PREMIER AT ELTHAM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 87, 11 April 1912, Page 5

PREMIER AT ELTHAM.

HON. T. MACKENZIE BANQUET ED BY CONSTITUENTS.

Eltham was truly en fete on Wednesday, when the Prime Minister and the Hon. G. W. Russell arrived in the township. Even from the railway station it was evident that “things were happening.” Six sturdy nipers and as many more bandsmen L ere expressing, in no uncertain note, JPeven if it was a trilie discordant, the ■ pleasure Eltham felt at having their Premier and their Member in their midst.. From the balcony of one of the hotels the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. T. B. Crump) welcomed,the visitors, the /Premier, who 'received with acclamation, suitably replying to his eulogistic remarks. In the evening the function took the form of a social. The new Town Hall was tastefully decorated, and crowded, with tables, the seats of which were all filled by the ladies and gentlemen of Eltham and the surrpunding districts. A rough estimate of the number present would be approximately four hundred, not including the large number who were interested spectators in the gallery above. ':< ■ • , r r The chair was taken by Mr. James McVeagh, chairman of the reception committee which organised the gathering. Beside the guest or the evening there were present the Hon. G*. W. Russell, Mr.- W. T. Jennings, exmember for Taumarunui, and Dr. V alintine. Apologies were received from Sir Joseph Ward and members of the Cabinet. „ ,„• n i i After the toast of “The King had been duly honoured, the Eltham Band gave a*.,selection, and Mrs. Nicol two very enjoyable songs. To Mr. W. T. Jennings fell the duty - of proposing the toast of “Ihe F ar " f Lament of New Zealand. Mr. Jminings said he ‘ did not know why ho had been selected 'to propose this toast, as he knew little about tne Parliament of New Zealand—he nad only wbeen there nineteen years. (Laughter.) He paid a tribute to Mr Jenkins, for the magnificent gift m the institution which stood on the hill before him—the Salvation Army Boys Home; The speaker went on to refer to the beneficent measures which Mr. Massey once opposed tooth and mu., but now admitted he would cot repeal. They put him in mind or an old backblocks’ settler who asked Ins wife to kill the hear that was muring the- log cabin. When she this, -he.-said, looking at the dead animal, ■ ‘‘‘Mary; we did that alrignt. (Laughter.) Mr. Massey was playing a similar game. He asked that the new Ministers be given a fair fearing they, were entitled even as was a stranger in a strange land to a fa r chance. . They were sincere, honest, and energetic men, imbued with the highest ideals of the ’ Parliament of New Zealand. (Applause.) The Hon. G. W. Russell replied. He referred "to the regrettable absence of the * ! Hon. W. C. Carueross. through illnosS* and eulogi'ed lu* servYes to the country in the Legulaf vc Coun-.l and hiV l Services in shaping Bietral opinion,by his able pen. lie '•xmes-s----el Jiiß' , 'untibuh'dj.d adimratmi. of the manner ih' whicu Elti.am had lioncuied itself audits Tr me M.ir.-t-f :.i d Memberhy turhrtg out in, indi large numbers. Referring to the Premier, he said that honour had been thrust upon'him:"'There was no canvassing on hit part, arid' he did not approach members, placing his claims for office before 1 ' th'erii. 1 He was elected by what 'iYas" 'practically a unanimous ■vote.' 1 Members ' felt that there was .one xHfh ■‘they; i^anted; tb fill the'bill, in a -'Vert/ difficult * situation; 'and, that 'was tli'cer menlber. (Applause.) (The Prcmffir'haß the ednfidenbe or-his c-riff league's Tn a very remarkable manner. They recognised his ability, judging tfftact,' and' courage, and if ever these things were wanted they Wi*to wantfcc! now. Mr. Russell said ho was a student of physiognomy. He had watched-the face of Mr. Massey when the rlo-confidenco deflate was in preidps//He likened it to the face of a Mail Svheh' he had placed in his arms*!,Ms r rirs;t/bahy. (Applause.) The L nidcY of „the Opposition had smiled over ai thii Treasury benches and sa d to hirii'self: “I will soon be there.” But When one member got up and said ho had' been sent there to turn out the Ward' Government, but found he had been primed with inaccurate statements, and that he would now refuse to be a party to turning out that Government, 'the smile changed. It ceased altogether when another member followed suit. Mr. Massey then assumed a look of bitter disappointment. (Laughter.) Mr. Russell ttfok his hearers into his- confidence, and told them, anfidst applause, of a banquet that was prepared for the victors—the. Opposition Party. When the debate Was over there was sorrow and , tribulation —what to do with those triumphs of' the culinary art; (Laughter.) The speaker, continuing., spoke of the “eftrontry” of Mr. Massey in criticising in such terms the personnel of the Cabinet, his remarks being on the same lines as h's address in Stratford. In connection with Mr. Massey’s statement that he would not attempt to repeal any of the Liberal Government’s measures, Mr. Russell said that the country would never trust Mr. Massey with the legislation he hqd systematically opposed. They could not expect to grow grapes from thorns nor figs from thistles; neither could, they expect a Tory and Conservative.. party to give them a proper administration of Liberal measures. (Applause.) He likened Mr. Massey to the Irish actor who was playing a Scotch part, and who was asked bv an old Scotchman in the broadest of Scotch “Where was his accent.” The actor .replied, “You’ve got it.” When the Liberal. Party asked Mr. Massey where was his policy, that gentleman could but reply “You’ve got it.’ ’(Applause.) The Liberal Ministry, had the policy. With the help of the people of,'the country, they were going to keep on with these liberal measures—the measures that had been first commenced by that great man Sir George Grey—(applause)—taaf had been carried on by that famous statesman, John Ballance, that han been followed by that distinguished man) Richard John Seddon. continued hy that brilliant leader, Sir Joseph t TVard, and were now upheld by their Member,- the Hon. T. Mackenzie. Applause.) He thanked those present for sending such a man as the now Premier to represent them in Parliament, and to lead himself and his colleagues. They would give him their loyal rimport and assist him in every way. TU trusted that the Hon. T. Mackenzie would long be their leader. (Applause) The toast of “The Local Bodies” was pronosed hv Mr. Felix McGuire, and replied to by the Acting-Mayor,; Mr. T. B. Crump. In the interval a song was sung by Miss Green and a step-dance given by Mr. Andrews. The Chairman proposed the toast of “Our Guest,” and eulogised the services of the Premier to his country. He, hoped that the Egmont electorate, amid Mr. Mackenzie’s numerous duties, would not bo neglected.

He was pleased to know that Air. Mackenzie was to retain the portfolio of Agriculture, which even his enemies admitted ho had held with conspicuous success. (Applause.) Referring to tfie land question, he said tliat he thought it was made a party shibboleth. It was not land policy, it was land administration—settling the lands—and the portfolio of Lands could not be in abler hands. (Applause. i

The premier, on rising to respond, was greeted with entnusiastic applause, and loud cheers, accompanied oy musical honours. His speecli was mainly on the lines of tlie address ho delivered in Stratford, though occasionally, and especially at tne commencement, he' touched upon new ground. The Hon. T. Mackenzie sa d no did not know how to thank the people of Eltham for the great tribute/ they had paid to him. Mr. Russell had" stated that a gathering such as this one, would have done credit to any metropolitan centre, and he endorsed this remark. He would say this, that he had never been before honoured by such a representative gathering of men and women, and their presence there that evening was a tribute he would never forget. He was proud of those body of men and ' women who accepted h.m on credit, who asked him to their midst, and promised to return him as their member. Their good opinion of him had been vindicated by the Parliament of .\ew Zealand in selecting him as Premier. (Applause.) Mr. Mackenzie expressed the pleasure he felt at hearing the efforts of the pipers—the music that was first heard in the Gar- 1 den of Eden. (Laughter.) The speak-1 or referred at some length to the points raised by previous speakers. “First,” he said, “let me tell my friend Air. Jennings,” the rest of the sentence was lost in loud cheers and the next word heard were—“hope may only bo temporary, because ins services are too much required by the country, and especially _ the backblocks’ settlers, whose interests he has truly at heart.” (Applause.) Mr. Mackenzie spoke of the Salvation Army Boys’ Home, and of the good work done by Mr. Jenkins and the officers of the Army. He regretted very much that the Honourable Air. (jarncross was not present that evening, and extended to him and his wife and falnily, his deep sympathy. Referring to a remark by Mr. Russell, the Premier said they wore going to reply on every, public platform to the lies and misstatements that had been circulated about them. ihey were not going to see the fair fields of New Zealand laid open to the noxious weeds that the Opposition were so anxious to sow. Referring to the 'tributes that the Opposition Party and Press now paid Sir Joseph (Yard, he asked why they did not pay them while he was in office. Instead, they concentrated upon him abuse and slander. They said he picketed about ten thousand pounds of loan money, but when he tackled them with this in Parliament, •when the Press were present, they said they did not say these things, and sat there like “extinct volcanoes.” (Laughter.) They attempted to belittle him over the Imperial Conference, but his actions showed that he was beyond his day. Such measures as he proposed would ere long be required to keep the great British Empire intact. They needed a truly Imperial Senate, at which'the Dominions might voice their opinions. From time to time they saw a “flanking off.” ' They did not like to see. Canada f Wanting a navy of its/ own, and they did not like to see the Commonwealth taking a similar action. Their ideal, was One King, One Navy, One Empire. (Applause.) Yet these pigmies pad triba to discount the, mart who'propounded a scheme which Would help to ithis, desirable,, end. . Air. Russell had said that the position of Premier was not of his seeking. That was correct. They had stepped into the breach, but "now they were in that breach they were going to hold th,at breach if, it was within the power of man. The greater the difficulties the greater the Sonour. The Leader .of the Opposition had; 'said ‘at Stratford that no good could come out of such a party. All he could say was that Mr. Massey ought to rise to a higher level. He (Mr. Massey) ought to give them credit at least for good intentions.'Mr Hine said he would not be a member of the Liberal Party “for all the tea in China.”

A voice: No; gold in China.” Mr. Alackenzie: It doesn’t matter which, he’ll get neither. Mr. Mackenzie likened Air. Massoy and his party in their “self-lauda-tion” to theTharisee, who thanked his God that he was not as other men wore. He and his colleagues claimed no special gifts; they were no better than other men. They claimed they were up to the ordinary level of men, and intended to keep up to that position. The Opposition talked of their higli ideals." If these were so high, why did they not rely on them to carry them through, instead of discountenancing the honesty and high purpose of the political men who did not -see eye to eye with them? They expressed the opinion of them that they were honourable men, and they desired the same tribute from them. Air. Mackenzie then related in detail what had occurred at the noconfidence debate, when in the session just concluded, the Opposition came down from Auckland with their Hallelujah chorus. The -speaker referred to the manner in which the Conservative press “boosted np” its friends. He referred especially to a certain farming journal—“that yellow coloured thing which is going round the country stating that this Government has never done anything for the farmer.” Such journals were poisoning the public mind.

Mr. Maekenz’e referred to his firsthand knowledge of the markets of the world. In England he had seen the people of this country -robbed of twothirds of the value of their produce. He had got to the bottom of this, and had stopped the evil work of the or-, ganisation which was robbing the producer. He had got right into the inner secrets of the operations of the markets of the world, and he asked them to compare himself and Air. Massey on their respective “face values.” Had Air. Massey any such knowledge or experience? Speaking of the Local Government Bill, the Premier said the matter would he very fully considered. It intended to enlarge the powers of local bodies and i give them responsibility, and, I be hoped, a more assured revenue. He made a plea for local politics, and said they should, excite the same interest among the people .as Domin on politics. The local politician was doing good work for which he was paid nothing. Referring again to the new Cabinet, ho said they were going to endeavour to win the esteem of the people hy giving them sol'd work, arid energetic settlement.of the land. As a previous speaker had remarked, it was not so much-the question of tenures, but of opening up the land. (Applause.) The land laws bad nothing wrong with them, and he deprecated the battledore and shuttlecock policy of the Opposition. He emphasised the point that they were not 1 going to tolerate large estates, and

were going to carry out the policy laid down in the last session, of enforcing the increasing of the graduated land tax. But for those who wore not occupying too much /land, there would be' greater concessions than they had previously enjoyed. (Applause.) The toasts of the Press, and the Chairman were also duly honoured..