BANQUET TO MINISTER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 693, 19 June 1929, Page 16

BANQUET TO MINISTER

TRIBUTES TO HON. P. DE LA PERRELLE INVERCARGILL WELCOME Press Association INVERCARGILL, Tuesday. The Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, was given a banquet by his Bluff constituents on Monday evening. The Mayor presided over an attendance of 500. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe represented the Government and also present were the DeputyMayor of Invercargill, the Mayor of Gore, Mr. D. B. Poppelwel, Judge Gilfedder of the Native Land Court, Mr. D. McDougall and Mr. Tuiti Makitmara, M.P.’s. The Hon. de la Perrelle was congratulated by Southland local body representatives on his promotion to the Ministry. Tributes were paid to his work, not only for the province, but for the Dominion. His portfolio was declared to be justly deserved. In a long speech the Hon. J. G. Cobbe referred to the land settlement policy of the Government, which, he said, was being handled in a firm and decisive manner. The Hon. de la Perrelle said the Government was carrying out its election pledges, particularly with regard to providing money for workers and settlers. Loans authorised by the State Advances Department from December 10 to May 31 numbered 1.465 to settlers, valued at £1,762,770, and to workers 1,866 loans, amounting to £1,610,555, a total of 3,331 loans, valued at £3,373,325. Between the same dates 956 loans to the value of £1,198,900 were paid over to settlers, while to workers a total of 2,064 loans was paid, of a value of £2,178,450. New loan moneys added to the State Advances capital between these two dates amounted to £3,536,900, and the balance of the loan moneys held available for investment as at May 30 was £2,480,385. The Minister thanked his constituents for the honour done him.