MEMBER FOR PARNELL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 86, 10 April 1906, Page 3

MEMBER FOR PARNELL.

BY HIS eONSTITU- -' ENTS.- ■■:

Mr Frank Lawry,; the member for Parnell, was'•- entertained by the Parnell branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation last night, over 200 being pfer sent ab a social gathering in the Oddfellows'.Hall. Mr ."Win. John, president of the-branch and the Federation Advisory Board, presided, being supported by the guest of the evening (Mr-Lawry), the Hon. Colonel Pitt, Hon. W. Beehan,. Mlv J. Pitt (Mayor of, Parnell), Messrs A. Ividd, M.H.R., F.-.E. Ba'ume, M.H.R.,' E. McKenzie, M.H.R. (Motoeka), and. representatives of the various branches of the Liberal and Labour Federation. Apologies for non-attendance were read from Messrs J$H. Greensland and Hugh Poland, M.KR.'s. \ ; After the loyal toast, Mr J. R. Lundon (vice-president of the branch) proposed "His Majesty's Ministers." He. suggested that if anyone was entitled to !.consideration in new appointments to the Cabinet it was Mr Frank Lawry, I and if the gathering emphasised the fact that it was high time a member of Pariliament from Auckland was so honoured, lit would not be in vain., The work of New Zealand's legislators was, he said, monumental, for during the last 15 years they had passed 749 public bills and 441 local and personal Acts, occupying 7000 odd pages of the Statute Book. He eulogised Mr Lawry's efforts in securing an adequate post office building for Parnell and also /the fine heritage of Campbell's Park now possessed by the borough. Tlie Hon. Colonel Pitt, responding to the toast, which was musically,honoured, stated that Mr Lundon's speech reminded him, of the Parliament of 1879, when Mr Lundon's father, as strong a Liberal as ever stood iv boots, sat with him in the House. After a reference to the suggestion that Auckland should be better represented in the Ministry, the speaker went on to say that the record of the present Ministry was one of which they had every reason to be proud. The reason why they had the confidence of the people was that their principles had been "Government of the people by the people." .Dealing with various features of the Government's policy, Colonel Pitt, said that the housing question was receiving attention in Auckland. He held that no working man ought to be called Upon to pay more than a day's wages in rent, and the proposed to be erected under the Government scheme would keep inside that limit. (Applause.) As to the shortage of railway trucks, he had been able' to telegraph to the Premier that 170 trucks and ballasting carriages were being sent up to Auckland to relieve the congestion. ' He added that the use of trucks for conveying' people to races, and the delay sometimes' caused in unloading timber waggons contributed to the difficulty. Referring to the guest of the evening, the speaker said Mr Lawry was respected by his colleagues for his personal qualities and the keen interest he took in questions affecting the interests of the colony and his constituency. "Our Legislators" was heartily pledged at the instance of Mr Frank Fitt, who said the services of Mr Baume to education were siich.that he would be delighted to welcome him as Minister ,for Education. " • Tlie.l.toast Imvingybeen drunk with musical honours Mr R. McKenzie jocularly acknowledged the compliment; as a Southern member. They should, he said, have had the Main Trunk line finished ten years ago, but it vrould not be completed for anbther ten years. (Laughter.) Mr F. E. Baume also responded, paying a tribute to the sterling —liberalism and qualities of mind possessed by the member for Parnell. It was a matter for satisfaction, he continued, that the majority of the Government was so large that every member of the party could, without endangering its existence, exercise, his vote with absolutely independence, seeing that all the measures brought forward were carefully watched, so that they might; be made as perfect as human institutions could be. (Hear, hear.) / Mr A. Kidd arid the Hon. W. Beehan, in responding, praised Mr Lawry's genial and kindly personal qualities. The chairman proposed the toast of "The Member for Parnell," referring to the imanimity with which the legislaI tors present admired. and respected Mr Lawry, and stating that he had found j him ever willing to do what he could to redress the grievance of anyone whether Constituents or not. I Replying to an exceedingly enthusiastic reception, Mr Lawry became reminscent, speaking of the time when he said "Don't do anything of the kind" to a request that he; should allow the' preparation of a requisition calling upon him to contest ParneU. He was glad to say that he was instrumental in getting for Parnell. one of the finest reserves in the colony, though without the assistance of Mr Honi Heke, the Northern Maori member, he might not have succeeded. Mr Lawry referred with satisfaction to the fairness with which Auckland had been treated by the Government, and declared that Mr Massey's reference to the people being bribed with a mess of pottage was a political insult which should be wiped out with political annihilation. . (Applause.). Among other toasts honoured were those of "Our Locai Bodies," "National Industries," and "The Liberal and. Labour Federation."