TESTIMONIAL TO MR JENNINGS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 150, 21 December 1911, Page 8

TESTIMONIAL TO MR JENNINGS

PUBLIC MEETING AT TE KUITI. A public meeting, presided over by Mr. J. Boddie, Mayor, was held in the Waitorao County office on Wednesday night, having for its object the presenting to Mr. W. T. Jennings a suitable token for his nine years' services to the Taumarunui electorate and the Dominion generally.

Tile chairman, in introducing the business, referred to Mr. Jennings in most eulogistic terms, and ventured the opinion that he had been sacrificed for the sins of his party. Individually there was no other man in the House that was more highly respected. There was no gainsaying the fact that Mr, Jennings had done good work for the electorate. On all occasions when be enlisted the services of Mr. Jennings, he found him walling and ready to do fill that he could. He had much pleasure in cordially supporting the movement to make I Mr. Jennings a suitable testimonial. He j was sure that it was the general feeling throughout the district. Mr. J. Wall said that it was with pleasure he endorsed the Mayor's remarks. He felt sure that no party politics would be introduced into the matter, as all shades of opinion recognised the sterling worth of Mr. Jennings as a man. He had known Mr. Jennings for over twelve years and could, therefore bear testimony to the calibre of the man. " The election had been fought on square lines with the exception of one little incident. Party politics was responsible for the position, and each side recognised that they had to fight. Mr. J. F. Welsh expressed his pleasure at the candid and splendid manner in which Mr. Wall had spoken. Although up to that evening they had never met he had the highest admiration for Mr, Wall, who, he considered', was a fair fighter. He was pleased that so many were taking an interest in seeing that Mr. Jennings was to have a tangible recognition of his services. Mr. D. J. Young was elected treasurer. It was resolved on the proposition of of Mr. J. B. Young, seconded by Mr. Gadsby, that Messrs. Wall, Walsh, Williams, D. J. Young (treasurer) and P. Mora (secretary) be an executive committee to deal with the matter.—Te Kuiti Chronicle. TAUMARUJfUI'S NEW MEMBER. MR. WILSON INTERVIEWED. •Mr. C. K. Wilson, on his return' to Te Kuiti on Thursday night, had to sustain an enthusiastic reception by his constituents. On Friday he spent an extremely busy day answering congratulatory letters and telegrams from all parts of the Dominion, and in conferring with member of his committee. He left for Levin by the midnight express and proceeds to Wellington. During the course of a brief interview with a King Country Chronicle representative, Mr. Wilson said he was extremely gratified at the result of his labor in the district, and appreciated to the fullest extent the confidence which the electors had reposed in him. He entered upon his duties as representative of the electorate with a deep sense of tho responsibilities attaching to the position of representative of such a district. During his election campaign he had come intimately into contact with the settlers, and had the fullest sympathy with their position and requirements. 1

Asked as to his views as to the most urgent requirements, Mr. AVilson promptly replied, "roads and schools." lie said he had no false ideas as to hi's position, lo do justice to the people meant hard work, and he was quite prepared to cone with it. v What the future liad in store for his political party it was difficult to estimate. He believed in small majorities but the majority Mr. Massey would have was perhaps too small to work on satisfactorily. As to the broad political questions which were bound to figure prominently before the public he would always be found on the side of progress but his first consideration was the interests of his constituents, and whether Mr. I Massey retained power or not those interests would always be sedulously cared or The backblocks required all the attention, that could be bestowed on them ind his best efforts would be directed' towards bettering tlie conditions of the Jut-back people. Mr. Wilson said there was a considerable amount of money on the Estimates or the King Country, and his first cneavor would be to facilitate the cxpendi;ure of that money so that work could i >e accomplished during the fine weather. Ie intended spending som-e time in Wei-1 ington immediately and would do all I ;iiat waa possible'. ,