MR JOSEPH McCLUGGAGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 64, 6 September 1911, Page 3

MR JOSEPH McCLUGGAGE

HONORED 11Y WHANGAMOMONA. The WhiinganxMiioiia Town Hall was packed on Friday night, the occasion being a complimentary social and presentation to Mr. Joseph Met.luggage, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Mr. W.'.A. McCutchan presented Mr. McCluggage with an illuminated address and a solid silver tea service, and in doing so made highly complimentary reference to Mr. McCluggage and his work on behalf of the district and province. "It is twenty years," said the speaker, "since ho first came to Taranaki. lie left" and came back again three years later and commenced business; and'from a- very small beginning he built up a retail business as large as any in the North Island outside the large cities, and when that business was sold the other day there were twenty-eight persons on the pay-roll oif McCluggage linos. This I speaks volumes for the treatment by Mr. McCluggago of bis employees. He> has had men with him for 'fourteen and fifteen years, and no one has ever heard of any one of these employees say a disloyal word about Mr. McCluggage. There was a spirit of splendid loyalty with them." Mr. McCutchan mentioned the fact that the conduct of. such an extensive business demanded, much effort, and there could be no more flattering commentary, not only upon Mr. McCluggago's, business enterprise-, his comriiercial probity and business integrity, than the fact that a great wholesale house, jointed in with generous financial assistance towards this presentation to Mr. McCluggage. Mr. McCluggage, iij rising to reply, was warmly applauded. lie said he sincerely flunked them on behalf of Mrs. McCluggage and himself for the very kind words spoken and the very valuable address, which he would trea-1 sure as long as life lasted. He also thanked them kindly and sincerely on behalf of Mrs. McCluggage for the very beautiful and valuable tea service. Mrs. i McCluggage would been present ex- | cept that the younger children had | hardly got over the measles. Mr. McI Oluggnge continued: "I take this large gathering, with the presentation, as a very great honor to all my family. lam sure it is more than we deserve. The Whangamomona people have always been kind to us both in private and business life. There has always been a true bond of sympathetic friendship amongst the old settlers, and their kindness will never 'be forgotten by me. During the seventeen years I have been in busi-lli-ss^although the first toil years was a very hard, time, it was always a hnppv and a pleasant one, and we were always made wclcome'"l)y everyone. The history of Whangamomona will be written in the near future, and one of-Urn principal ' characters will be the kite Paddy White. Paddy was a remarkable man in many ways. His life was full of errors, but at limes he showed he*had a very large heart, and was always considerate to settlers with large, families. Ido not wish to touch on politics this evening, but I must say the Government of this Dominion and every other Government m all the British dominions, will have to do something to make life easier for the, people with large families, when they have to depend on a daily wage. I know from experience in my boyhood days, through being one of a large family, the grinding time it is for both parnets and children; and if something is not done, to assist these people that is one of the factors that will bring about race suicide. Mr. McCutchan very kindly made reference to my action on the different local bodies. Well, I can say, since helping to administer the land laws of Taranaki, and I have never voted for a forfeiture of a. tenant's holding, with a few exceptions of glaring cases, and I hold it would be far better for the land -.boards to sue in Court for a breach of the conditions. Forfeiture is a cruel method, especially for some trivial breach of the lease. Speaking as a member of the Xew Plymouth Haibor Hoard, although a few years ago the harbor had few friends, in a very short time the big Home boats will bo calling at New Plymouth, bringing in our merchandise, and taking away our produce. This will mean thousands and thousands of pounds in the pockets of the farmers. We have 33ft of water at low water spring tide at the wharf at present, and when the wharf is widened and strengthened the big steamers can come in and out with perfect safety 1 . We have always been fortunate in the past that when anything was required to further the interests of the district, we always sank party politics and worked together for the advancement of the district, and we have always- been ably backed up by | Stratford anil Xew Plymouth business [ people and the press. The one thing regrettable is the losing of the mail connection from Stratford to the King Country, and when the now tenders come out for the mail contract we should get the Stratford and Xew Plymouth Chambers of Commerce to help us to get .\ mail connection between the two rail heads. The King Country is mostly Taranaki, and the business should cornel this way. and the mails always play an important part in commerce. Auckland is making every effort to get and keep the Ohura. trade. Anyone who is not] satisfied will) his lot in Taranaki should go for a holiday round New Zealand, and he will come back with one id-a, and | that is that for price and ca.rrying capa- I city our hind is better than he can get elsewhere." —Post. '