HON. HALL-JONES ENTERTAINED.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 131, 2 December 1908, Page 2

HON. HALL-JONES ENTERTAINED.

[press association.] WELLIGTON, last night. The new High Commissioner was entertained at luncheon, to-day. Amongst those present- wero tho Premier, the Mayor, rtfr Millar, Mr MaeGowan, members of Parliament and representative bodies. Mr H. C. Tewsley, of tho Chamber of Commerce, presided. He hoped that tho Premier would give the new Commissioner all the backing tip he required, particularly in immigration and ad--vertising departments. The position should be made more commercial than a literary one. He also suggested that Mr Millar would make a good Minister, of Railways. The Premier, however, refused to be drawn, and merely stated the. selection would be made in a few weeks. The Mayor, Mr T. K. McDonald, ■Mr Harkness, and Mr Duthie were other speakers, all of whom spoke in complimentary terms of Mr HallJones. Tho latter received a warm welcome on rising to reply. He thanked pre- 1 vious speakers for contributes to him. J He. too, went back to the old day's when ho first faced the electors. Turning to thp duties which awaited him lie hinted at measures which could bo taken to impress the value of all New Zealand's produce upon tho people of Great. Britain. There ordinarily was no sentiment in :business, but there should be sentihieavt which should touch the people of the Empire. They should reciprocat© in business for their mutual advantage. If eommonsenso were brought to bear on all the problems which occurred in life success would bo assured. Referring to tho London office he mentioned he would like to see an exhibit of the country's products' in connection with the establishment. He believed that such a display would be seen by hundreds of thousands of people in the course of a year. With opportunity of exhibiting our products in all parts of the Old .Country^, he thought the demand for our products would result in competition and an increased price to the producer. But it meant money and he hoped that there would be no carping on the expenditure, which would increase our output a hundredfold. It was pleasing to himself that he carried the good wishes of so many people in New Zealand. His whole energies would be devoted to trying to fulfil their expectations, and trying to do his best for the country of New Zealand. He hoped, at any ] rate, to end his days in New Zealand and see our present prosperity extended, and ho saw no reason why it should not be. His first duty would be New Zealand and in doing that he believed he would bo doing his duty to the Empire as a wholo. There was a large gathering at the Town Hall to-night when a public gathering was held to bid farewell to Mi* Hall-Jones. "Fare-well speeches were delivered by the Mayor, the Premier and the High Commissioner.