A LIBERAL "RALLY."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9189, 8 September 1908, Page 5

A LIBERAL "RALLY."

MINSISTERS AND MEMBERS,

ON TOUR IN LOWER VALLEY. The Lower Valley has been a scene of unusual political activity since Saturday, as a great "rally" of Liberal party representatives, headed by two Cabinet Minister?, occurred at Carterton last evening, the fuwction being preceded by sundry festive and formal proceedings, which have occurred at different places in the Electorate. The Parliamentary visitors comprised the Hons. J. Carroll (Native Minister), J. A. Millar, (Minister for Labour, etc.), and Messrs Hone Heke, G. Witty, and T. E. Y. Seddon. They were accompanied on their visit by the member for the district, Mr J. T. M. Hornsby. THE ARRIVAL. I The party arrived at Cartertun at mid-day on Saturday, and were met by the Mayor (Mr W. Moore) and other leading townsmen, and accorded a warm welcome. They were taken to the residence of Mr Hornsby, where lunch was partaken of. GREYTOWN'S WELCOME.—DISTRICT NEEDS. The first formal reception took place at Greytown, to where the party were driven by coach early in the afternoon. On arrival at Greytown they were met by the Mayor (MrD. P. Loasby) and Messrs N. Mdy. J. D. Heagerty, W. H. Day, E. Kempton arid other citizens, who had foregathered at the Town Hall. The Mayor extended a hearty welcome on behalf of the residents of the district. Gieytown's progress was not, he said, of the mushroom variety, but of the slower and more substantial order, and it looked with confidence to a solid future. His Worship referred to the needs of the district in regard to railway development, by (he taking of the line, via Tauherenikau, to Kaitoke, which would obviate the deviation over the Rimutakas. and materially reduce the time taken for the journey to Wellington. The Hon. J. Carroll thanked the Mayor for his reception, stating that the party had enjoyed themselvfs greatly up to that period. His Worship's speech, touching as it did in places on interesting reminiscences of the past, had pleased and impressed the speaker, and in reference to the needs of the district, as outlined by Mr Loasby, the hon. gentleman rusted the visit of the party wouti tiot be in vain. AN INLAND CAPITAL? t " The party were then shown over the Hp 11, after which they were driven t > Muroa, where Mr T. Kempton has made an offer to the Government of a free site of fifty acres for a political capital. At this interesting localitv, with its pretty lanes and plantations looking very attractive under the mild spring conditions, M ssrs Hornsby, Kempton, Udy, and th < Mayor pointed out the natural adv ntages possessed by the site offered for the purpose of a capital, the guides laying particular stress on the distance of the locality from the seaboard, the climatic and topographical points in favour of the scheme,' and the general attractiveness of a proposition which might at first blush appear inadvisable. The party, naturally, were impressed by the generous offer of Mr Kempton, and admitted the many good points in lavour of its acceptance. Mr Hornsby frankly said that he was of the opinion that the chance of the capital being removed from Wellington was very remote. Nevertheless, it was impossible to say how affairs would culminate in the face of the general public opinion that an inland capital was desirnble, and he promised to use every endeavour to get Parliament to give serious consideration to Mr Kempton's handsome offer. The party were then driven to the residenca of the donor, who celebrated his 7Gth birthday on Thursday, and hearty congratulations were extended him by the visitors, also warm thanks for his magnanimous offer. The party left the old gentleman's residence with a choice button-hole each from his pretty garden, and next paid a flying visit to the Greytown Fruitgrowing Company's farm. From there to the Mayor's residence, was the next excursion, and here sundry speeches were made, and matters in regard to insufficient accommodation at the Greytown Railway Station, were laid before the Ministers. LIBERAL COMMITTEE'S ENTERTAINMENT. Mr Hornsby's Political Committee gav9 the party a royal entertainment in£the evening, a very pleasant timn being sient in speeches and reminiscences. A SUNDAY DRIVE. On Sunday the party were driven to Mr A. R. Renalfs residence at Kokatau, where they received a h is- | pitable welcome, Mrs Renall dispensing afternoon tea, and Miss Renall dainty floral favours. Mr Renall showed the visitors over his property, near which the Rumahanga winds a turbulent and hungry way, its ravages being checked by stop banks constructed at various points. THE "RALLY." SONGS AND SPEECHES. THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT. There was an attendance of about 200 people in the Victoria Hall in the evening, where the climax of the "rally" was to eventuate, and at which a diversified programme composed of vocal itsms, speeches, and a dance had been prepared by a ladies' committee, presided over bv Mrs Hornsby. The stage of the Hall had been prettily arranged in drawingroom style, and on it were seated the guests and a number of prominent local ladies and gentleman. The Mayor (Mr W. Moore) presided. he Mayor made a brief speech of welcome, in which he interspersed a few humourous He said that it was not rften that the district was favoured with a visit from a Parliament party, but when Greytown was the capital site it would be a far more common mat*;er. (Laughter). He asked the audierice to accord the visitors a hearty reception. (Loud applause). THE NATIVE MINISTER. The Hon. Carroll was the first

speaker, and he opened by expressing the deep appreciation of the party of the magnificent reception accorded to them. Had they not been sensible of the manifold charms of the people, the country and the climate they would indeed have been inhuman. He and his colleagues had noted the great resources of the surrounding country, and its fine, contented and smiling appearance. Wairarapa was one of the oldest settled districts in the Dominion, and with its history was linked the lives of some of thegra; destmen who had ever left the Old Land,'men of character, refinement ano force, who had performed their pioneer duties well, it was pleasing to see that their successors of the present generation were following so faithfully in their footsteps. The district Was undoubtedly progressing to such a stage that reasonable demands were being made upon the Government, and it was the duty of members of the House to visit a district on an opportune occasion and personally acquaint themselves of its needs. It should only be a question of a short while whsn the whole valley would be closely settled, and every inch of land be producing to its utmost capacity. Touching on political questions the speaker claimed that the Government had given the dairying and agricultural industries all the support that it possibly could, and the general result of its policy had been that the wealth of the country was now coursing through more channels than before the Government's advent. The country had not now the wool industry as its staple resource, but many and various others whicti brought material wealth in abundance to the Dominion. New Zealand was, the speaker contended, the most educated country, politically speaking, in the world, and its verdict on such matters would naturally be only given after mature judgment. He felt confident that the verdict of the people of the Wairarapa in two months' time would be in accord with that give'i by the great majority of people of the colony, namely, for a continuation of the rule of the,present administration. He thanked them most heartily for their cordial reception. THE MINISTER FOR LABOUR. The Hon. Millar was the next speaker, and his remarks, like those ; of the Native Minister, were prefaced by expressions of sincere thanks for the hospitable entertain' ment accorded the party. The Minister for Labour said he was chiefly i impressed by the industrial progress i of the district, the extent and im- 1 portance of which he had not previ- ] ously been aware of. He covered a < deal of political ground, mostly in j defence of the Government's policy, | and on the subject of the advanced ( legislation which had followed the J advent to powert of the Liberal | Government he claimed that the real ] parent of the legislation (the Govern- I irtent) shoulJ have the future care of i it rather than the foster parent (the r Opposition). !■

OTHER SPEECHES.

The other members of the party also gave very interesting addresses, all being well received. Mr Seddon was received with very prolonged applause on rising to speak. Mr Homsby's praists as a live and valuable member was a strong point made by every speaker, and in a speech made by that gentleman at the conclusion of the programme he duly thanked his guests for their complimentary references to

THE MUSICAL PROGRAMME,

The following contributions were made to the mupical programme, which was an enjoyable one: —Song, "The Holy City," Mr Annersley; song, "Vashti," Miss Brown; song, "Promise of Life," Mrs Knutson; song (encored), "Obadiah," Dr Palmer: song, "The River of Years," Miss Whyte; song (encored), "Because I You," Mr Hone Heke; violin solo, "Killarney," Mr L. Dudson; song, "The Toilers," Miss Lindop; song, "Sing Me to Sleep," Mr B. Drew; song, "Swanee River,'' Hon. J. Carroll. Misses Bish, Whyte and Fairbrother played the accompsniments. The evening's entertainment concluded with a dance. The Ministers left by special train for Wellington at 11 o'clock.