PICNICKERS RETURNING

Evening Star, Issue 17311, 26 March 1920, Page 7

PICNICKERS RETURNING

PRESENTATION TO THEIR CICERONE - A wireless message from the Mokoia (received last evening) states that Captain M'Lean was presented with an inscribed case of pipes, a pouch, and a letter of thanks and appreciation from all the party, and Mr Baird, chief steward, with a signed letter thanking Mm. and his staff. Mr T. K. Sidey, on behalf of the members, presented to Sir James Allen a memento of the mission, congratulating him on his able leadership and his appointment as Hi.ffh Commissioner. In reply, Sir James said he had had a bus'- time during the 30 years he had been in Parliament, especially the last six. He had always felt that members of Parliament could not possibly realise the situation in the Pacific without comma themselves to see the islands and study their problems. "Whatever the cost of the trip in money, whatever the value of the gift of your time, I think you will agree with me that it is small compared with the lessons learned. Some of you may think we were wroii".in accepting a mandate for Samoa. I remind vou that we cannot live in isolation. The acceptance" of responsibilities opens up for us the great possibilities of the usefulness of the Empire and to the world. I am sure you will face your duties with gt-eady determination, without- sacrificing tho interests of the native peoples. After your kind expressions to-night I feci that probably I should remain and help to settle these problems, but tho strain of the last six years has been great. It is very difficult for me to carry on. A long, complete change of environment is necessary,' and for this reason I accepted tho position of High Commissioner, and I hope in that office I may be of some service to New Zealand and to the Empire." (Applause.) THE CONFERENCE WITH INDIANS. MB HOLLAND CONGRATULATED. The Wellington Democratic Party passed a resolution last nisrht congratulating Mill. E. Holland, M.P.. as representing the Labor Party, on his very good ta/te in pressing for inquiries regarding the position of the Indian workers at the Fiji meeting, and considered that had members of the parliamentary party failed to sret first-hand knowledge of the situation the whole cost of the trip would have been absolutel- wasted, and that an attempt to stop inquiries was only another example of the iniquity of the present Government in the matter of keeping the people of New Zealand in ignorance of affairs outside the Dominion.