A JOURNALIST HONOURED.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14986, 5 June 1914, Page 8

A JOURNALIST HONOURED.

PRESENTATION TO MB S

SAUNDERS.

A very larco number of Canterbury journalists and their lady friends gathered at the Cadena Tea Rooms yesterday afternoon, to do honour to Mr S. Saunders, on the occasion of his relinquishing the editorial chair of tho "Lyttelton Times." Mr W. H. Triggs, editor of "The Press," acted in the capacity of chairman, and after tea Mr J. S. Kelly, hon. secretary of the presentation committee, read a number of apologies from various journalists, including a telegram from Mr C. East and the journalists of Timnru, Mr W. S. King, of the "Lyttelton Times," and Mr E. J. Paul, the Ashburton representative of "Tho Press." The chairman said he understood that it was haruiy sate nowadays to quote IMckeus to a Sew Zealand audience, because liobouy reads him, but lie was cure ho might do so in euch a literary gathering as tho present. They would all remember the famous trial, Bnrdell v. PicKwick. And they wouldrecollect that just More the Court opened,-when tue counsel enteied, one ot tuem nodued in » tnenuly mannerw tseijoant snuuoin, who appeared tor Jlr . j'lciiwici;, aud said it was a tim* morning. Mr Pickwick thereupon asked his solicitor who it was who sifid it was a jino morning, and noaciea" to their counsel. When he was told that it was Serjeant Buziuz, who appeared on the other side, he became almost speechless with indignation. Indeed, , he was just on tho point of enquiring ; with great abhorrence of the man s cold-blooded villainy, bow Mr Serjeant Uuzfuz, who was counsel for the oppoBito party, dared to presume to tell Mr Berjeant Snubbin, who was counsel »or him (Mr Pickwick), that it was a fane morning, when he was interrupted by a "eneral rising of the barristers, a cry of ''Silence," and,the entrance or the Judge. Now ho (Mr Triggs) was afraid from what ho had heard that tho feeling shown by Mr Pickwick on that occasion was not altogether extinct. There wore people who tnought that politicians on opposite sides of the House ought to have no friendly relations with each other in private life. When these people read a leading article in ' tho "kyttelton Times" containing a .lcrocious onslaught upon "The Press," and "Tho Press" tried to find "tho soft '-answer which turneth away wrath" — (laugnter)—they imagined that the two editors passed each otaer by with a scowl when they met in the street, and. indeed, that they, were quite right in doing so. He (the chairman) altogether disagreed with that view... .Politics would-bo a poor thing, and journal- ' ism would bo a poor protession to belong to, if, because of differences on political questions, they were bound to go about in private life with never a friendly word with each other, and with bitterness in their hearts. (Hear, Lear.) Perhaps they would allow him to mention a. personal incident illustrating this point. Some ten years ago, wiien he was in England, he spent a very interesting afternoon with Mr , Joseph Chamberlain, and it came out f < in,the course of conversation that, although ho (Mr Triggs; was strongly ■ opposed to the late Mr Seddon in local, politics, he admired him as an Imperialist, and was on very friendly re-: iations with him personally. "That is t(uite right, ,, said Sir Chamberlain, "and doTNew Zealand publio men generally manage to keep.friends although - they are on different eiues" of. the House?" Hβ (the. chairman) that in many cases within his knowledge they managed to remain perfectly good friends. "That is as it should be," " said the great statesman. "It used to bo so here, but recently 1 am sorry to say some old friendships have been broken owing to differences in regard to tariff reform." ,Tho laet thing Mr Chamberlain said to him when he left was, "Give my lovo to Mr Seddon when you get back to mew Zealand." Ho (tho chairman) need hardly say he was proud and delighted to deliver that message, and Mr Seddon -eeeiried delighted to receive it, and none tho less ; because it camo through a political op- ■ ■ ponent. (Hear, hear.) He was happy to say that as far as Bis friend on his ■ "right and himself were concerned, there had been no breach of private fnendship. They had had strong diuereuces of opinion, and ho believed they were fully conscious of each other's infirmities', not to cay iniquities, in the field of ' - political controversy, but they. had never allowed those differences to eu-. tec into, their private lives. And w> - he. not" only regarded it as a great com- - plunent, but.it gave him much pleasure when he was asked to make the presentation to Mr Saunders on behalf or the Canterbury journalists. (Hear, hear.) It would be presumptuous for him to say anything of ilr Saunders's , ability as a journalist. It was .said that Sir F. Carruthers Gould, and Mr 'Spender, of tho "Westminster Uaz- ' ette," were tho greatest assets of the Liberal Party in England, and he -would not bo far wrong in saying that • Mr Saunders was one of the greatest •assets of the party in New Zealand to wuich he haa given such valuable support. . He was laying down his pen tor the present, and doubtless after long years of toil it was a great relief for him to be able to do so. .but he (the chairman) could not believe that ho would be allowed a very long respite , before his friends would practically . • compel him to come back into the tight. However, it was not as a party journalist that they had met to honour him. Journalists of all shades of opinion were represented in that gathering, and wished to acknowledge his services to journalism as a whoie, and to express their personal regard for him as . a man. In anything concerning tho welfare of the profession ho was keen i to uphold its traditions and to pro- '•■ mote its welfare. (Hear, hear.) It i ■ might surprise some of the members or" : the public to learn that editors were . human, but their friend had a very i .human side—a very kind-hearted side < to his character. There were many acts ' . of kindness which ho. had done, and outside the profession there were many 1 ]>eoplo m Christchurch, especially i among the poorer classes, who would ' sincerely regret his departure. (Hear, <

~ iSFm^- 1,,8 - k of because he felt Bo could not do justice to the subiect. . They said that if they wanted ,to fcnow a person thoroughly they had on«M e i mt « im > but «> thVught they conld also End out what a man was if they worked with him for any length of time. Mr SaundersV outstanding ' V !¥ "i 8 ?,^ 18 unfailing kindness of Aoart, which was very apparent to all those who were working under him Uhonever any member of the staff had been m trouble, Mr Sannders had never failed him, and many a time had he done a good turn to different individuate. Reporters were not famod for any particular reverence and respect, but the fact that the reporting staff of the "Lyttelton Times", called MrSauntfcis "Father Sam," was rather a token of love than any indication of disrespect. They all esteemed Mr Saunders for bis abilities as a journalist, anJ gave'him every credit for the way he handled the burning questions of tho day. The staff would sincerely regret the fact of Mr Saunders's retirement, from the highest to the lowest. They would feel tb* «msso of loss of bis retirement from

the. profession; "Hud";wished him every m: tho'iinure.'.''lAp'piauso.)' Mr R. 8.-Bell, of Af=hbuiton, referred tf» cue -kiuil!/ reasons ise had .aiway* hud v.'iiii lilt iauuaei.s, -ooi-ii -pi-otetefaiouaii/ i.uu personally. He puid a high tribute to, the manner in winch Mr Sauuders had conducted the "Lyttelton Times," winch proved that he was somewhat of a statesman. ' 1 here were men in .New Zealand who had climbed to Cabinet rank through the influence of their guest that afternoon. Mr Saunders had influenced the legislation of the Dominion on liberal and humanitarian lines. Jir iiell conduueu b> uuping tiiut-in the near future they would see the establishment of a national newspaper for tho whoie of tho Dominion, a caper above party, and the difficulties oT distribution could be overcome by the aeroplane. (Applause.) Mr Triggs then, in the name of the many friends, presented to Mr and Mrs Saunders (1) An oak canteen containing a set of solid silver tableware. Tho canteen has a silver plate beanng tne following inscription : —"Presented to Mr Samuel Saunders on his retirement from the editorship of the 'Lyttelton Times, , after 27 years' service, by the journalists of Canterbury, as a token of their esteem and regard. June 4th, 1914." (2) A character study .of Mr Saunders, by Mr Koncaway. (This was not quite ready, and it was not possible to have it on view, but when completed, arrangements will be made to have tho sketch on exhibition). (3) A gold sovereign case. The presentation was concluded with three cheers and loud applause.

In reply, Mr Saunders said he was somewhat in the same position as his friend Mr Atack, in that he felt totally unable to do justice to his' feelings and to the kindness that had been extended to him; but if he failed to express himself adequately, he was sure they would understand what he meant. He did not deserve one-half of the nice things that had been said about him, but possibly there was some little excuse '.for touching the egotistical note, seeing that he was parting from the associations of a lifetime, and seeking a now career. He had been associated with one place for a very long time, possibly longer than was good for his material welfare. It was nearly 28 years since the late Hon. William Reeves and insisted on him taking a position on the "Lyttelton Times" staff. The speaker referred at some length to his early experiences in journalism, when he had tackled practically every sort of job' that was going in a newspaper office, even that of musical critic, though he feared, that ho did not know a.note of music. The prizes in journalism were, not to the swift, but to the enduring, -and he had happened to bo one of the enduring sort, and had had good friends and good luck. He would take nothing but pleasant recollections away from Cbristchurch, and whether' ho took up some of the kauri land from Mr Massey, or asked Mr Herrios to give him a job as a railway § crossing keeper, he would always treasure the memory of the long years he had spent here. "Ho had accumulated a large stock of experience, during his career, and he had no doubt that he would fall on his feet somehow. (Applause.) He was extremely gratified at' the kind' references that had been mado concerning Mrs Sannders. Parting meant more to her and the family than possibly to him, but they " v had never ceased :to support him entirely in the action he had taken. • He would like to state that there had been no semblance of "a quarrel between the directors of the "Lyttelton Times" and himself. He looked upon tho directors as his best friends, and would be ever grateful for their help and for tho assistance given him in his work by Mr Triggs and many other friends. Mr Saunders concluded, amidst: applause, with sincere thanks, for i the handsome presentation madehim that afternoon, which bo would; treasure as a valued memento. ;, ....