COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL TO MR. J.W. KELLY, M.H.R.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIII, Issue 1180, 12 February 1897, Page 3

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL TO MR. J.W. KELLY, M.H.R.

'» There was a very large attendance in the Temperance Hall, Invercargill on Friday evening, when 1 a social was tendered to Mr J. W. Kelly by his political supporters. Ladies were, preswnt in greater force than is usual on such occasions, and altogether about 159 must have sat down to the richly loaded tables. The proceedings throughout was marked by a hearty enthusiasm and cheerfulness that made the gathering a most enjoyable one. Mr A. Raeside occupied the chair, and in a highly eulogistic speech proposed the toast of ' Our Guest.' Mr Kelly, on rising to reply, was greeted with rounds of applause. As reported in the Southland Times he said he was afraid that the many kind words spoken of him that night were undeserved. No doubt his position in being returned three successive times was an unique one. On his first session old members advised him to make hay while the sun shone as he would never see the inside of the House a<*ain and indeed Invercargill had been noted for not returning the same member twice. But he, had replied that his constituency had a good man and would keep him — he had said that because he was afraid no one else would. No one who had any feeling of proper appreciation could feel anything but pride in occupying a position similar to his. He would refer to the extraordinary statement made by Mr Sinclair at his banquet : ' that Mr Kelly did not represent the Liberals of Invercargill.' It might be an oldfashioned idea, but he thought that the moment a man was elected he became the representative of every single person in the constituency. If Mr Sinclair's statement was not due to the good stuff supplied by Mr Johnston it should bo ranked second to the X rays as a wonderful discovery of the nineteenth century. For that matter there wayS no one in New Zealand who could distinguish between Liberal and Conservative relative to New Zealand politics. The parties here were the ' ins ' and the l outs,' and the efforts of the 'ins ' were all to stay in and of the 'outs' to put the 'ins' out, which would always be the case as long as our present vile system existed. He had been branded as a ' Tory,' This was nonsense. He would quote from the manifesto issued by the labor party in New South' Wales and on which they intended to run the next election. Some, of the planks were ' one house of legislature,' * one adult vote,' ' payment of members,' ' elective Ministers,' and the referendum,' These he had sup.

ported since 1890, hence the present labor party in New South Wales were a bundle of fossilised old Tories. (Applause.) As far as next session was concerned lie did not think there would, be much new legislation. Most of the' time would be taken up wrangling. There would also be a good deal of the personal, especially as two prominent members wcro at present under a cloud. It would ho impossible to avoid bringing in these members. He looked forward to a wasted session ; the Opposition would endeavor to prevent legislation as far as possible, and the Government would not be extremely anxious to carry measures. There was some talk of the Premier being invited to London to celebrate the Queen's reign. If that were so he thought there would be no session at all. Mr Seddon was the only man in New Zealand able to lead his party, and before he had been at se* many hours his party would be at sea also. He thanked them very much for the manner in which they had received the toast of his health.— (Loud applause.) Cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Kelly. During the evening songs were sung by Messrs E. Wright, J. Aitken, and Lilly and the Misses Shepherd. Miss Black played a violin solo, and Miss Ball gave a recitation. Tha orerture of Scottish reels and strathspeys was splendidly played by Mr and Mrs Blue ; the last named and Mr Latimer played the accompaniments. Not the least enjoyable item was a reading from 1 Jeems Kaye ' by Mr A. Prentice. After the speeches and musical programme had been got through, the floor was cleared, for dancing, which went merrily till a late hour.