THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE

Evening Star, Issue 14118, 22 July 1909, Page 7

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE

WELCOME AND APPRECIATION. A largo audience gave a hearty welcome to the Hon. Dr Findlay last night in the' Burns Hall, where he delivered a most interesting address (elsewhere reported). The ; Mayor (Mr J. H. Walker) presided, and on the platform were Sir James Mills, Messrs S. Solomon, K.C., G. L. Denniaton, E. C. Reynolds, J. Loudon, W. Gow, and Ors R. Gilkison, W. Burnett.C E.' Kcast, T. Fiddis, and D. M'Pherson. Apologies for absence were received from the Rev. Canon Curzon-Siggers and Mr Tewsley (Wellington). Among the representative audience wo noticed the Hons. J. B. Calkin, J. R. Sinclair, G. Jones (Oamaru), J. T. Paul, M.L.C.s. and Messrs J. F. Arnold and T. K. £idey, M.P.s. The Mayor briefly introduced Dr Findlay. He believed the citizens, not only of Duncdin, but of the Dominion, were proud indeed when Dr Findlay—a native of. Dunedin—was appointed Attorney-General. —(Applause.) With the talents he possessed they might reasonably expect to see "him in the office of Trime Minister some day.—(Applause.) But he (the mayor) did not desire to address the meeting. It was his business to introduce the Hon. Dr Findlay—if an introduction were necessary—and he had great pleasure in asking him to deliver his address. —(Applause.) Dr Findlay, before talking on the themes thn.l proved so interesting to his hearers, said he found it difficult to refrain from a few preliminary words of a personal nature in this his first political address in Dunedin. " Dunedin," he said, "as perhaps some of you are aware, is my birthplace, but I shall not obtrude my liistory upon you any further than to say that here I spent my boyhood and younger manhood—spent the impressionable years of my life —and somehow still, when 1 think of any part of New Zealand as my home, my thoughts turn to this City.—(Applause.) Its history and my many associations here' have given me a pride in the city of my birth, and it was with genuine pleasure I accepted the invitation of your mayor to eome and discuss with you to-night some of the great social problems that are throbbing to-day in the hearts and minds of every lover of his country.—(Applause.) At the conclusion of his comprehensive .address, tho delivery of which occupied two hours, the Minister of Justice, was given a splendid display of apprecaition. Sir James Mills said ho was Burc they were all indebted to tho Hon. Dr Findlay for his instructive address. In an audience like that, whero all classes were represented, there were some, no doubt, who did not agrc3 with every remark he had made, but they could all unite in saying it was one of the most eloquent and helpful addresses they had ever heard from tne platform in Dunedin.—(Applause.) Addresses upon political and social subjects were, as a rule, somewhat prosy, but as dispensed to them bv Dr Findlay they hecame poetry.—(Applause.) Ho could assure Dr Findlay they were proud of him as a native New Zealander—one who had reached the topmost rungs in the ladder of his profession and also in public life, and one who had given up a great part of his time, which he might have employed with pecuniary profit to himself, to the public service—(applause)—and to the carrying out of the beneficent measures to which ho had made reference that night.—(Applause.) He proposed—"That a very cordial vote of thanks be given to the' Hon. Dr Findlay for his interesting address, and that this meeting express the hope that before long he will again come before a Dunedin audience."—(Applause.) Mr D. M'Pherson (president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce), in seconding the motion, spoke briefly in a happy vein. He assured them that' the address had been an education to him, particularly in view of the fact that he had not heard more than three political addresses in his life. If he could not agree with all they had been told that night, he could at least say that lis had heard one side of the question.—(Laughter.) From tho very rapt attention paid him he (.Mr M'Pherson) was perfectly satisfied that Dr Findlay had secured the reward ho probably Fought in coming to Dunedin and delivering an address. The motion was carried by acclamation, and Dr Findlay returned thanks, saying he would remember their appreciation all his life. A NATURAL FLOAT. The boatman had been angered by the asinine behaviour of a young fellow among the party which he- had taken out for a sail. When the boat sprang a leak far out from tho sh:>re the boatman somewhat allayed tho alarm of the rest of the partv by' Serving out lifebelts, but he gave no belt to the would-be wit. "Where's mine?" said the terrified youth. "Don't you worry, my lad," said' the boatman, with a vindictive smile. " \ou don't need no lifebelt. You'll never bo drowned. A feller with an 'cad as 'oiler as yourn can't sink. Nature's given vou a natural lifebuoy."