FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 315, 30 September 1908, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

'ALLEGED UNDESIRABLE PRACTICES. (by TELEQUArH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) , Masterton, September 29. The "Wairarapa Age" states that a wellknown football enthusiast who resides, at, Taihape writes as follows to a resident of Masterton in regard to tho game at Taihapo:—"The New Zealand Rugby. Union ;does not know of the carryings on up here, with regard., to football matches. . Betting is phenomenal. Almost every player .ana enthusiast has a bet, and-players are even bribed to lose matches.' . One' of our staff was recently asked what-he would, take to ran 'stiff' in a certain match." Napier, September 29. The management committee of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union to-night decided to endorse the major portion of the alterations in tho rules of the game suggested by the Otago Union. ,

ANOTHER PRESENTATION. I HIS-SUPPORTERS IN THE HOUSE.' Tho members of tho House of Representatives who support tho Government assembled in the Legislative Council Chamber at 5.30 last evoning to make a presentation to the Prime Minister (Sir . Joseph Ward) in honour of, his attaining his twenty-first year of Parliamentary life. Lady Ward and Mrs. Findlay were present." The presentation consisted of a pair of handsome silver candelabra and an address. ;' , . Mr. J.T. M. Hornsby, in making the presentation as chairman of tho committee, read the following inscription on the candelabra: — ,"1887. Souvenir, 1908. Presented by the membors of . the Liberal party in the House of Representatives to the Right , r Honourable Sir Joseph G. .Ward, P.C., • K.C..M.G., LL.D,,.Prime Minister of this ' Dominion, to celebrate the completion by him of twenty-one years of political life • -in New Zealand. Kia ora, aroha." J .An accompanying address) which was also read /by Mr.. Hornsby,' declared that Sir Joseph had served the people of New Zealand in the highest , sense-'of the,'term, and had won his way step by step until lie stood the worthy successor of;the great Liberal statesmen of the past. ; ■ Sir William Steward, as the oldest South i Island member, 1 referred'to the work of the Prime Minister -at • the 'Imperial and Postal Conference, and the honours : conferred ' upon " him , by his Sovereign; in calling- him' to' the Privy' Council and creating him K.C.M.G. He would also' be long remembered, as the most able Postmaster .that New Zealand or probably any other country in the Empire had ever had. ' ' ■ , - ■;. Mr. Frank Lawry, oldest Liberal member from the North Island, said he was proud to realise that two great men entered Parliament twenty-one 1 years ago—one was Sir Joseph Ward and . the other was himself. (Laughter and applause.) .. He early pro-1 phesied that Sir Joseph would become a 'Cabinet Minister. . He , hoped ; Sir Joseph Ward would long be spared to raise.New Zealand. to the high place, among the nations to which nature had destined it. (Applause.) j Mr. 'Poland spoke on behalf of the-Liberal members who - were first elected -three years ago.' - Ho expressed gratitude to Sir Joseph Ward for his considerate ,and tactful leadership; .- Mr.'. T. Parata, senior Native member, said, the Maori race looked to the Prime Minister , as their father. -. He wished .him and Lady Ward and family every happiness. ; THE PRIME MINISTER'S THANKS. ■ Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said he wished, to thank the members from the bottom of his: heart,for, the,kindness shown him. A public man could riot but have opponentshe would-not: say enemies—and oven among one's own party ■it could not be exacted that one's, efforts;should receive unanimous approval. 'But to receive, after twenty-one years of public life, such a token of esteem was most}'' gratifying. Ho was. not one :of those 'j.wHp.;,;held -that Parliament was de-. teriorating. . Political evolution had caused a more .active representation to be required, and greater sacrifices to be demanded from' members. He wished, ! however, to refer to the, older members,--and-he was sorry, there -were..riot. iriore of ; them still; in' Parliament. 1 There were .the"Hon; Mr.' Duncan, Sir Wil? liam : Steward/ the 'Speaker, Mri'- Tom -Mac-, kenzie,: Mr. Lawry;:,and. Mr. .Carroll. They were the sole remnant of those .who first eh-r; tered Parliament in 1887. They found thero men like the late Sir > George Grey, Mr. Seddori, ..SiryHariy' Atkinsoii, 3tfr. Ballance, Sir John: 'Hall; Mr. Bryce, Rolleston, Sir Julius, ;Vogel,' Sir John M'Kenzie, yiric'ent'Pyke, besides, Sir William Russell' arid the'Hon/E. Mitch'elsbn', who ; were still living.-:'.-These were ;all strong: and active ■iffieri,j who.powerfully moulded the public life of their time. -Proceeding, Sir Joseph thanked Mr< .Hornsby for his kind, expressions, and directed a few kindly expressions to his old friends and fellow-members Sir -. William -Stewart and-.-Mr-: Lawry- for, their ;,remarks,' and to the' younger members, represented by-Mr. Poland, he returned his warmest thariks. Sometimes in the hurly-burly of tho work, and/when, things. unforeseen arrived, one jjas disposed to show a little feeling or-i-little temper,-ibut one of -the greatest things, of public life was to forget yoii had-'a temper. (Hear,. hear.) It' only mained for him'-'to say that the beautiful expressions-of, the good will'of the party would be . valued very much indeed, as commemorative of a ■ very, happy occasion. Ho would always remember this meeting, and, he' hoped 'that whatever the'future held for all of -them, those around him. now would have -happiness ' and prosperity.. Ho' thanked them all from the'very bottom of his heart for their kindness. (Applause.) ■