THE MEMBER FOR ELLESMERE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14238, 29 December 1911, Page 8

THE MEMBER FOR ELLESMERE.

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL TO MR R. HEATON RHODES, MJ». AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. ' In tho Tai Tapu Had last night Mr R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P. for EUesmero, was entertained at a complimentary social by bis constituents. Tho platform and part of tho hall were tastefully .decorated with flowers. The rain, which started to fall shortly before the opening of the proceedings, did not interfere with the attendance, tho hall being filled with an audience which was very representative of the district. Mr R. A. Forbes presided, and amongst those present were Mr James Allen, M.P. for Bruce, Mr and Mrs J. D. Hall, Mr R. Moore, and Mr D. Jones. Apologies wero read from Mr W. F. Massey. M.P._ (Leader of tho Opposition), 'Mr C. H. Ensor, Colonel Jowsey, Mr C. A C. Hardy, Mr Robert Latter, Mr J. Bruce, Mr W. McMillan, Mr J. Storry, and Mr and Mrs R. E. Alexander. The Chairman said that ho was pleased to sco so many present to do honour to their member, who had been elected for the fifth time. (Applause.) They all knew that tho further 'Mr Rhodes went tho better ho got. (Applause.) They werq exceedingly fortunate in having such, a man to represent them (Hear, hear), but he knew Mr Rhodes did not like praise, and he must not go too far. Ho was exceedingly sorry that Mrs Rhodes could not bo present, but it would have been a very strenuous night for her, and it was too much to risk. Mrs Forbes, on behalf of the ladies of Tai Tapu, asked Mr Rhodes to accept for Mrs Rhodes a beautiful bouquet. Mr Rhodes, in accepting tho gift and thanking tho ladies for it, said that Mrs Rhodes would bo delighted to receive it. Mrs Rhodes was very sorry that sho was not able to bo present. Several musical items were given, and tho cliainnan asked Mr Allen to address tho gathering. ' . Mr Allen, who was received with applause, said that when he received the committeo's invitation he did not hesitate a momontA-ho wanted to come and join with them in dobig honour to a ' very worthy man. (Applauso.) He had sat in Parliament with Mr Rhodes for several years, and knew him from a different aspect than they did, and ho knew liis value and his worth. Ho regretted Mrs Rhodes's absenco. He knew the part Mrs Rhodes had played in Parliament, and in the constituency. They might think that all tho work ot Parliament was done in the chamber, but there was a little chamber adjoining—the tea rooms —which provided an effective means of doing good work in Parliament, and Mrs Rhodes knew how to do it. (Applause.) It was good for a member of Parliament to have a hobby, for they had sometimes strenuous periods, and at other times felt vexed or tired. Their member, in such circumstances, found a great deal of relaxation amongst his daffodils and narcissi." (Applause.) He did not know whether it was a hobby or stern duty that led Mr Rhodes to take his part amongst those who for a long time past had been attempting to train themselves for the defence of their country; certainly it was stern duty that impelled him-to make the sacrifice ho did in going to South Africa to uphold the name of the Mother Country and of New Zealand. (Applause.) Mr Rhodes's military training; had prepared him for tho greater position, that of being their representative. (Applauso.) Ho was quite sure that Mr Rhodes felt it to be an honour to be elected as their representative, and everyone of them felt it an honour to have such a thoroughly good man to represent them. (Applause.) Ho know something of the sacrifice that Mr Rhodes had made to become their representative: there cam e a time when lie had to make a very grave decision, and he mado that decision in tho interests of liis country, and of his constituents. (Applause.) The large majority by which Mr Rhodes was recently returned was partly duo, he felt sure, to their knowledge that ho had given himself wholly and solely, to tho duties imposed on him by his country and his constituents. (Applause.) "And I would," Mr Allen continued,, "that we had in New Zealand more men like Mr Rhodes-men • with a certain amount ot leisure with capacity, and with means who would give more timo to tho interests of the country. If there fi e * l e -£ 10r *^ men like tbis > >ou would -rJSn f he x° ould a Tei *y m-°fa netter understanding between many in this country than there orriste to-day " It was not, his business, he remarked, to talk politics from a party point of view, yet ho could not refrain from saying that tho preparation Mr Rhodes and other men had had during tho STfiS-f J"" 1 , bcon *" Parliament, bad fitted them for greater and.larger duties. Some of them had served ntteen or twenty years without the emoluments that had como to thoso who had better luck, but that service Had taught many a man perseverance, patience, wisdom, and to be truly sympathetic. They knew of tho vast change that had taken place over tho country as the result of tho elections, and that there were opportunities andpossibilities laid in the hands of those 7 •£ c» S f rved tLe °°nntry loyally and taitlitully for so many years. (Applause.) If the timo came, thoso that had somo feeling of distrust which had been bred and cultivated for years and yearscruelly and wrongfully bred and cultivated—would, he hoped, havo that distrust removed by the experience they would have of those who might bo called upon to do good work for tho country. (Applause.) The people would find that party truer and more loyal friends than they wero led to think them. Ho hoped that tho electors of EHosmtre would find in the timo to come that Mr Rhodes would bo called to greater and more responsible duties, and that he would long live to .represent them Mr Allen concluded by referring to the speech delivered by Mr Rhodes at Westminster at Coronation time, and said that it should be read by every New Zealander. It was a good speech from the lips of a good man, said at the right time, and said in the right way .(Applause.) Mr J. D." Hall, who was received with applausb, said that tlie people were thrice fortunate—fortunate in having had Mr Heaton Rhodes as a candidate, then in having him as their member, and thirdly in having with him a largo party that would, eventuaDy, do a large amount of good for tho whole Dominion. (Applause). He wished that they were as fortunate m Christchurch North. (Applause). Tho near future would present very grave and. anxious matters for consideration: Tho future of the Dominion, politically, was in the lap of Fate. What would be done in the next few months must affect the prosperity and welfare of the Dominion more than many recognised. It was a proper thing to arouse their interest and enlist their sympathy in all the great problems that were likely to be brought up at the next session of Parliament. They were matters that would appeal to all classes, for tho Heform Party would give them that consideration that "was due to the pooplo whose interests were affected, and to all the people. There would be matters of social reform, industrial questions, land question, education and defence and Imperial matters. These matters would "receive tho consideration due to them, and that consideration would result, h/j befieved, in permanent prosperity an<J, peace to all

classes in tho Dominion. Thero was an anxious time ahead, and xw>- .™**** which party took office it would have an uphill fight, but ho believed/ that the energy, ability and courage of the Reform Party were sufficient to nieet the requirements of tho peopte. (ApP The W. T. Jasper Smythe referred to the fact that Mr Rhodes's constituents, always found him the same—affable, courteous and ever ready to do anything he could for the good of Ins peopie. , . Mr R.. Moore said that it gave him very great pleasure indeed to be present to do honour to the guest of the evening. That Canterbury had not come up to expectations from tho Reform Party's point of view was due, in a yery great measure, to the fact that tlie people wero not so well acquainted with what was going on in Parliament as were the people of Wellington, where the Opposition practically swept the board, and whero the peopie attended Parliament and heard both sides. He wished most sincerely that thoy could have the House of Representatives in Christchurch for a few years so that the people would have an opportunity of being educated in the way the business of the country was done. Mr David Jones also addressed the gathering, and referred to the honesty and straight-forwardness of Mr Rhodes as qualities that were essential in a representative of the people. Mr Rhodes was received with, continued applause on rising to speak. He said that he found tho occasion a difficult ono on which to speak. Ho would like to 6ay a great deal, but ho had difficulty in expressing what he would like to say. Ho appreciated very much tho gathering. It seemed only a short timo since tlie previous election, when a similar gathering was held, and he remembered full well tho nice things then said about him, and that night they had made his ears tingle by adding to those nico things- He felt it an honour that many of them had como long distances to be present;" ho felt it au honour that Mr Allen had come so far, and that candidates who had not been successful had also como long distances to be present. He was glad to sco so many old friends present, some of whom had been by his side when he contested his first election. Ho coukl not help looking back to twelvo years ago. Ho confessed that ho was .then very nervous —moro nervous than ho had been ever since. Recently ho had been reminded of the way he spoko when ho I first stood for the constituency, and those who did so had been complimentary by telling him that he had improved. Looking back over those twelve years, tho Opposition, as Mr Allen said, had had a strenuous time. Mr Allen had referred to the work done in the House, and ho (Mr Rhodes) could not help saying a word in praise of the work done by the front bench men on the Opposition side. Tho party had gone through many experiences, but its leaders had always risen to the occasion, and when defeated had taken their defeats liko men. (Applauso.) Ono pleasant side of party politics was that the Opposition had always been a united party. (Applause.) They had not been looking for office, and when tho timo came for them to take office be hoped it ■would not lead to dissension. Thero wero men on tho Opposition* front benches who would do honour to tlie country and would occupy tho highest positions with credit to themselves and to tho country. When ho first entered tho House he did so, as did most candidates, with certain ideals. Most members had their ideals shattered, but he could say that he had tried to live up to his ideals; whether or not ho had succeeded he did not know. (Applause.) Mr Allen had referred to tho fact that he had volunteered for service in South, Africa, but there were those who stayed at home who did just as good work. Mr Allen was a senior officer to himself, and he (Mr Rhodes) knew the good work done by him in and out of the House as a volunteer officer, and thoso who Tead "Hansard" knew tho part taken by Mr Allen in connection with defonco matters. Reference had been mado to his speech at Westminster. Well, it was tho electors of Ellesmore who launched him on his political career, and gave him the chance of speaking on that occasion, because ho was there as their member. (Applause.) And he had been proud to feel that ho was the member for Elksmere on that occasion. « (Applause.) He did feel it an honour, on* that occasion, to sit by Mr Asquith and to speak not only before the Prime Minister of England but also beforo tho Prime Ministers of all parts of the Empire. (Applause.) Ho owed it to the electors of Ellesinero that ho had been in that position. Tho recent election had brought its regrets. Many personal friends of his were candidates. Mr Hall was a man that ho would have welcomed to tho House. Mr Mooro had left a reputation in the House, during tho six years he was a member of it, as a strenuous fighter. (Applause.) He regretted also that his friend Mr Hardy was not amongst thoso elected. (Applause.) Though thero wero regrets, at the samo time they could not help rejoicing at the general result, and good work had been done -throughout New Zealand to bring, that result about. It was tho members of his committee and the numerous silent workers that he had to thank for placing him in that position, and he desired to express his thanks to them. Ho also desired to say a word of thanks to the ladies, (Applause.) Their votes wero just as valuable as those of tho mon. (Applause.) He wished to thank those ladies in tho constituency who had supported him. Concluding, Mr Rhodes said ho found it hard to express what he would like to say, but he wished to thank them for what they had said of him in regard to his political lifo and for returning him by such a large majority. (Continued applause.) Before tho gathering broke up refreshments were partaken of, and general conversation was indulged in.