BALLANCE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9304, 3 January 1896, Page 5

BALLANCE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

PEESENIATION TO THE HON. W. P. REEVES. A meeting of the Ballance Liberal Association was held last uighb c,b the Waltham public schoolroom. There were about seventy persona present, including the Bon. the Premier, Messrs G. \V. Russell and W. \V. Collins, M.H.R.'s, the Mayor of Christchurch and Mr T. Gapes. Mr J. H. McMillan presided and made a presentation to the Hon. W. P. Reeves, which took the form of a copy of the planks of the Association printed on white satin and neatly framed in honeysuckle. It was headed as follows :-—" Presented to the Hon. William Pember Reeves, Minister of Education, Justice and Labour, by the Christchurch Ballauce Liberal Association as a mark of respect and in recognition of the valuable services rendered to the Liberal and labour causes in New Zealand." It was signed by the President aud officers of the Association. In making the presentation the Chairman said the Association was satisfied that whether f >he Hon. Mr Reeves remained here or went away he would always be found working in the iuteresU of the people of the colony. The Hon. Mr Reeves, in reply to the remarks of the Chairman, said that he did not look upon the presentation as a email matter, coining, a3 it did, from some of tbose who had been such good friends of his. He wished to thank them very much for it, and would say that if he wore over likely to forget his connection with Ohristchurch the present would always serve to remind him of it. It was nine years since he had coma forward in politics, and the Liberal party to which he belonged had msiny ups and downs during that time, but the electors who had first pub their trust aud conGdence in him had seen no reason to withdraw it. Something had been said about a possible parting. He did not desire to refer to that, but would rather turn their attention to what had taken place in the past. He then -referred to some of tho workwhich had been accomplished by the Liberal party, and urged the necessity for organisation aud discipline. He spoke at some length on the proposed Elective Executive, to which he was strongly opposed. He denied that the present party was a corrupt one, and held there were no evils which could be done away with by means of the Elective Executive aud Referendum. Ho reminded them that the policy of the Government would not be one of political rest, as its work was nob yet half done. The modern system of industry required that constant care should be taken to prevent the evils of older countries from cropping up here. (Applause). He concluded with a eulogistic reference to the laic John Ballance, whose name-, he hoped, would not be forgotten by the people of New Zealand. (Loud applause). The Hon. the Premier said he was greatly pleased with Ui9 presentation made to his colleague, which the Hon. Mr Reeves so well deserved ab their hands. He endorsed all that gentleman had said as to the necessity for unity, and reminded them of the state of thiugs among the labouring classes, in the mines and in the factories when he was a boy to impress upon them how necessary were orgauisation and a united front to prevent a recurrence of such conditions. He also pointed out that it w»3 uecessary that they should have progressive and well-established associations in every district of New Zealand. As this year there would be a general election, which would be the most bitterly fought of any which had taken place in the colony, they should be prepared to meet it by enlarging their membership. He referred to the land policy of the Government, which he claimed had proved to be a success, especially in connection with the cutting up of estates for closer settlement. He observed that whoever held the portfolio of Minister for Labour would have a difficult position to fill because so much bitter opposition was shown by those who were not in acoord with the policy of the Government. In conclusion he said the presentation would encourage the Hou. Mr Reeves to continue his work for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the colony. (Applause.)

His Worship the Mayor of Christohurch, as an old school-fellow, congratulated the Minister for Education upon being the recipient of so estimable a present, and remarked that the majority of those not in accord with the politics of the Hon. Mr Reeves gave him credit for having administered the Education Department in a very able manner. (Aoplaase.) Messrs W. W. Collins and G. W. Russell, M.H.R.'s, also spoke.

Votes of thanks to the Chairman and the speakers closed the proceedings.