THE LIBERAL AND LABOUR FEDERATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 71, 17 December 1907, Page 5

THE LIBERAL AND LABOUR FEDERATION.

the premier entertained. PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS. . SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, and members of the Ministry were entertained by the .Wellington Branch of tho Liberal and Labour i'ederation at d" sooidl"iii the Council Chamber of the Town Hall last night. Mr. (i. .Winder, president, of the Branch, presided, and there..was a largo attendance. THE ADDRESS. \ Air. Winder, in presenting the Premier with an illuminated address, alluded to tho. beneficent legislation passed, during his first ' session of Parliament as Prime Minister, and especially referred to the reduction of tho ' Customs duties on the necessaries of life, and the protection of tho country's industries; . • » ' . . "he 'secretary of : the Branch. (Mr. Walter D. Gorbain) then, read.. the jiddress, which was beautifully illuminated by Mr. \V. R. Bock, and enclosed in maroon coloured morocco, leather covers. It was as follows:—. Wellington, , New Zealand, December' 16, 1907. To the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.0.M.G., -P. 0., LL.D. , Sir.-Themoinbers ofthe Wellington District Branch, of the Liberal and v Labour Federation of New Zealand desire to extend to you a hearty-wel-come on the first occasion of meeting you since your acceptance of the position of Prime Minister of this Dominion. We also wish to tender ■■■■ you sincere- congratulations upon . .. the- results. of the labotirsvof Par- ,, iiamcut, during the session just ro- .- ■■ cently brought to a- close; results-- • ■ which/.arc.,'very largely duetto your . ■tactful and successful leadership. From the large number of wise and 1 . fcneliccnt', liieasuros placed upon tho Statute Book flurhig" the past session it would be perhaps out of pl.'ioe iii|- this- address- to - select- - ahy for particular 'mention where so high a general'standard: of excellence ha* been ■ maintained. . But it it not too' much . .to say that " the work done during your -—first- complete- session as PrimeMinister has reached an unusual . level of consistent .progressive.policy and of practical benefit to the people of "this Dominion as a whole, !!©- . ..lieving 'that youjare fully- desirous i-ol' continuing-to work and legislate on lines that will carry-New Zealand ; ■ onivard and 'upward 'tin sure , and safe paths of development,'wo lies . ..to 'assure you of our earnest ana whole-hearted support in your ef- ■'!, ' '■iort's to'labour "for" this - country"; lasting good. Signed on behalf of .the Welling - ton District Branch of the Libera and Labour Federation of-New Zeal ■ - .and, - George Winder, President, " 'Edwin; Arnold, Treasurer. *."... .■' Walter 1). Gorham, Secretary. • ; ' .Mr.,. Winder, in somo further remarks,.ex-' prossod the sympathy of-tho members of the liederation with the Premier and Parliament in'tho calamitous destruction of the I'arlia- ' tary Buildings. " •■■ '■ ■ ■ '. The Premier expressed his warmest grati- | tudo for tho presentation, and said lie would ;treasuro-it as a memento of- tho kindly esteem of tho donors and of this happy meeting uiidor'tho new oonditions of tho com.binod electorates.of.tins Wellington District. 'As ho was down' to speakja.tor in the evening, ho would reserve further remarks until then. I .. "( • i CONGRATULATORY SPEECHES; '" ' Mr. E. Arnold, in a short speech, said that tlio Federation liad done noble "work in tho past, and would, in the future, stand by Sir Joseph Ward and his brother Ministers' The•Premier had had a very trying time silica ■tho death of their late chief, .Mr. Seddon. The speaker went on to review tho subsequent events, including tho illness of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, and filially tho destruction by liro of tho Parliamentary Buildings, with other circumstances that had resulted j in placing great burdens of responsibility on ' Sir-Joseph -Ward.- -They all hnpod ho- would yet effect a. further large amount of his splendid legislation. - Mr. J. 15. Fitzgerald-.spoko of tho ability of tho late Hon. R. J. Seddon, and said his work. as Premier had broil very capably' carried on by Sir Joseph Ward. If tho Premier continued as ho had commenced, every ;branch of tho Liberal-Labour Federationwould; undoubtedly support him. After ro' \ ferring eulogistically to some important , < .measures of the last-session, he assured th< Premier of tho loyalty of tho Wellingtot > branch of tho Federation. i Mr. AY. H. P. Barber, M.P., said that lie had" seen in Parliament that the business haa been conducted in a'manner that reflected 'groat credit on the leader of the House. I Last session had put up a record for longth, and also for the number of Acts passed. Ho believed it would also be found that a record hod been,established in. the value and use- ' fulness |of tho. legislation. New Zealand had been fortunate in her Premiers. Tho had been filled by jnen who would >'. •hWe~sccupis3'' liigb places~ih "the "politics of :tho Old ..Country. Sir. Joseph Ward had given ovcry satisfaction to his supporters bo til in his efforts beyond the seas and within this country. Much had been said ■of the supposed. waste, of .time, during tho last' session","'.but ho. (Mr. "Barber) 'considered. that the session was not a day too long, and iwhat waste of time -there had been occurred : in connection with private members' btjsiiiess' , and tho. Press ought ..to rccogniso. this, and exonerate the Government.. Prophets of evil iii regard to Sir Joseph's had boon discredited,' for he had, como through the session with honour.- Eyeii, oil . the important and difficult laud'question tho P.omior had bad a majority of two to one on' all. the important divisions. The session had been singularly orderly,, and there, had been no rows, because- the. Premier know that it took two to make a row, and lie would not be one. He had boon' most considerate to mem- . bors, .-and he (the speaker) was prowl to acknowledge him as a leader. He hoped -bo would enjoy the good' health so necessary in his:, position, and would continue to effect such legislation as. was desired by the Fedora-' tion.- -(Applause.) '- , Mr. C. 11. Izard, M.P., congratulated tho Federation on its reunification. Ho said tlioy should bear in mind that ill the past thoy bad- had practically no organisation to contend with, but ho warned them against next year, when thore would be «a harder fight, (le spoke thus not on his own behalf, but ( for tho benefit of the organisation. Speaking ■ of tho guest of tho evening, ho said that it was the wonderful tact of the Premier that liad enabled the session to be brought to such a successful conclusion. THE PREMIER'S SPEECH. Sir Joseph Ward, iii replying, said tho Federation had paid him tributes that evolving ho did not deserve, but lie wanted to thahk 'them 'very heartily for tho allusions that • had boo;i; made to -the way ho had filllcd the office to which he had been appointed. Ho again expressed his gratitudo fpj' tho address, and for tho sentiments convcveii by'it." Ho went on to say that tho' compliments '.contained in tho address.,recalled the.gentleman 1 who had preceded him. and who bad so faithfully and so worthily filled tho office of Premier for a longer period of years than any predecossor. Recalling this, oue felt that tho good work done by Mr. Seddon ought not to bo forgotten by tho pooplo of this country. (Applause.) All who know tho late Pronnor would remember tho strenuous, life ho-led. They would recognise what an enormous amount' of work ho put into tllo conduct of. tho affairs of the Dominion, and tho wholo country would feel that lie had boon actuated by an honest and, earnest desire to put lcgislatioA oil tho Statute Book that would bo for tho good of the mass of the pooplo. His linmo as tho great Liberal leader in New Zealand would novor bo forgotten by tbo pooplo of tho Do- 1 minion. (Applauso.) Tho speaker referred to tha difficulty, is filling th.e blank caused b>/ '

Mr. Soddon's death, and in this connection ho wanted" to thanlc poreonallf His jdio.Jiad been 'kind, considerate, and courteous in .their: assistance, as the?heads .of tho various Departments. To the individual inombers of the .Liberal- party lie was also indebted. They had .been placed in a difficult position., They had como, together under tho aegis of tho old leader, and the chango hadi. made-.their position not so-easy- as it would have been if that untoward event had not takon place. • There were. necessarily differences of opinion, but-the members to whom, he referred had shown an earnest'deBiro to cany "out their; pledges and to do what they thought most advantageous to' all classes or tho. community in this great Dominion. • • ' - ;; BUILDINGS. .- - '. Ho wished to express his' sense' of'grateful recognition of the. view taken' by the members of the'. Federation'in'.regard. to''''''the unfortunate circumstances' of the conflagration at the old historic Parliamentary Buildings. No one who .know, anything of the political history of this'country could feel other than ' very sad when they realised tho .other .morning that 'thoW buildings ' hM , been .'reduced to ashes.' ■ Whenever circumstances of/ that kind arose,'-whenever-there were' difficulties that appeared almost insurmountable, it was in with'" the' traditions:' of V. the British''race that th6y should make a deternjined; effort; to restore'what was..lost, .and .. forget the'troubles'of the pastV They must, • in the-present'.'instance,'provide -for tho erection , of a structure capable of meeting tho requirements, of tliis grooving Dominion, .and such as would reflect credit upon the country,' and .'be no discredit to the Empire City. In this connection they could already, see instances of the kind of'criticism" to which . public men were liable. It seemed to be thought.that Ministers had lost- then-heads, but if they, had done.so, as he thought some of the critics had,,they. would not be fit., for their positions. He- wished'.the matter, of these buildings to lie approached from the standpoint of common sense. . They were'not going in. for any. glittering, fanciful tiling, as some people imagined. They were going- to ; provide, he hoped, after consulting. Parliament, suitable provision that would be creditable to the Dominion and the citizens of Wellington, and they wished to erect, a structure of which' nono of those interested ■ need be ashamed. '. • : ' THE FEDERATION. ; : The Tremier.nexti referredthe position of the Liberal and 'Labour Federation, and alluded to th'o evolutioh that had taken place in. its constitution.' Only by'reason.'of that evolution would they; ' tion ready to assist in returning members of Parliament, and in l moulding-public opinion. In consequence of!the ,change "in. the leadership, it had been next to .impossible for, him -to give the attention, he would havo liked:to gWto the affairs'.of the: Federation throughout the, country. ...The work of'.Government had: required .his very close attention, in order to ensure that the principles that were dear to the Federation n'ere kept to'the front in the political arena. .'•Ho' was • glad * to know that- the < legislation had >> met'*• with ■'the l approval of the' members of the Federation. There were some people who hoped,' for interested reasons, that the Government .would Hiako serious mistakes, so that a'turn of. the ■wheel, would tiring tliem to tho ,topj 'It was gratifying,, at the end of a long" arid difficult session, to realise that the broad sense of the people acknowledged that the legislation that had-been-.passed"Wasivaluablo to theni asia community,!: arid calculated to enable the Dountry'to attain a stronger , position industrially, commercially, and.-agriculturally. ' ' • : • \ ' LAND LEGISLATION. . - ■The'..'Premier next ■ referred'.to :th'e.'-land, legislation; of" the past session arid .its .great importance ; as 'being pqnriected. with the source of' all the Vwealth,' revenue,- and industry of'the "country'.' Drastic change's had been made. ,in the land, laws' of the Do.miriion, and it was idle for the critics to deny that those changes were-in accordance with ipublic opinion, 7 which had 'set ill the direction, of not' allowing a condition ..of ' things to .arise in . t the ( Dominion' under which', in fifty "^years''from liow'.the'land' would be ■ mainly aggregated into largo ..estates. ;The land enable,.'jriore,,rnen. and ' women with their-families,to get on theland. It,was in the interests of . business men, working : men, clerks, Government'employees, and ' others'jn the qities to have this; clqser settler ment and increased production. ' ~ THE TARIFF^ Then there was the tariff, so ably piloted through the House by his colleague, Mr.' Millar. (Applause.) /It had'already induced people to start new industries which would open up fresh avenues of employment for the people, and it also; gave- relief to the consumers of various commodities to a degree that had not before been equalled in l our history. And yet ho had read a paragraph' reporting that a certain gentleman had said that the Government had done nothing to reduce the duties .on the necessaries of lifo. There would shortly be issued a document showing the concessions madfe under the new . tariff, and-then every housewife would havo ■the opportunity of seeing what the Govern- \ -jnent had done in this matter. (Applause.) INFANT LIFE/PROTECTION.. • Referring to' tho question of infant life protection, the Premier, showed that each life saved was a financial gain to! the State. A large proportion of the deaths were due to ignorance as to nursing and'the proper food to'use". . Eyidenco was already before the Government of the success of a system that had'so far. been carried on by private organisations, ■ and only that afternoon, the Government, 'recognising this, had determined to give assistance. The small amount, of'£loo was to be given to the bodies in each of. the four centres who were helping in this work and to ' assist- thoSe-nurses-'who went to outlying places. f GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT. The Premier then spoke of the anti rg'ambling legislation. ■ The young meriarid'woinen should have removed from them -the ■ irresistible temptation of betting which they were at" present; faced with every day ' of their lives; A number of' people connected with horse racing had communicated to him that • the.'Act-was - good, and-that' they were fa- \ vourable to -it ; and anyone who had the \ • future interest of the community at 'heart would be favourable to it. '"• ... NATIVE LAND.: • /In regard to the Native Land' Settlement Act passed during the session—(applause)— the Premier said that' every .' Native Minister had been desirous'of having-finality—if that .' were . possible—given to 'the 'Native legislation, or;- at all events, of having legislation that would satisfy the Maori and the European. This now had been done under tho Act of last session, for the first time. The Premier briefly explained the Act, and said the effect of it w° u 'd be'that huge areas of land that until now. had been locked up would be available for settlement - by" Europeans. (Applause.) That was .a good and a great work. x Twelve months from'next: Christmas, the Premier proceeded;--therNortiT Island Main Trunk line would, be completed. One result of - this' no doubt' would-be' that the isolation, which had been responsible to ' a large' extent for provincial jealousy would "5 disappear and sister cities would realise that they were part of one Dominion. The Premier here, turned', aside to deal with' pessimistic critics./ "Things that ; had ;, beoh !prs- - of them had never come to'pass. The country was in a' very happy position. ' We had not all our eggs in one basket. If. one product was down;' another 'was,' up.' Never , before had we stood so strongly, as we did to-day. ' !■'" . ' NEWS OF THE DOMINION. ~ The Premier went on .to deal at length witli' tlie transmission of .'news to England, i'eople travelling in Great Britain and Ireland went six or eight " weeks sometimos without, seeing .anything -in the-nowspapors about New Zealand, except perhaps' earthquakes an,d fires. Considering the quantity of trado between'New'Zealand and the OldCountry, it seemed surprising that tliprc wa's no organisation _which..sent_jrcgnlar news as to. the development of this country. Only spasmodic'news' was obtairied- by- the great dailies that employed special correspondents. 'A'.duty devolved'upon 'the country, if ,other ineans failed;'to send nows Home, and'show, oommercially, socially, and' industrially that we were progressive,and .prosperous. It Was an important matter. He, believed, that t|io •, journals of the Old Country': would be ready and ..'willing to Dav for . a suitable service.

PARTY PROSPECTS. In congratulating the officers of the Federation on the good work done, and wishing them everyi success, he said organisation was as riecessarv to-day as it had ever been. The' only , fly in l the honey, as far as the Liberal partv were concerned, was that there would , be too many'candidates. It would be necessary to make'ii true selection ol tlie men they wanted to represent them. Ho felt- sure an alteration would have to lie made in. tho electoral'laws, so as to avoid the return of a candidate who secured only a minority •of votes. It would he .lonlisod from tins that next session they did not intond-,to pass-only,.tho Estimates and the appropriations > and .. then adjourn. T hov would have amplo room for .both Houses to carry 011 their ...work.- ~ . . ... ' Concluding, tho Premier thanked the President, officers, and 1 members; on behalf of himself and Lady Ward, for the reception given .them oil this occasion, and for the many' kindnesses that had been shown them' in the past. . Ho also paid a tribute to the work of Messrs. Barber and Izard in Parliament/ (Applause.) - • • THE HON. G. FOWLOS. The' Hon. G. Fowlds,. speaking briefly on account' of tho late hour, congratulated tho Federation on this method of . expressing its appreciation;of -'the '.work-that .had boon done byithe'Premier., "It was well that the people shcinld h'aVe' opportunities of expressing appreciation'in'this way. There wero always crdakors and pessimists to find fault. The Federation in this 'gathering .had done honour 'to themselves, as well as to the Premier. . , THANKS. A vote of thanks to' the chairman was proposed ,by 'Mr. T. Y. Seddon, and carried amidst applause. . . ...Sir-Joseph Ward proposed a similar tnbute to .Minifie's 'orchestra and all who had assisted with ..the programme. •Songs 'wore -contributed at-intervals by Miss Jones,, and Messrs. A. Bell, Banks, and Graves, and recitations by Miss Lulu Arnold arid, Mrs. Sutcliffo. ; Minifie's band also played enjoyable selections. The' accompanist of "the- evening was Miss Minifie.