THE DINNER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 255, 21 July 1908, Page 8

THE DINNER.

SPEECH BY SIR J. WARD y •: 1 The 'concluding act'in,the Conference was: a dmner last evening', at the .Windsor Hotel ' tendered to tho Council .delegates.;; Mr. !E.v Tregear was in the chairj and:a;large. niiml'. ber of members of the local Association 'were,' • present. Among the. toasts.;was that; of -tho 1 . •'Parliament ,of New Zealand," proposed ! by; ; Mi. IT: R. Spenco/.arid' responded to by tho Right-Hon.' tho Prinio'Minister (Sir Joseph ' Word).;. The Primo'Minister arrived at 9.45' o'clockY 'Ho was'giventa v'erx, : liearty recep-'; Vtion', the] gathering rising 'and cheering. ' 'V- Mr! Spence acknowledged the great bene--fit's that had been given to the'civil servants; . ' by Parliament.' He' specially' mentioned the ; Superannuation' Act, and his remarks were • vigorously applauded. He was not' going 'to say the administration of the Acts of Parlia- ...; ment by the Civil Service ..was faultless, but ■ to give faithful service wa's' the great desire' of them all. The -two Acts—tho buperanmia-' ■ tion and Classification Acts—had conferred' undoubted benefits/upon-them,-and the.mere \ money outlay entailed:would be more than' «■' met by- the consequent results in administration.- He thanked the Prime Minister for. the consideration shown : to the deputation ' that had interviewed him that day — (applause)^rand'thanked him-for,his attendance ' that evening.. i - .' ' In' repaying, Sir Joseph Ward made felicitous reference to'the gathering. -Referring to the duties: of Parliament, ,he said a/great deal more was expected of Parliament than tensor fifteen years-ago, and "this ..was ,be-, • cause of the advance in recent years.: _In, some countries; to niake their wants felt. ' • the people,' had 'to Tesort' to .outrage ."■■■ and dynamitings,;'etc. '. It was, .therefore,' not surprising that in this coun-. try, with its public spirit, .always on _tho upward move,'very close attention was given ' to legislation, and that that legislation'should be in-many respects'a subject of very great concern •to the . people. Referring to the general application of the toast to "Parliament," he said" thd'members of the Legisla-; ture were one and all animated with an " honest desfro' to try and improvo the conditions of tho country. New Zealand was passing through a very peculiar phaso ; in public life. There .wero'oxpressions of public opinion •' on all sides of what people belioved possible ' of achievement, and of what peoplo believed, to be right for the Government to accomplish, jjnd no'man or Government could go ahea<l of, public opinion, otherwise a check would very goon come. He had'prophesied in the'past . that before long' 50,000 men would be employed on ■ the railways, and he

did not think that _ would be far from .the" mark.'_ Referring to the Chairman,' hesaid', b'e '.wis one of the veterans of the service, and a man who. had had a great ' dekl to do with the service. In the development'of the our position was such that thore > was"ici"(ither country which oho could take-as-a guide.- Marty difficulties-had presented but'if all critics hrid been' animated; as'-'Mr. Tregear had' been in his . service; 'with honest motives'and a desiro to help'ori' the country, theywould not be satisfied-to'stand : on the 'mouhtairi tops and say 'that" th'ose'patHs, which "were scarcely -in 'the- nature'" of 'a' beaten'' track,.' should. havo beeriformodso'-iriuch better. (Applause.) As to tho' future,' he', hoped to" see 'maiiy "of the old members of Parliament returned, and he thought''the o(lds'' were; a ,do?en to .on© that •the of'tho'House of Representatives would ber in ;muoh the'samo proportion as ,at present: • •; - <-•■-- . - The Premier,.left .almost,.immediately to j attend' the' Garrison Ball. Before leaving, . however;';he.was' heartily cheered.'A musical programme,to' which Mr. Alfred Hill was thevleading; contributor, helped t-o make the evening'pass 'pleasantly. .