HON.W. HALL-JONES. A PUBLIC WELCOME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 29, 4 February 1908, Page 4

HON. W. HALL- JONES. A PUBLIC WELCOME.

GREETINGS FROM THE LI3ERAL AND LABOUR FEDERATION. About seven /hundred .people asßem* bled in" the concert chamber of the Town Hall last evening, at th© invitation of the Wellington Branch, of t<he Liberal and Labour Federation, to welcome tha Hon. W. Hall-Jones on his return to Naw Zealand, restored in health arid ready to one© again riiaume Ministerial duty. , Mr. George Winder, president of the federation, presided. Amongst thosd who occupied* seats oq the platform "were the Premier (Sir Joseph Ward), Lady Ward, and Miss 'Ward, Mrs. Hall- Jones and the Misses Hall-Jones, Mrs. Christie, the Hon. Dr. and Mrs- Findlay, the Hpp. George Fowlds, the Hon. R. M'Nab, the Hon. J. M'Gowan, Mr. T. M. Wdforc, M.P., •Mr. Harold Beauotiaaap, Mr. I. Dyer, and Mr. E. Arnold. Seattd in the body of the hall were the Hons. T. K. SMacdonald and C. M. Luke, M.L.C's., the Hon. T. W. Hislop (Mayor of Wellington), several members of the Lower 'House, and representatives ot practically every trade and profession in the city. Tho proceedings throughout were of an enthusiastic character, the 'alinistcr being given a hearty reception as he entered the halt The proceedings were enlivened by music supplied by Minifies orohestra. SPEECH BY. THE CHAIRMAN. The Chairman said the meeting ho'l b^en hold to fittingly welcome the Hon. W Hall-Jones back to New Zealand. •He moved — "That this meeting extends a most hearty welcome to the Hon. W. •Hall-Jones upon his return from England, and sinqerely' 'congratulates him upon his restoration to "health. Those present desire to express their great pleasure at seeing him onco mere in New Zealand, and trust 'that, for many years to come, he may be .spared to continue to work for the good of tho people of this Dominion." > The Hon. W. Hall-Jones had ever been a. trne Liberal and a, staunch works? in the interests of the country. From the outset he had worked stremMmsly. As Minister of Public Works hi had excelled himself.. New Zealand had neiiier had a more capable man at the- head of that department. Mr. Winder. < referred to th« noble part- their guest) ■ had , played at the time of ,the "lato Mr. ■ Seddon's death. He showed he was a disinterested; dan, and his noble, actions' would ever redound to his credit. He had always proved himself a conscientiqus and upright statesman. OTHER SPEAKERS. Mr.- Robert Fletcher seconded the motion. He, heartily . endorsed the kindly sentiments uttered jt.a regard to (Mr. Hall- Jones, and expressed " satisfaction at his restoration to' good health. Conscientiousness and good[ administration had been characteristic of the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones i£t.-erfery . ,dep&tfnenfc of which he hasfh&(L control -^(hear, -hear) — and his re3jEfi^>& h»allh And fitness for, further wosr .was reason for great satisfaction. % > , SMV. W. H« 'Broderickj-Bfe^Mng' as 'a working; .man, added his testimony top tSat oi the previous ipeaktrs, ana said tßat' _eyeryone .who., had watched the ■Minister's career must havii been pleasfeS by hie oinswewing ißs«gvi|*> pf purpSse. ;:^atf^ie«: l iiffl;^i«d ipng eflough I^r.go^^fime- eat^l^ljtjje- wtors by false opinion Tired, and iw'find his singleness of. purpose, an.d excellent aoilit^s generally recognised. '' He concluded a lengthy— speech amidst' '-ci'ies'-oi "!lime."* ■ • iMr. .George iPoogcod that ' Mr. Hall- Jones -Md caa'riea biifc very.' credit" ably indeed .-the- duties lie undertook 1 two years 'ago', J a'nd it was Mt' tha^ whren- the .-countpy-^hftd >s.uch »^ man as he -it- could not afford to • lose him. Therefore his restoration lo health was cause for general rejoicing. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.. said thdt during tho fifteen years of his connection with politics he had never , vra,vered for an. instant in .nis admirition of 'the Hon. 'Mr. Hall-Jones. His was a clean record, and ' no. .one could truthfully speak a word of opprobrium concerning him. But he needed a word of advice, and that was to tako up come recreation. If a man took no recreation it followed that though the mind might he willing ttw flesh would be. wealr, and would liAv© to give way. ',/ 'He i shduld take up^gfrlf; 017 -if that did not suit •him ho should play, marbles (laughter) ; to play something lf flVfis all ' eeential to preservation of he^ftji. , ' '2V|eflUon ".had been made of., Mr.^Mall-Jibnos's ' loyalty during' the fi?v -mpntiis 'lhaii -|foilow«d, Mr Seddon*B bu| 'those- >who knew, him best knewSiJiafr nis whole life had b^enr.one-.of Royalty, , and that to be otherwise would be imp'os&iljle to one of hia nature. .' , ' ' ',■ ,' THE PRE^^S; SPEECH-: • -' On rising to speak Sir'Josepn^ Ward received a great reception. Ec said the evenjii|g was one for rejejjeing and not one for a -politicah^escli. • Npae were more- grating to Seethe Hon. W. HaQ,--Joneg-back^in Kew, Z|akrio[ : than-liiß,p6lp leagues, who"* had'^cori ' dgsely watching for tidings of him during his absence. It wa*-, not 4dng siuCe the country had vibrat'e^ from, end to end because of the tidings that the guest of the evening was in bad health. * All /wei'e watching for news of him from tiaie td time, arid it was a great relief to his many friends when they learned that he was returning to a gooi* TBtate -of- health. Speaking Hot of the particular party to which Mr. Hal- I Jones belonged, but fo" every party in | the Dominion, he coul<l iay they were all pleased to see suet ai politician as Mr. Hal',- Jones restored ,to health. Now that ho was back again, 'reinvigorated by his- rest and travels, the Premier would take the opportunity of publicly exjiressin^ a hope that he would not try to do too much in connection with his portfolios. He could depend, upon it that his colleagues would do fieir bsst to make his work as light' as p'oasible. Why were Ministers going over the country? Because they required to nee the people and the people required to sec what sort of men they wer?. From, the North Cape to the Bluff his collecgu.es, in moving about quietly, a\ ould help to give him all the relief they could from physical work of tbis kind. He also desired to welcome Mrs. Hall-Joms. (applause). She .was largely responsible lor the hon. gentleman's return to ,>ood health. Evvery one was glad to s.ee the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones Back again, and lie sincerely hoped he would always enjoy health, happiness arid prosperity {applause). MR. HALL-JQNES TJ REPLY. The Minister was loudly applauded on rising to reply. He said he could scaicely give adequate expression to his feelings < for the courtesy of the Liberal and Labour Federation in extending to him this ■welcome. It came to the lot of few to go through the experience he had — one day in good health, tho next, without warning, practically crossing the tide. He referred to the kindly consideration extended to him by press and people, and said a- man would not be. human if, he failed to appreciate, such conduct. Thank God, 'when almost on- the borderline, he had been 6par«d. He thanked' God that ha returned to this' country in renewed health. He was jleased|o be here a^aig

in renewed health, to join with hi* friends in doing all that he could for the advancement of their beloved country. His wife and daughters were deserving of the most heartfelt thanks for the way in which they had striven for his cure. He thanked his colleagues for the manner in which they had undertaken his duties during his absence, aud he felt sure that they had done it much better than he could. Passing on, he referred ;to the extremes of wealth and poverty he had seen at Home on the lines followed by him in an interview with a Po^t reporter. He did some slumming while there. People in the slums were paying a rental of 15s per week for fourroomed cottages with "box" rooms. Many % time the occupants came home at night without earning a penny. People m New Zealand did not really fully appreciate the benefits of living in this country. (Applaufie.) Sometimes they heard of people who were not satisfied with tho conditions in this country. It was not good, ho admitted, ta be too contented, but there were always safe lines to proceed on, and a clear way to do that which would bs for the benefit of the community as a whole. He found New Zealand much appreciated in the Old Land, and that the fact of being a New Zealander ensured a man a good reception there. The progreEi. of New Zealand was keenly watched by tho thinkers-^-and there were thinkers there — of the Old Land, and it met with much commendation. Irt a reference to the Imperial Conference, Mr. Hall-Jones spoke of the good impression mado by Sir Joseph Ward when at tha Imperial Conference. He was recognised as a level-headed and practical man by tho leading professional and business men whp Game into contact with the conference. The importance of tliis conference was great indeed, for tho great--ness of Great Britain was largely by reason of her extensive Empire — moie bo than by reason of her position and possessions in Europe-~-«and he hoped tho day was very far distant when any part of tho Over Seas Empire would break away fr6m it. (Applause.) This was not a night for tpeech-making. He thanked all for the kindness and Mr. Wilford for ,his < suggest joa. He (the Gpeakefy \vo«lc| buy eorrie marbles torhoi'k'o^v. (Laughter 1 .) He would be- a reformed character— ho saw the evils of his ways. It was pleasing to see that tho country was progressing. As yet we had not a million people, and with population it was easy to estimate what & great place New Zealand would be. Once again he thanked them all for tho -maiiy' Kindnesses shoivn to him during ,4 trying tijne. - , , Miss Minifie, Miss Lissack, Mcssr.*. H Graves, F. 11. Bust, and R. MimEe contributed items to a short programme.