A CHEQUE FOR £1000.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1920, Page 7

A CHEQUE FOR £IOOO.

PRESENTED TO MR. J. B, HINE. COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL AT STRATFORD. A REMARKABLE GATHERING. {From Our Own Correspondent.) ! Stratford, July 0. The complimentary social which was tendered to Mr. J. B. Hine and Mrs. Hine in the Stratford Town Hall on Thursday night, was a remarkable demonstration .of the loyalty of Mr. Hine's political supporters in the Stratford electorate. The function, was organised# fcy the members of his election committees in the south, east and west portions of the electorate, and it was one of the most successful functions yet held in Stratford. Not only did Mr. Hine's supporters subscribe the magnificent sum of £IOOO as a presentation to him, but added to this they presented him with a most appreciative address expressing their loyalty to him and their recognition of his services on behalf of the electorate and as a soldier, on behalf of the Empire. The decorations and arrangements for the function were on an elaborate scale, and reflected credit on those responsible. For several days previous to the social, an energetic band of ladies had been busy decorating the hall, and, as a result of their efforts, it was transformed from its usual plain appearance to a place of wondrous beauty. The candidate's campaign colors —red and blackwere worked into the central design, and with greenery and colored lights, a charming effect was produced. The hall was crowded; every seat was occupied, and about a hundred had to stand throughout the early portion of the evening, and the whole proceedings were demonstrative of the very high esteem in which both Mr. and Mrs. Hine are held by their supporters. As the guests of the evening entered the hall they were recerved with outbursts of tumultuous cheering and applause, and when they had seated themselves on the platform, Miss Marjorie Phillips, the little daughter of Mrs. M. T. Phillips (chairwoman of the Ladies' Committee), amid further applause, presented Mrs. Hine with a, beautiful botiquet of violets. THE MAYOR'S TRIBUTE. 1 In adidtion to Mr. and Mrs. Hine, those seated on the platform were: The Mayor and Mayoress of Stratford (Mr. and Mrs. J. W. McMillan), Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Cameron (Stratford), Mr. and Mrs; Frank Brown (Inglewood), Mr. E. F. Hemingway (Patea), Mr. \V. McDonald (Stratford), Mrs. M. T. Phillips (Strat* ford), and Mrs. Horner (Inglewood)/' A number of letters and telegrams apologising for being unable to attend were received from prominent members of the Reform Party,, inoluding tho Prime Minister, and Messrs. 0. Hawken, M.P., W. D. Powdrell, M.P., G. H. Buckeridge, C. A. Wilkinson, and J. Sutherland (Mayor of Inglewood). The Mayor said he felt it a great pleasure to be associated with the gathering to give tangible expression to the esteem in which they held their guest, Mr. Hine. (Applause.) People all over the Dominion had said how ungrateful they of the Stratford electorate must be to turn down a man who had so much for them, but the great gathering that night showed that Mr. Hine's supporters were not ungrateful, and that they recognised his sterling qualities as a member of Parliament and as a soldier. (Applause.) There was one phase of the election he could not refrain from mentioning, and it was the attempt made by a few returned to besmirch the fightingabilities of Mr. Hine at the front. (Cries of "Shame!") It was shame on the soldiers who circulated such stories and shame on the people who believed them. (Applause.) There was not an atom of truth in the statements, and the men who'made them were afraid to repeat them to Mr. Hine himself. (Applause.) DUTY TO COUNTRY. Continuing, Mr. McMillan said there were three types of men who entered publio life. One for the honor and glory of it, another for a living—the professional joliticians—and a few who entered politics as a duty to the country, the same as men enlisted ; to fight for their country. In the latter category he unhesitatingly placed Mr. ■Hine. (Applause). Mr. Hine felt itj his duty to offer his services as their representative in Parliament, the same as he felt it his duty to fight at the front. (Applause.) It was men of that type who had to make sacrifices, and their wives also had to make sacrifices. It was often said that men were fools to take on public positions, but everyone honored them for doing it. He included Mrs. Hine in his expressions of esteem and regard. He recognised that Mrs. Hine had fulfilled her ■part as the member's wife cheerfully. (Applause), and during her husband's absence at the front had done splendid work on Behalf of the soldiers' wives and the community at large. (Applause.) The gathering that night was purely and simply to recognise them as having performed their duty faithfully and well. Mr. Hine wouid miss the excitement and hard work of politics, but though he must say farewell to that life for a little while, they felt sure he would come again. In conclusion, wished the guests health, happiness and prosperity, and remarked that he 1 was only putting into words what was in the hearts of all present'that night. REASON FOR DEFEAT. Mr. Frank Brown, chairman of Mr. Hine's Inglewood committee, congratulated tho Stratford Committee on the enthusiastic nature of the gathering. It must be gratifying to Mr. Hine to see so many of his supporters present on such a wet night, and It was hard for one to understand, when they saw so many supporters present at Stratford and Inglewood. why Mr. Hine. was defeated at the election. Mr. Hine had given eleven or twelve years in the best interests of the people, and then was turned down. He tried to realise the cause of it. (A voice: Too many Red Feds, in Strafford!) They were, however, men enough to accept their defeat They were beaten, but would, haVe another chance in three years' time. (Applause.) While Mr. Masters represented them in Parliament they must' help him all they could, but, at the same time, they should watch him and watch him carefully, and if he did not make good, tjiey must see that he went out. The speaker assured Mr. Hine that he would he-given just as gooa a welcome in Inglewood in the future ns in the past. At the December election tliev

considered that Mr. Hine had the safest seat in the Dominion —(A voice: It should have been.) —but now they were beaten. The remedy was to organise. There was no question about the other side having been working for a long time prior to the election, and that was why Mr. Hine ha 3 been beaten. In conclusion, Mr. Brown wished the guests the best of happiness and prosperity. "PLAYED THIJ MAN." Mr. E. F. Hemingway (Patea) said he spoke not as an elector of .Stratford, but as an elector of the Dominion, and from the bottom of his heart he< appreciated Mr. Hine's services. Mr. Hine hful played the man before, and he would play it again, and they could not honor him too much. Mr. Hemingway referred to the time when Mr. Hine was first selected as the Reform candidate for Stratford, and said he was chosen because he was found to be a man of honor and integrity. After referring to Mr. Hine's success in cleaning political life as a result of the "Hine charges," Mr. Hemingway went on to say that there was no cleaner country for its politics in 'the British Empire than Now Zealand, and it was largely due to Mr. Hine that this was so (Loud applause). Speaking of Mr. Hine's miiltary career, Mr. Hemingway said that he had proved himself a patriot and a statesman. When he saw that every man was needed in order to win the war he did not hesitate, and they could not honor him too much. As a member of the Stratford County Council, ■ the Mounted Rifles, the Stratford Hospital Board, and as Member of Parliament, Mrf Hine had done well. Yet when Mr. Hine was lying in bed in. a hospital, fighting for breath, the Stratford Liberals set on foot a proposal to bring Dr. Thacker, a political opponent, to Stratford to deliver a political address. (A voice: DisgTace'ful!) In conclusion, Mr. Hemingway said he believed ,w]hen next election was held a large number of people would realise that they had made a mistake and that they ought to have tetulned theAan who had done so much for them. (Applause.) Mr. Hemingway called for three cheers for "a man who played the game," and the audience responded with enthusiasm Mr. N. B. Fryday, of Ngaere, said he bad known Mr. Hine for thirty years, and a whiter man he had never met! Mr. Hine wouhfnot say one thing and mean another; he would say What he meant, and stand by it. Mr. Hine had played the game, and-not done as some younger men had done—hid behind their family's clothes. (Laughter). Regarding the stories that had been circulated reflecting on Mr. Hine's services at the front, the speaker said that the ones who had circulated such stories were not men, and were not even the makings of men. (Laughter.) Someone had asked why Mr. Hine w(is beaten. He could tell them. It was due to a combination of four L's—-Liberals, Liars, Loafers, and Lamp-post orators. (Renewed laughter.) They had one consolation, and that was that although they were beaten they had the brains and intelligence of Stratford on their side. (Applause.) Mr. R. H. Cameron, chairman of the Central Committee, expressed great pleasure at having the nonor of making the presentation to Mr. Hine. ' Their guest had. represented the Stratford electorate for eleven years, and their opponent had stated publicly that Mr. Hme had entered the House in dirt. He was proud to be able to say that dirt was due to the Liberal policy, and Mr. Hine had put his foot down on Tammanyism and had cleaned the dirt away. (Applause). After serving the electorate_ for eleven years the only charge their opponents could level at Major Hine was that he had neglected his electorate to fight for his country. (Applause). After expressing his thanks to the ladies for tho excellent help they had given, Mr. Cameron made the presentation. (A report of this was published yesterday).. MR. HINE'S REPLY. On rising to reply, Mr. Hine was greeted with loud and prolonged cheering arid applause. He said it was rather overpowering for any candidate to have. ;to face an ordeal such as he was faced with, and if any evidence w?.s required of tho goodwill of his supporters towards him it was supplied in the manner in which they had turned out that night. Ho thanked them all from the bottom of his heart for the hearty reception they had given Mrs. Hine and himself. Mrs. Hine had had a hard task while he was away at the front, and also during his political career. Regarding the people who had circulated the mis-statements about his military life, he felt certain they would pay the penalty in time. He stood clear in the knowledge that his military life was one to be proud of, and it had been a joy and a pleasure to him. He hid had the command of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, and had the full respect and confidence of his men and also of the general commanding the brigade. His life had been a happy one, and the eleven years he had represented them in Parliament had been the happiest of his life. He had done his best in whatever sphere he had been placed, and though he was not now in active political lifo he was going to rest, but would come, along when the time came and again do his best for the electorate whether the candidate was himself, or any other gentlemen, or a lady candidate. (Applause.) Mr. Hine remarked that a number of rumors regarding his political future had got into circulation. One rumor stated that he waa to be appointed to the Upper House, and he wanted, to state quite plainly that he had no ambition to serve in any branch of the Legislature aq an appointee. He liked to win his seat, and not to be appointed. Anothl* ruinor staftd that he was to bp appointed Commissioner of Nauru Island, but this also he wished, to deny. Nauru climate was a bit too hot fqr him to enjoy comfortably. (Laughter.) It was also stated that he was being found a job in the Defence Department, which was quite untrue. He had no intention of leaving the Stratford electorate, and he hoped to do his bit fqr the electorate as a layman in civil life, and to join in any movement for the good of the district. The text of the address presented to him was most gratifying, and he felt the praise was too great. (Cries of "No!") If that was true evidence of their regard for him he felt very satisfied. Ho .hardly knew how to evpress. thanks. He had never looked for the presentations; he had not expected them, and lie felt that he did not deserve such great recognition. In conclusion, Mr Hine said he hoped the Reform Party would have a candidate and a victorious candidate, at the nej.'t election. The people would learn that Mr. Massey was capable and possessed a knowledge and breadth of vision which very few men in this country ever had. To all tse subscribers who had supported him to loyally, especially

the ladies, he wished to tender his very sincere thanks. A musical programme of exceptional merit was arranged, and the speeches were made between the items. Mrs. George's orchestra from .New Plymouth, provided the orchestral selections, and songs were contributed by Mrs. E. F. Hollands ("Oh, Flower Divine"), Miss Phillips "The Valley of Laughter'), Mr. Darlow, Inglewood ("Till The Sands of The Desert Grow Cold") and humorous items by Messrs. Darlow, Geddes, and Lloyd (Inglewood), all of whom responded with encores. v The supper arrangements were carried out with wonderful precision, and although there were over a tnousand present, everyone was able to sit down to,a first-class supper, under the management of the Ladies' Committee. At the conclusion of the speeches, the floor was cleared and dancing was indulged m until the early hours of the morning. The scene was a brilliant one and, orchestral accompaniments were provided by Mrs. George's orchestra. PRESENTATION TO MRS. HINE. A presentation of a beautiful autographed album.of views was made privately to Mrs. Hine. The album contained the autographs of over .150 of Mr. and Mrs. Hine's friends, and with it was the following note of appreciation: "We, the undersigned, men and women of the Stratford electoral district desire to express to you our sympathy and appreciation of your co-operation with | Mr. Hine in the recent campaign in this j electorate. We have always found you a ready and willing supporter of all good works. We particularly wish to express to you our appreciation of the self-sacrifioing efforts of you and yonr family during the sad time of the influenza epidemic. We are not unmindful of the fact that you were helping to alleviate the sufferings of those in our hospitals while your husband was far away from these shores upholding the honor and prestige of Our Empire in the land which is sacred to all Christian people. We hope you will long be spared to dwell amongst lis and we assure you of our continued support and fellowship in all your undertakings." [ln the published text of the address, the sentence: "You have now compromised__._ . ." should have~read: "You have never compromised. . ,