MR HERRIES ENTERTALED

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14659, 7 May 1913, Page 12

MR HERRIES ENTERTALED

In the evening the Minister was entertained at the annual dinner of tho Amuri A-. and P. Association and tho Railway League. There was a ' bij* attendance of residents of the distri-.-i.

In proposing the toast- of "The Ministry." Mr K. Pettigrew expressed tho hope that the Ministry would long remain in power. (Loud applause.) In replying. Mr Herries claimed to be tho first North Island member of the Cabinet to visit the district. It was important that North Island men should visit this district. Ho himself had been greatly impressed that day "by tho quality of tho land ho had passed through, and ho could predict a great futuro for tho North Canterbury and Nelson districts. During his tour through tho'South Island, ho had been greatly impressed with the generally favourable reception which had been accorded the whole of the Reform Ministry. Ho did not wish to say this was due to any intrinsic merit of tho Ministry, but it seemed to bo generally recognised that each and all wero trying to do their best. Ho would not give a political speech, becauso his friends, Messrs Witty and Forbes, were present. . (Laughter.) Ho could say, howevet, that his Ministry wished to do everything they could to advance the interests of tho country. Ho was quito satisfied if they did that they would receive the support of Messrs Witty and Forbes. The Ministry had, as far as possible, carried out its pledges, and intended to carry out tho whole of the platform put forward at the hist election; this was if the House supported them. If the House did not support them, they were quito prepared to resign, but they believed they would receive support right up to the end of tho Parliament. ,So far as the line was concerned, he repeated his declarations that authorised lines would receivo preference, and he bejieved this Waiau lino would pay. Mr Herries then referred to tho Departments he administered, and , humorously treated foibles of the. public in its contact, with tho Railway Department. His tour had been very comprehensive, and had enabled him to do ft great deal of good. The Railway Department was a very important ono with £32.000,000 invested in it, and some 13,000 employees. The Ministry had made a new departure in introducing a Homo general manager— not because it did not have faith in its present employees, but because even the best men might at times got into ruts. A Home man in other parts had done well, and ho was hopeful that the experiment hero would prove equally successful. (Applause.) In conclusion, he trusted at no very distant date to be able to visit Waiau as a railway centre on his annual tour. OTHER SPEECHES.

Mr F. Faster proposed tho toast of •'Members of Parliament," which was responded to by Messrs Witty, Nosworthy. and Forbes. Mr Witty strongly emphasised tho necessity for the railway. Ho believed it was the best district in New Zealand for a line.

Mr Forbes expressed his gratification at the hopeful tone in which Mr Herries had spoken of tho prospects of the line. He himself had not the slightest doulit that next session a vote ior the line would be placed on the Estimates. Mr G. Witty, M.P.. proposed the toast* of "The Amuri A. and P. Association, ,, which was responded to by Colonel ChafTey. "The Waiau Railway Leagrte" was proposed by Mr Nosworthy, and responded to by Mr S. Baker. Mr Nosworthy declared that ho thought no other line that could be .built in the South Island would pay so well as that from Culverden to Waiau. ' "

Mr D. D. Macfarlane, in proposing the toast of "The Press," commended tho support which had been given the lino by the Press of Canterbury. Tho Hon. W. H. Herries proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman (Mr Pettigrew), and commended the steps the league was taking to secure its object.