HIGH PRAISE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1940, Page 13

HIGH PRAISE

NATIONAL PARTY

MR. WESTON'S SERVICE

WORK AS PRESIDENT

< General acknowledgment of the work done for the National Party by the retiring president, Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C., and Mrs. Weston, was expressed at an afternoon party tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Weston by the Dominion council of the National Party, at the National Club, yesterday. There was a large attendance and the clubrooms were effectively decorated for the occasion. Both senior and junior sections of the organisation were represented.

Mr. A. Gordon, who succeeded Mr. Weston as Dominion president, made the presentation of a mahogany writing desk suitably inscribed. He said that the very foundation of the National Party's organisation was laid almost entirely by Mr. Weston.

The leader of the National Party, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, said that Mr. Weston's retirement from the presidency was justly earned in view of the magnificent and strenuous work that he had put into the party's organisation. Never in the history of politics in New Zealand had there been such a strongly knit and widely representative political organisation, and it was continuing to go from strength to strength on the basis of the principles on which it was founded. That was a great tribute in itself to the early work of its first president.' Mr. Hamilton paid a tribute to Mr. Weston's successor, Mr. Gordon, who, he said, was a most capable and energetic young man to take up the standard and continue the inspiration that Mr. Weston had given the party. Mr. Hamilton also paid a tribute to Mrs. Weston, who had played a wonderful part alongside her husband in the work of the organisation.

Dr. Hilda Northcroft, of Auckland, speaking ori behalf of the women of the National Party, endorsed the remarks that had been made.

Mrs. Guy Johnston, a vice-president of the National Club, presented Mrs. Weston with a handsome leather handbag. Mrs. Weston, she said, had endeared herself to all, both by her charm and her willingness to help.

A sheaf of hyacinths and irises was presented to Mrs. Weston on behalf of members of the National Union by Miss Bobbie Hope Gibbons.

In reply, Mr. Weston said he did not wish it to be understood in any way that he had been solely responsible for the formation of the party, to which many had made notable contributions. He paid a tribute to those who had been associated with him in the foundation of the party, particularly the late Mr. E. E. Hammond, without whose knowledge and sound judgment very little would have been achieved. Mr. Weston said that his retirement did not mean that his interest in the party's ! work had ceased. He would still play an active part. He felt sure that the truly remarkable growth of the party's organisation would be continued ably under the direction of Mr. Gordon.

Mrs. Weston also thanked the party for its gifts. She said she had greatly enjoyed her association with the party and that in the work she had established many lifelong friendships.

NOTABLE RECORD

CRICKET PRESENTATION

A record of fifty-five years as a playing member of his club stands to the credit of' Mr. M. M. F. Luckie, and it has been specially recognised by a presentation made at the Wellington Cricket Club's annual meeting. The report made mention of the fact that this player with the longest service had in one match last season taken six wickets for 89 runs, the performance being against one of the strongest sides in the grade.

On behalf of the club, Mr. P. Henley (club captain) offered congratulations to Mr. Luckie upon his achievement and presented him with the ball with which he had bowled so effectively in his fifty-fifth season. The ball was mounted on a stand, bearing silver plates with the inscriptions: "Wellington Cricket Club, presented to M. M. F. Luckie—six wickets for 89—1939-40" and "Joined the club 1885 —still an active player 1940."

Keen appreciation of the gift and the thoughts behind it was expressed by Mr. Luckie.