COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 283, 3 June 1909, Page 4

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL.

MR R/.8. ROSS, M.P. The Drill Hall, Patiiatua, was crowded to the doprs last evening on the occasion of a social tendered to Mr R. B. Ross'j M.P; for Pahiatua. The popular member must have felt proud at the representative assembly that met to do him honor, every part of the electorate being represented. On the platform were Mr T. Hodgins, chairman of the Pahiatua. County Council, with 'him Mr, Mrs, and Misses Ross, the Hon. , A.. W. Hogg, Minister of Customs and Labor, Mr A. Dillon, M.P:, Dr RiddelL of Herbertville, and 1 eading citizens of Pahiatua. The Chairman read apologies from tho Premier, Hon. J. A. Millar, Mr D. Crowe, Mayor of Pahiatua, Messrs Hall, Jennings, T. Seddon, M,P.'s, Messrs McAydle, M.L.C., W. T. Wood, Hornsby, F. Armstrong, Quirk, and Tosswi'll ancl other leading nien. throughout' the electorate, regretting" their inability to attend, and all laudatory in tone of the good work done by the guest of the evening." Mr Hodgins, in opening the proceedings, said that as chairman of the local County he had an excellent opportunity of judging Mr Ross' services to the district,, and he could fairly say that he was well worthy of the honor they were -doing, hini by assembling in such numbers, from the distances some of them had come. After taking the musical paa-fc of the programme, he called On the Hon. Mr Hogg to address them. Mr Hogg, oii rising, was greeted with prolonged cheering. He said : that he owed his political career to AVoodville and Pahiatua, as those districts strongly supported , him the first time he entered Parliament. In dealing with the history of Liberalism in the Bush districts, ho treated- his audience to many humorous reminiscences of the bush district 20 years ago, when ho entered Parliament. Referring to politics he mentioned that both the Premier and the Hon. Mr Millar were genuinely sorry that they could not attend "and'Had'exprossly asked him to convey that regret to the audience. He dealt- at length Avith the land policy of the Gwermnofit, and humorously, suggested that if the Liibei'Al-.CtOvernment i had not come into^ power in 'the nick of time, they .'would have a vigorous man — a man like the Premier—owning, perhaps the whole of the Middle Island, a man like Mr Dillon the whole. of Hawko's Bay, and so on. He referred briefly to the Dreadnought offer, justifying the action of the Ministry. The Minister' 6 sentiments on this question were very enthusiastically applauded. In speaking of Parliament he paid a splendid tribute to Mr Massey, saying in the course of his remarks that if that gentleman .wou\d only disassociate himself from part of his party, that stood for land aggregation, he would make a magnificent leader. In conclusion he heartily eulogised Mr Ross, and hoped ho would continue to have the confidence of tho people for majoy years to como. , ■...■-■• The Chairman; then, called, upon Dr Riddel! to make the presentation to Mr Ross. In a brief speech Dr Rid•dell warmly thanked those who had contributed to th.<j prescntatiouy remarking that it was almost an unique ■feature of the presentation that every one when asked for a subscription responded to a man, no matter what his political convictions were. -•.Mr Dillon was then called ixpon for a... speech, ••. and in rising was received

;>very heartily ; he ha4s-ijast popie <|own, frorii Hastings tp^ay\fl ifew j\-<jras in "f eulogy of Mr Ross, having entered Parliament-together three -years ago. The guest of ilie. evejfiij^-and himself had always Seen chums, and they had stuck together on rnajiy questions of the, day, often running foul of the Government.- He briefly referred to the land policy of the Government, remarking that as evidence of the change /that had come over the opposite party, Sir Wm. Russell had only a- few days ago in Hastings expressed'- 'himself in favor of -closer settlement.; Mr Dillon mentioned Mr Ross' services to the freehold section of the House, and said that for himself he was prepared -to stake his political existence on the right' of every man ■to . acquire a small freehold of his own. It was only rational that a man /wanted to acquire more • land. If he had himself three thousand acres he would 'dearly 1 like to make it six thousand if he 'could afford it. After again sounding Mr Ross' praises the Speaker resumed his ' ' seat amid rounds of applause. . In rising, to reply Mr Ross said that the previous speakers' reminded him somewhat of the late' Mr Seddon, as in speaking at a like meeting in the South Island that was tendered to him, Mr Seddon spoke for two hours and when he rose to ■'reply said "For Heaven's sake Ross cut it short, don't speak for more than five : minutes." He had been advised by both Mrs Ross and the chairman to do - ' the same on tliis Occasion, and he intended to follow their advice' He warmly thanked tie contributors to the purse of sovereigns and" mentioned that help of this kind was absolutely .necessary to , a poor man^ if they ' wished to keep the Liberal" Party's : flag nailed to the mast. He warmly/ '" - thanked the people who had helped r him to .figirt the last election, and' also the. people .who. had icpme-sxich •. long distances, some thirty and forty miles, to be present. _ .... On Mr Ross resuming his seat the •• i . audience proceeded to enjoy*- them- ■: selves socially. \ ■-. -.-.•■< .--"-. ,\. :.',■ Mr J. D; Wilson, assisted by : . a large committee, had the function ; arranged admirably, the hall- especial-' ly being very beautifully decorated.