Reception to Keir Hardie.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 14, 11 October 1907, Page 7

Reception to Keir Hardie.

' THE MAYOR'S ATTITUDE, . EXPLANATION' TO THE COUNCIL. ■■ ;; At the closo of the meeting'of the City Council Inst night Councillor Fletcher asked the Mayor (Mr. T. W. Hislop) if ho would have any objection to making a statement as to the attitude ho intended to take up in regard to the official reception proposed to be tendered to Mr. Keir Hardie on his arrival in Wellington. The matter had,' ho remarked, been exercising the minds of some of the members of the Council and had occupied tho attention of tliO: Press for some time. Mr. Koir Hardie had, ho pointed out, gained a considerable amount of notoriety in consequence of statements he was alleged to havq mado in India during his recent visit. Councillor Fletcher hoped the Council would not follow- Idie example of the Parnell Council, who -had condemned the man unheard. .'"' " f Tho Mayor said, amidst laughter, that ho had read'' a little about Mr. Keir Hardie aiid knew something about his work, which' - .was of an unselfish nature. Some of tho treatises ho had written would do credit- to a man coming from a university. Ho (tho Mayor) felt that the Dominion was honoured to receive a visit from a man who was a credit to himself, 'to the political party of which'ho was the .head,'.and the nation to which. ho. belonged. -Previous to the visit of- Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, the Press had, Mr. Hislop said, done its best to cast aspersions on him. When the gentleman camo here he (Mr. Hislop'). did what heJiK tended to do in the case of Mr. Koir Hardie—preside at a"meeting in the Town Hall. As Mr. Ramsay Macdonald was the'whip''for'the party of which Mr. Koir Hardio wis tho leader, tho address to, be delivered by tho latter would be of 'considerable interest. Mr. Keir Hardic's visit to India was one of tho-:: most sensible things he had dono in- his., life, ..hecause on his return-ho would he able to speak at first hand in the House onquestions, affecting .that; country.' His' deliveries woro.not naturerhc was, in fact) deliberate and argumnentative—and yet they wore asked to condemn him' on ■ tho suggestion of newspaper reports, .i.wliich,;..unfortun-r:. ately, were often - -intended .-merely-to. obtain an ' advantage ovor an opponent. The people' woro entitled ;to hear him and form their own .opinions.before., passing judgment. Personajly, ho did not supposo Mr'." Koir Hnfdid'liad uttered anything of ■an inflammatory nature likely to accentuate the trouble i in- India. In conclusion, His .-.Worship said it would bo better-to receive-him. and form their.own opinion, than ,fol-, ! low tho advico of .hysterical,' stupid,, and fanatical articles written >in • the local Press. •-• ■■■■■■■.■:■■ - j Councillor Luke said'that'if -ho had delinito information! 'that-Mr. "Keir Hardie had acted' in a;inaiincr: : detri- : mental to the interests' of tlid r Empirp; ho would not 'support" the .'Mayor in receiving him.- But he; asked'them to ■ suspend their judgment, as' 'Mr.- Koir Hardie had appealed 't'o Greatrßritam-' to dO. ■ •■...;.-.•,.--. •■■i ... -,-.' i Councillor Flotch'oi' saitV'it' would riot be'the first time that Mr.Keir'Hardio; had been grossly, misrepresented.,;. ti^'. The discussion' then dronpod.'- ' (