FAREWELL DINNER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 488, 22 April 1909, Page 6

FAREWELL DINNER.

RETIRING PUBLIC SERVANTS. SPEECHES BY ''THE PRIME MINISTER AND'MR. DONNE. About 80 gentlomen, including members of the Legislature, heads of Government Departments, and others, sat down to a dinner at the Grand Hotel last evening, as the guests of the Ministers of the Crown, who had invited them to do farewell honours to Messrs. T. E. Donne and T. H. Earner, who are proceeding to. England, and to Messrs. W. T. Glasgow, A. Barron, C. A. St. G. Hicksou, E. J. von Dadclszon, C. W. Hursthouso, Colonel Webb, and LieutenantColonel Hunio, who are retiring from the public service ' Tho Primo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) presided. On his right wore seated Mr. Donne, Judge Williams, and the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Railways), and on his left Mr. Hamer, Judge Edwards, and the Hon. It. M'iienzie. The vice-chair was occupied by the Hon. J. Carroll (Native i Minister), and among others present were Judges Cooper and Chapman, the Hon. A; • \V. Hogg (Alinister for Labour), Hon. D. Buddo (Minister for Internal Affairs), Hon. T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture), and Hon. A. IV Ngata.

Speech by tho Prime Minister. The Primo Minister, in proposing the toast of Messrs. Donne and Hamer, expressed gratification at tho attendance of the Judgos and nearly all tho heads of-De-partments, to do honour to those who so well deserved it. Both of those who were going to London were officers of long standing. Mr. Donno. joined the service in 1875, and had risen during that period of 34.years from tho lower rungs of the ladder to a very high position. Mr. Hamer had been in the service 31 years, having joined it in 1878, and had risen by indefatigable work to occupy posts of great responsibility and high standing. Great changes had taken place of i late in the High Commissioner's office. The Hon.- W. P. Reeves, who bad filled the very difficult and responsible positions of Agent-General and High Commissioner with great credit to. himself and advantage to New Zealand, bad now gone to another very responsible position in London, and a gentleman well qualified to succeed him was now High Commissioner, and would compare not unfavourably with i those who had preceded him. (Applause.) Tho High Commissioner's Office. Another important chan go' was tho retirement of Mr. Walter Kcnnaway, who, after 30 years' service, would retire •at the end of June next; on a pension, carrying with him the goodwill of all the Ministers and those with whom ho had been associated. Mr. Palliser, who would succeed him, was ; also a well-tried officer. Mr. Donne was to be Trade Representative and Immigration Agent and Mr. Hamer would be Auditor in the. High Commissioner's Office, but neither of them would bo limited to tho exact duties of bis appointment, and they would be; able to do valuable service in different ways. The High. Commissioner and his staff tKus reinforced would be able to do more effective work than before. ' ' Mr. Pallisor, who was Mr. Hamer's predecessor in office, held the dual positions of accountant to' the High Commissioner.- He had done his work admirably, I but he (Sir Joseph Ward) held strongly that a man should not bo called upon to audit his own: accounts, and Mr. Hamer would not,: therefore, take up the position of accountant. The officers in London had always performed their duties with-loyalty to the_ Government of the day, irrespective of their own political leanings. The toast was drunk enthusiastically with musical honours. \ >-'. Mr. Donno Iri Reply. Mr. Donne, in his reply, alluded to the happy relations between the Ministry and the members of tho'public service. Ho could testify to tho ability, loyalty, and energy of the officers who were retiring. owing' to advanced ago. Li honouring Mr. Hamer they wore honouring tho whole ' service. (ApElause.J He considered that the New: Zea-' ind Civil Service was tho best in tho world. In regard to immigration, he had notbeen informed of any new policy on the part of the Government, but no felt that New Zealand's great want: was population of the right sort. (Applause.). / Reviewing-the work of the Tourist Department, Mr., Donne said he had been blamed for giving too great a share of his efforts to the North Island. The original policy was to develop Rotorua' in the North Island and'Queenstown in the South, but Rotorua, with its special natural attrac-tion's-and with its land owned by the nation, lent itself particularly to development. Land that was worth £50 when RotoruaAwas taken over by the Government was now worth £1000 to; £1200. Queonstown, as well /as Rotorua, was connected with the railwas'S, and there had been no desiro to be' unfair to either. He would urge the Government to continue tho development of Rotorua as a tourist resort. Mrl Donno also quoted the experience of other countries to. show the value of tourist traffic, and spoke of tho importance of bush preservation and' afforestation. In" conclusion, the speaker expressed appreciation of the;way fn" which ho had been treated by the Primo Minister and other Ministers. "I havo known you, sir, I may say a lifetime," he said, .turning to Sir Joseph Ward, "and tho more I know of you the more I honour and respect you." / (Applause.) He also acknowledged tho assistance he had received from tho press. Mr. Hamer's Hopes. • Mr,'Hamer, in his response,; mentioned that ho had many years ago asked to 'bo sont Home. _ He was glad he would bo ablo to do something for Now Zealand outside: the precise' work of his 'office. Wero it not for tho restrictions imposed'on civil servants/ in tho ■interests of the country, he could: say much of matters that had occupied his attention for ( many years'. _ (Laughter' and applause.) He was an Imperialist, determined to do all he could for- New Zealand.•■; In taking up a now life in tho Old Land, ho was leaving behind him the friends of a lifotirao, and would look forward to coming back again. (Applause.) . He was ploased to bo associated with Mr. Donno, whom he bad greatly valued as a.colleaguo in connection with the visit of the Amoncan Fleet. ■ In conclusion, Mr. Hamer acknowledged, the-courtesy and consideration be had-always received from Ministers. The Mines Department was in good hands under tho Hon. R. 1 M'Kenzie, and with the yob undeveloped resources-of ironsand, Parapara ores, and oil, great wealth would be won in the future. (Applause) ■ ' • • i " ' ' '■'..'. "■- Retiring Officers.. The Prime Minister then proposed "TheRetiring Officers." Mr. W. T..Glasgow (Secretary for, Customs) before leaving for England had sent a. mossage of regret at being unable to be present. It was to himself and his colleagues a matter of extreme regret that it was necessary for them to take the responsibility of the retirement of a number of officers who hnd ably and- honourably and faithfully discharged their difficult duties. All those who were retiring were still capablo of doing a great deal of useful work, but tho elderly men must naturally look forward to retirement on reaching the ago limit in ordor that the service might be carried on with continuity by those who had recoivod their training under tho older officers. Finally, tho Prime Minister alluded to tho retiring officers individually, eulogising their services to tho country, and expressing best wishes-for their future happiness-. He also coupled with' tho toast the names of Mr, Morris Fox, who has boon appointed to represent'the Government at tho International Actuarial Congress at Vienna, and Mr. J. D. Ritchie, who is going to visit his aged parents in tho Old Country. : (Applause.) Messrs. Glasgow, Barron, Hickson, von Dadelszen, Hursthouse, Colonel Wobb, Lieutenant-Colonel Hume, Messrs. Morris, Fox, and Ritchie all briefly responded, several of them referring with gratituuo to the ostab-' lishment of the' Superannuation Fund. . "Tho Chairman,'.- 'proposed by Mr. Harold. Beauchamp, concluded ho toast list, arid tho gathering broke- up shortly before midnight. ' Tho musical portion of the .'evening's programme was in tho capablo hands of Messrs.' E. J. Hill and D.-A. Kenny. ■;■'•■■•