A WELCOME HOME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 112, 4 February 1908, Page 6

A WELCOME HOME.

The welcome home which the Hon. "\V. Hall-Jones received last evening at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall from the Liberal and Labour Federation was hearty and, we believe, sincere. ' As a rule these party gatherings fail to give a true indication' of the feelings of the participants. They are .political gatherings' pure and, simple, and the personal worth of the guest of the evening quite a secondary matter. Last'evening this was not the case. The circumstances were exceptional. Mr. Hall-Jones had left the Dominion a few. months back a victim to the exigencies of political life—broken in health through overwork from which, for the time being, there was no escape. The immense burden of public business placed on his shoulders, owing to the sudden death of Mr. Seddon and the absence from the Dominion of Sir Joseph Ward, proved too peat, and his breakdown apd serious illness necessitated the long rest' from which he has returned with renewed health. During the brief' period in which he occupied the position of head of the Government, Mr. Hall-Jones probably rose higher in the estimation of the public than at any previous stage of his public career, and his honourable regard for the prior claims of his. senior and present chief, Sir Joseph ! Ward,, was no small factor in gaining for him this high opinion. In the illness which followed the overstrain during the trying period between Mr. Seddon's death and . Sir Joseph Ward's return to New Zealand, Mr. Hall-Jones had the sympathy of all 'sections of the community, and there are few indeed who will begrudge him the restoration to health which has enabled him. to return to the Dominion and take up .his old duties as a member of the Government. The proceedings at the welcome home arranged in his honour last evening call for little comment. The personal element was a strong feature, and we have no doubt that the guest of the evening fully appreciated the high compliment this iimplied. The Premier, who was in his best humour, referred' to the attitude of this paper in urging that Ministers would .feel the strain of office less ]f they wasted less time flying about the country, and put forward the usual contention that it was due to the country people to pay them these visits. We do not intend to dispute the point on the present occasion. We appreciate quite as much as the Premier how necessary Ministers regard these visits as part of the political campaign, but we consider the proper conduct of the business of the country of more importance than the electioneering efforts of the : .Government..

However, our purpose now is nut to discuss political methods, but to congratulate the Hon. W. Hall-.Jones oil his return to the Dominion restored in health, and on the hearty welcome home extended to him by the organisation of the party in which he deservedly holds a high place.