who on rising was received with prolonged applause, said that, referring to what Mr Murdoch had said of his policy, .viz.., his standing for unity of Empire, he would say that he always stood and always would 'stand for unity of (Empire and furthermore hq believed that the people of the country were behind him in that. (Applause). Tiler© were times when he had been doubtful of the solidity of the Empire, but lately he felt sure of itA Voice; Th© elections at- Home, Bill. (Laughter).

The Empire would last, continued Mr Massey, amidst applause. He felt that the Empire was one with a mission of peace .and goodwill to. the world, and guided rightly it would last for -ever. Regarding the season which was just smarting in (New Zealand, he was pleased to be able to .state that the present season was going to be a good one. Dairy produce and wool were going to bring record prices and it was a good thing for the country that this was so. The price of wool and dairy produce filtered down to ©very member of the community. As for one of the most important industries of the Shannon district—the flax industry—he was glad to .see that prices were improving. The yellow leaf had been got under control and the industry vas on a good footing.

Continuing, Air- Massey stated that the present session of Parliament had been stigmatised by some as a barren one, but he would ask them to go into the matter a little before accepting this statement. They would find that a lot of work had been done which would he of great benefit to the, country. Another point qu which

, Parliament hafi been criticised was the amount of money which was being borrowed. * jhq would ask them, however, how work such as that opened to-day could be built if they did not borrow money. As long us money was borroweu for reproductive work-work which would bring in interest above that paid for tlie j Joan—then they were .working on a I sound basis. The policy of tne Government had been just tiiat and further they had had to borrow, money tq help (lie man on. the land. By ! doing so they had been able to save I many of the men who wore burdened by mortgages. (Applause). They , {could not do all this out of revenue. 1 The work of the country had to be j | carried on and there was always the I immense war debt which had to be carried and for which provision bad to he made. That debt was one of honour .incurred for Hie sake of tlie Empire, and no one could question the propriety of incurring it. (Applause). The country, he was pleased to say, had no difficulty in borrowing money. The credit of New Zealand was the best of that of-any of the British Dominions. (Applause). He was not going into- what had 'been done from a financial point of view but lie would just point out that, since the war, New Zealand had advanced £10,000,000 on advances tq settlers Joans and for workers homes. He did nqt think that any country in the British Empire could say as much. (Applause;.

He was certain that there was not a; community in the world which Worked harder lor the welfare oi the country than the people of New Zealand. Everyone should work wholeheartedly lor the welfare oi New Zealand. They should endeavour ,to moke the country the best in the world to live in, and to leave to their children an even better Place to live in than they had themselves found it. (prolong'd applause). M-r G. A- Monk (chairman oi. file Horuwiienua Power Board), in pror posing the toast of Parliament, pant a 1 1 in ufcc to the honesty of tne parliamentarians o.i New Zealand. There Were "different Parties in New Zealuiiu and nobody expected . them to pun together, but he did think that they had the interests, of the country at heart. (Applause). He would like j to say one thing whilst he was. on hi* feet- Tile Mam Highways Act had now passed the House. It was a very fine tiling, but fie wanted tO' say that if tlie Highways Boards could not get money, then the Act . was going to fail. If the Government wo.uid itor- | row this money and lend it to the tßoards they would be all right, but |if the Boards had to go. on to the i money-market * and compete che f against the other, lie was afraid that I the Act would fail.

Mr W, A. Veitcfi, M.P. (Wanganui) in reply, thanked Mr Monk for what lie had said of the honesty of the New Zealand Parliamentarians. He had heard the New Zealand Parliament described as the brains of the country. He had also heard it described as a collection of weak-kneed shufflers who did nothing without wondering. what its effect would be on their constituents. Personally li6 had nQt met either of these'extreme cases., He had found that the average man in Parliament was one* who honestly loved New Zealand, imd would do quite a lot to see her progress. (Applause). Regarding the present liydro-eloc-itiic development which they . were there to celebrate, lie would like to say that he thought that the development taking place wou,ld proiounuiy affect the policy of New Zealand, unless ffie country enlarged its' policy of -industrialism she would not get tlie best out of the scheme. Unless she enlarged her industries; to provide work lor file people, whom New Zealand Was glad to welcome to licr shores, s.he would not be doing justice to herself nor to-tlie Mother Country. The policy qf taking the whole wealth -oh the land and selling ft in its. raw state was a weak-kneeu one. Tfie produce was being sold m its least productive state. They should go in for a strong policy of manufacture—not in competition with tne farmer, hut as ail enlargement of tlie production from the fund. Only by doing so would they bq able to. produce the wealth which would enable them to pay off tbe huge national debt which was strangling the country at the present time. He could assure those present tnat the parliauientarians were doing what they could for the country as loyally as they could.

Mr Monteath, M.P. (Wellington ►South) who. loiiow.ed, expressed his pleasure at visiting. .Shannon, where ne hud once lived, and was giad to see the progress winch was being: made locally. He was particularly interested in the development; oi hydro.-electricity in the locality and was sure that it would make a great deal of difference in the life of the district. He thanked the people oi Shannon for what had been said -oi the Parliament of New Zealand a'd could assure them in conjunction with Mr Veitch that they were doing the best they could in the interests of the country.

Mr H, Gunning, iii proposing the toast Of tile Public Works Department paid a high tribute to the ability of the officers, of -the Department •in carrying through the Mangahao scheme in spite of very great difficulties. Those who like himself had followed every phase of the work knew just how greatthose difficulties had been. That the power was going to make a great difference to the country dweller he firmly believed and he looked forward to the time when every department .of industry would be electrically operated.

Hie Hon. J. G. Coates, in replying, said he wished to disclaim any credit for the Mahgahao sceheme which Wds directly aitributaJble to the engineers of the Public Works Depart l ment. He would like to say, however, that the whole Of the scheme was British. Every part of the equipment had been manufactured in Britain and the capital had been supplied by Britain. They had recently let a large contract at Arapuni abd

be was -pleased to. state -that all. but £60,000 worth of the machinery' to be used there was of British manufacture. Hq did not say that they should boast of this but be was oi opinion that it was a subject fpr congratulation.

Regarding what fie liod said earlier, in reference to the Government's desire that the Power Boards should work in with the Government, be would point out that the Government had worked on a, policy of finding its consumers before a scheme was put into operation. In this way they had interest, sinking-fuind and depreciation guaranteed before a penny was spent. (Applause). Hydro-electricity was going tq bq a big thing for New Zealand. He was of opinion that it wou'ld certainly .stimulate industry and manufacture in the country. Tne farming industry in New Zealanu was tlie biggest thing at the present time and if they could do. no more than make the tot of the farmer a happier one, that in itself was a big thing. Regarding the cost to the consumer it Was possible that Christchurch would receive power at a 'cheaper rate* than other places in New Zealand. .Owing to the proximity of the Waiinakariri River Christchurch had probably been given better terms than " would otherwise have been tlie case- but outside -Christchurch every' Other place in New Zealand would fie on the some plane. He would like further to .emphasise that the sooner tli Powqr Boards got into operation, and began to pay off the liability tlie sounder would tbe the scheme mid the better position the country would be in. (Applause). • Mr Linklater, in proposing the toast of thq Local Bodies, paid a tribute to the good work done for tlie country f by (the iioc.a.l bodies road boards*. County Councils, drainage boards, and Borough Councils. In regard to the latter lie would take this opportunity of thanking the Borough of .Shannon for the able manner in which the present arrangements had been carried out. (Applause).

Continuing Mr Linklu-ter stated that there were 36 power hoards in A.e" Zealand' covering 67 per cent. Ql me. total area of Hie country, and embracing 63 per cent, ot me population, sq it would he seen wiiat an important tiling uydro-electricny already was in N.ew Zeala.nd. He would-, say in conclusion that the development ol hydro-electricity oe of the greatest benefit to New Zealand. Speaking as a farmer he could say authoritatively that it was going to make the lot Of hie man m me country ah incomparably easier one, and also make tire Ipjt of the farmer's wile a belter and pleasanter one. Mr ih’ A. Wright, Mayor 01. Welling, replied briefly, stating that the. local body representative did a great deal of work without pay and in - the face Of considerable criticism, a met for which they, were entitled to more praise than they generally got. Mr .Thwaites (Shannon Chamber oi Commerce) proposed the toast of the Press, replied to by Mr E. O’Donueil (Shannon News). . The function concluded With tne toast of the Mayor Qi Shannon proposed by the Prime Minister, who expressed his personal thanks and 'that of the whole Parliamentary party to Mr Murdoch for the completeness ol the* preparations vvliich had been made. (Applause). Mr Murdoch briefly returned thanks.

The arrangements for the celebrations, including the banquet, were in, the hands of the following .com-mittee;-—The Mayor (Mr W. Murdoch) and Messrs S. W. Garter, W. H, Gunning, A. E. Hyde, T. Thwaites, E. Butt, T. Gardner, Jas. Curran, J. Beard, H. Andrew, R. L. Tippler, T. King, H Seifert, J. V. Burns, and J. T. Bovis (secretary).