COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 377, 30 April 1910, Page 8

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

MR. JAMES SMITH 110.N0RKD. I There was a capital function at the Imperial Hotel last night, when a complimentary banquet was tendered b> hi, friends to Mr. James Smith, cently "mine host" at the Imperial, Lie was a large one, everyplace ' hem" tilled. Host Little provided a Sl ,:,mlid repast, and whilst this portion of the banquet was in process He \,.w Plymouth orchestra, under Mr. \\., Perry, slaved a much appreciated programme "Mr. 00. Grey occupied the | chair, and Mr. E. Whittle the we-j 1 Thi' usual lova! toast having' been honored. Mr. J.' MeLeod, in the absence of Mr. R. Cock, proposed 'The Trade. After generalising upon the benefits confcrreilV the conduct of good "ostelnes for the -benefit of travellers and the public at large, Mr. McLeod referred to !l,e manner in which the licensed houses in this town were conducted, and the class of men in charge of them. So long as the trade was in such hands time vvl.s no need for the cry «I for there was no abuse of the ie,t c tions or privileges of the licensing law,. He remarked u],on the fact that whereas the "other side" was continually workin* and actively organising, tho.e people vho derived most benefit from the trade and whose convenience was so greatly s yedbv the existence of .censed Sea. were apathetic in defending the ]io ,nsed houses from unfair f™™Ah- E Whittle, president of the i aia mild' Licensed Yivtuallers' Association, responded. He remarked that during t ri,ht years he had been connected with the local association, he was proud to 2i SS »ot one of the Now Plymouth hcensed victuallers had been convicted of a breach of the licensing aws (Applause.) If anything jiwtihed the e> »t Lee of licensed houses, then it was done by a record such as that a record officii the trade might well be proud Tt was only because they had men ol the calibre of their guest that such KU had been possible. Referring to Mr McLeod's remarks, he said that at Jhe" last election "the trade" Had been fortunate in having the. co-operation of anumberof tradespeople, who liad assisted them in a> worthy manner With the same assistance in the next fight he would have no fear of the result. At times the trade was unduly and very unfairly criticised. No licensed trader here wanted to see a drunken man or a drunken woman about his premises, or at all, So when they saw reports in the Press of cases of drunkenness they SuM e femlber that the hotelkeeper was not always responsible. Giving his ™n experience, he said that manyJ time when he had refused liquor he had been angered and disgusted to And that some "kind friend" had procured it lor him He said he would be glad if the Rev Isitt and anv other members of his persuasion would make a tour of the licensed houses in Xcw Plymouth and inspect, every one of them; and then tell the people the truth. (Applause.) The health of "All Good Fellows" was proposed by Mr*. W. Weston and responded to'by Mr. J. Eberlet, In proposing the health of Our Guest," the chairman remarked that from an intimate knowledge of Mr. Smith in his business life ho had come to rcnard him as a good, straight man, and a fair type of the man in charge, of the licensed trade in this town. It must be very pleasing to Mr. Smith, at the conclusion of four or live years, to he entertained and surrounded by so many who wished him well. Whenever Mr 'Smith's name was mentioned he could see general expressions of goodwill lighting their faces, and he knew that such unanimity of kindly expression could be evoked only as the result of acts of kindness, a smiling face, and acts of timely assistance. No good thin" had lacked his assistance. Mr. Grey then went on to refer to Mr. Smith's active interest in all manly -u-.orts, and the very liberal support which he had given in the desire to fostei them. He had not the slightest doubt that his same constant attention to his business, and his own pleasant personality, would do much to bring success in'their guest's new venture in the wine and spirit trade, in partnership with their old friend, Mr. James Hawkins. He paid a warm compliment to the excellent administrative abvlity displayed by Mrs. Smith in the conduct of the' Imperial Hotel, and said that the success achieved could not have come without her excellent management. In making a presentation to Mr. Smith of a massive canteen of cutlery, Mr. Groy said the gathering wished Mr. Smith to feel that it represented the wish of every man that' he should have all the n-r.od that could possibly come to him, every prosperity in his .business, long life and happiness for himself and his wife. Mr. Smith, who was quite taken bacy bv the demonstrative enthusiasm which followed the speech, briefly expressed his thanks, and statecT that he hao no knowledge of ever having done anything to warrant the .presentation or the "storm" of good wishes that night showered on him. He could not hel'i bring a sport—he would always b» tnat, he hoped—neither eonld he au-1 Mrs. Smith have refrained from doing tbtir best for the comfort and service -.f Vhe'.i l;r ardors and patrons. He paid ■>. uimro tr- the manner of men in whose hr.wls was the hotel trade of New Plymouth, and expressed his opinion that Af.\ Little, his successor, would do bettvc then Ik- had done. The health of the host and iiost-ss. Mr. and Mrs. Little, and of i'i ■ ladies were honored, and Mr. Hawkins replied to the good wishes expressed of the new venture. Ten o'clock came nil too sr.on, and a very enjoyable gathering was brought to a close by the peremntory licensing laws to the strains of "Auld Lang Svne." songs wore contributed dun 112 the evening by Messrs. H.' Preshaw, W. Perry,°Fai'rbrotiicr and F. Lash.