"TRUE STATESMAN"

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 90, 16 April 1920, Page 7

"TRUE STATESMAN"

FAREWELL TO SIR JAMES

ALLEN

TRIBUTE TO HIS WORK

LARGE TOWN HALL' GATHERING,

Citizens attended in large numbers .the farewell accorded Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence), who is to leave New Zealand shortly to succeed ,Sir Thomas Mackenzie a-s High Commissioner in,' , London, in the. Concert- Chamber of !the Town Hall yesterday- afternoon.. The hall was tastefully decorated and 'the central portion was occupied by tables set for afternoon tea. Upon the platform with the Mayor "were the Prime Minister and Mrs. Massey, Sir WilliamFraser, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, MajorGenoral Sir Alfred, Robin, Mr, 8.,: A. Wright, M.P., and Councillor M. Luckie;

The Mayor expressed regret that Lady Alien .was unable, to be present, aj^d:' explained that the Mayoress was unable - to-be present owing to, illness.. It: was scarcely necessary for - hini to say that there were very few men inNeWf'.Zealand, or, for that .matter, in the Empire, who were held so high in the esteem of the people as Sir James Allen.' In the days when he was in Opposition in Parliament Sir Jamas Allen had played a most useful part .in the- Jito of New Zealand, and the promise' -.hs had then given had been, more than realised by the success he had achieved in his capacity as a'•'Minister : of 1 th<j Crown. .It had been the fact,'apart from the • Prime Ministers own undoubted ability, that Sir''James Allen had been such an able lieutenant that had enabled Mr. Massey to achieve tjm success that had crowned his •'efforts of recent years. (Applause.) As Minister of Defence their guest-had "dons a work that the people .of New'.'''.'liesland would never forget—(applause)— and it had been fortunate indeed that such a strong man hM been in charge of this all-important portfolio during,the p?st trying years. To his. new sphere, of work in London Sir James -Allen would take the best wishes of the people of the Dominion as a- whole; no more capable man could * have been chosen to fill the position of High. Commisv' sioner. ■(Applause.) :. '.: -..,"... '','...'■'.'.'[. .The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Mayor for his kindly thought in calling the.meeting. If a man's past record was any guide to his future success then it would be easy to predict a. brilliant time, for Sir James Allen in London. (Applav.se.) Thirty years of excellent public service stood to I'Sir James Allen's credit, and, particularly now that the war wa« over, one .and.jail admitted that the guest, of the day had been a most efficient Defence -Minister!- ; Personally he was confident, that,'. there had been no better Minister of Defence throughout the Empire. '(Loud applause.) Mr. Massey referred to.MS \ personal friendship with Sir James Alien, and added that when it had been necessary for him (the speaker) to leave New Kealaiid"he had been troubled _ -with'^no ffears in leaving Sir James in charge. To meet success in the position of High Commissioner a man must be a keen business man and a hard worker, and both those qualities were to be "found.iv. the Commissioner-elect. Every unit of the country would join in wishing Sir James Allen the greatest success in. London and in expressing the hope that ha would return ultimately to continue his public service in New Zealand. (Applause.) ' ■ Mr. E, A. Wright, M.P., spoke of how Sir James Allen, in his political life, , had ever lived up to the best'traditions of British statesmanship. He had always been sincere in his Beliefs, and, whatever the opposition, he had carried out his work hi acoordanoe with those beliefs: (Applause!) Sir James Allen would carry with him the ill-will of no man/for h« had proved-himself a man who always,' stood four-square to the storm. • Sir William Fraser' (Minister of Mines) said he had put aside ■ pressing engagements .so that he might be present, for not only had he known Srr James Allen politically for many years but it had been his,good fortune to be a personal friend of the departing Minister. It had been said that Sir James was a hard worker; too much could not be said on \ that score, for night after night during the war the Defence 'Minister's light burned long after any others. His works 'had proved his value, and one-time critics were now numbered among his'keenesfc admirers. The feeling.-in New-Zen-, •land towards Sir James was the greatest tribute that could be paid to him, and the Minister could depart knowing that everyone wished him, and expected him to achieve, success as great as had 'been j his lot in the past. Councillor Martin Luckie spoke briefly of the qualities of Sir James Allen', and said that if he conducted ;his new duties half as well ''as his old New Zealand would have reason to thank him. •

Sir James Allen was greeted \vith continued applause. He' expressed his gratitude to the people for this opportunity of sayinp "Au revoh-"—he was.not saying good-bye, for he hoped to- return to New Zealand in a few years' hence with a fuller experience as a result of his life in Britain. Deferring to-the remarks of speakers, he said he had done only what any good citizen would have ■done in, a similar position. Hard work did not kill; on the contrary, he felt that his health was better "new \ than when he first became a Minister ofi the 'Crown. Sir James spoke of' the great lielp it had been to him to know, that behind him stood such loyal friends - r as the Mayor and Mayoress and the • citizens of Wellington. 'Without the' country and the people, especially the'women,!; behind him he could have 'done .nothing. In, conclusion, hn referred to the high name won in Britain for New 1 -Zealand by her soldiers, and said that it wonfd be his duty to add. if .possible, to that name. ,ono of his last duties had been to visit the soldiers still in hospital, and he could assure the public that conditions in them'had improved'a great deal* largely by the introduction of more nurses and V.A.D.'s. Nothing, he add' cd. would give him niorfi pleasure, than to know, on the eve of his departure for Britain for a, three years' absence,- that he had the respect of the men'■who had to the fnvit and had now coma back again to New Zealand. (Applause.} Cheers were triven for Sir James and Lady Allen, and those present Joined in sineing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." . ' '...-.