ESTEEMED MEMBER.

Franklin Times, Volume 14, Issue 195, 23 October 1925, Page 5

ESTEEMED MEMBER.

' MINISTER OF CROWN ENTERTAINED. HON. R. F. BOLLARD FETED. FUNCTION AT TUAKAU. i - The Reformers of the Northern portion of the Raglan electorate hold their representative and official candidate in connection with the present election campaign in the very highest esteem, if a function held Tuakau on Wednesday evening is any indication. The member for Raglan, the Minister of Internal Affairs* the Hori. R. F Bollard, was the guest at a compli-

mentary banquet held in the Tuakau (Memorial Town Hall. The chairman of the Franklin County Council, Mr H. Wilcox, presided over a representative gathering of about 200, these including a big percentage of ladies Visitors were present from Taupiri, Glenmurray, Pukekawa, Whangarata, Buckland, while several members' of ihe Pukekohe branch of the New Zealand Political Reform League were also present.

The chairman said he was grateful at seeing such a large gathering of Mr Bollard’s supporters to tender a

reception to- their worthy representative. He pointed out that, the pre- _ sent contest was'a keen one, and he urged all to put their shoulders to the-, wheel to return Mr Bollard, so that he. could support his .young leader,

the Hon. JAG. Coates. He was satisfied that Mr Coates, if given a chance, would make new history for New Zealand. (Applause). After grace had been said, full justice was done to an appetising repast. ' - * ' ... A lengthy toast list commenced with the loyal toast, proposed by the chairman. . ; . Toast of Reform. The toast of the Reform Party was proposed by 'Mi’ Wilcox: He stated that the party had .’experienced many 1 ups and downs, more downs than ups, but -still it had managed to hold its head'above water. After many years of hard work the 'party assurned the .Treasury benches,- and he could say . with’ all sincerity that, it had carried out its duties satisfactorily to the farmers and workers as a whole (Applause). Since last general election a great calamity - had been experienced by the country in the loss of a than who had beep at the head of affairs for a very long 'time, a man who had been loved and respected by all. even his political opponents holding him in high esteem. He deferred to the passing.of that Great White Chief, the late Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. A. -F. Massey. The whole world at large sympathised with New Zealand in its great loss. The mantle had fallen on the . Hon. J. G. Coates, a .-young New Zealander, a young farmer, a young soldier. The great reception accorded Mr Coates in the South Island aug-

’ - well for the-success of. the caml igigjgn. and'he was sure that, Mr Coates ' And' his party would be returned to power with a working majority. “Give ’•' Mr Coates a chance,” declared Mr Wilcox,, “and J am satisfied that “he will make good.” (Loud and prolonged applause). ' Mr Wilcox then passed bn to refer * to “the career of the member for Ragland. , For the .last- 14 years Mr Bol- — lard-had represented the Raglan elec"torate and he had proved a worthyrepresentative. They were satisfied . with his. work and with what he had -done for the district. (Applause). Mr Bollard was seeking re-election, and Mr Wilcox emphasised the point N. that a member with such a long record. a Minister of the Crown who - was in close touch with the inner of all Government Departments, had a decided advantage over a new member, who was merely a taw recruit, in political parlance. Mr Bollard had been educated in the political world by . the best tutors, and he considered lie was the member for Raglan. - (Loud applause) . Mr Wilcox concluded by saying that he hoped - Mr Bollard would he 1 eng spared to represent 'the electorate in Parliament.

“I was a small boy then.”

? Mr Dynes Fulton, chairman of dir-: ectprs of the New Zealand Go-opera- | tive Dairy Company. said lie was ■ .pleased’to be able to supplement the j remarks of -the chairman. He said he 1 had not been connected with the political 'affairs of this country so long as Mr Wilcox, but he could recall v the e.arly days when the late Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey was elected. “I was a small boy then.” said Mr Fulton, amid laughter, “at least I did not have a vote then, but I remember Mr Massey and Major Harris contesting the seat. The Reform Party was then known as. the Conservative Party, led by Captain Russell. They had had a hard row *to hoe, but he was pleased to say they had'got at the head of affairs. When Captain Russell went out Mr Massey was elected leader, and the party re-named the Reform Party. They organised thoroughly, and from that day they never looked back. The Seddon Government enacted good legislation;. an(j the Massey Govern-ment-amended and improved on it, He pointed out that the Liberal Government was in power in particularly good times- .but the Reform Government struck a bad time, and had to contend with the Waihi strike, the general strike of 1913. the epidemic and 101 things and last but by no means least was the- Great War. It was very gratifying to know that Mr Massey was the only pre-war Prime Minister who held office for years after the war. This fact alone spoke volumes for the great personality of the man. (Loud applause). However he had now passed awav. and New Zealand and the? Empire suffered a .severe blow. In ML Massev’s successor. Mr Coates, v thev had ’ a progressive young New * Zealander, and given a chance, he would make good. He trusted the electors would send the party back with a sufficient working majority to administer the affairs of the country \ with credit to themselves and all concorned ■ Mr A. H. Waring, of Taupiri. president of the Raglan Reform League, - responded and recalled the day when he approached Mr Bollard to stand for

“A Straight Goer.” Raglan. “It took me some time to convince him that I was in real earnest but eventually I persuaded him the request was not a mere joke. From then until now I acted as his trainer and ;f every trainer had as good a colt as “Dick” Bollard to train, they would always have a winner,” (Applause). Mr Waring concluded by sayings that it was a pleasure to be asociated with a member who -was held in such high esteem by his constituents. In proposing the toast of “Our Guest,” the member for Raglan, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Mr W. J. Taylor (chairman of the Tuakau Town Board) said Mr Bollard was a straight goer and if all the electors of Raglan knew what he had done for his constituency they would have none other than Mr Bollard. (Loud applause). He paid a tribute to the work he had done for Tuakau, and referred to the popularity of Mr Bollard. “When you see such men' as Mr Campbell Johnstone, chairman of the Raglan County Council, who once stood as a Liberal against Mr Bollard, turning over and saying' that Mr Bollard was the right man to represent Raglan, then I am satisfied that a great change is taking place,” said Mr Taylor. He ipstanced another case of a staunch Liberal In the backblocks, who could not be present, saying that he would vote for Mr Bollard under the leadership of Mr Coates. Mr Taylor said Tuakau, like other places, wanted a good many tilings*; especially an overhead bridge, at the George Street railway crossing. , “You must remember," he said, “that Tuakau is noL the only place on the map that wanted things done, but if Mr Bollard had his way 1 can assure .you he would say “Start on the bridge to-morrow morning.’ ” He urged all to support Mr Bollard as being a Minister of the Crown he had an ; advantage over a raw recruit When it came to a matter of requests for the electorate, and send him back on November U with an overwhelming majority. (Applause).

Accorded an Ovation.

Mr Bollard on, rising to respond, was accorded an ovation, cheers beinggiven also for Mr Coates and the Reform Party. “I am not used to this sort of thing,” declared Mr Bollard,

“and I can tell you I cannot find words to adequately express -my sentiments for such an enthusiastic reception. It is very gratifying after 14 years’ service to think lhat I am held in such high esteem. I am glad to see such a big attendance of ladies.” lie said.

A voice: They came to see you, Dick. (Laughter). Mr Bollard: I don’t know: there is nothing resembling beauty about myself. (Laughter).. Continuing, lie said that in 1011, when he was first elected to the House as member for Raglan, he was but a raw recruit.,but the many kindnesses shown to him then would never be forgotten. “I am not an orator,” proceeded Mr Bollard, “but I try. in as plain a way as possible, to make, people understand what I think. lam .certain from what I have seen and heard that the Government is going back with a working majority. (Applause).' Mr Bollard made feeling reference to the death of his great chief, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey. “Sir Massey.” he remarked, “was a statesman miles above- many politicians we have in New Zealand today, - and the Dominion and Die Empire were much poorer to-day through , death. However, when a man, no matter how great lie might he, passes away, someone is always found to take his place, and Mr Masses’s place was taken by the Hon. J. G. Coates. He was an admirable leader of the various departments he had to control: lie was a trusted and devoted leader of men on the battlefields of France and now be had the highest honour his country could confer on him, that of leader of the Parliament of New Zealand. As the leader of the House he was a big success.” (Applause) v , Proceeding. he said that Mr Coates was not a man possessing high ideals.. He was not a man who says he is going to reform this or that. He held the late Mr Massey in the highest regard and he was going to try and carry out Ihe ideals •laid down by his great beloved chief —ideals lhat would make New Zealand a place worth living in. “If he continues to do this I will support him through thick and thin that is if Igo back. lam going back —I am sure lo win this election.” declared Mr Bollard amid deafening applause. Mr Bollard said that the early training Mr Massey gave the electors of Raglan when they were included in Franklin had never been forgotten, judging by the enthusiasm displayed that evening. He stated that since last election he (the speaker) had been elevated to the high honour -of a Minister of the Crown, .and the electors of Raglan should feel proud of the honour that had been conferred on the electorate and on their member.' “Had I not been worthy of the honour Mr Massey would not. have given it. lo me. .Mi* Massey was a great judge of men and he was a great judge'when lie picked me for Ihe job.” he stated, amid laughter and applause.

Election Prospects,

Dealing with the prospects at the forthcoming election, Mr Bollard said it was very encouraging to know that the Prime .Minister was receiving splendid receptions wherever he went, while as far as he <the speaker) was concerned he was receiving very cordial receptions wherever he went. At Hun fly oil Tuesday night he had a wonderful meeting. A few years ago the Huntly electors would not let him make a speech, but on Tuesday night one would have thought that they were holding a church meeting. .At the conclusion of the address officials of the Huntly Miners' Union'moved and seconded a motion that a hearty vote of thanks he accorded the candidate. The motion was carried unanimously. The seconder of the motion staled that apart, from his politics Mr Bollard was one of the'finest men he had ever met, a remark that was greeted with loud applause. On Tuesday next he would address the electors in the Tuakau Town Hall, when he would give an account of his stewardship, what the Government had done, and what it in-

tended to do. After they.had heard him they would consider he was the right man and would send him back. (Applause). The following toasts were also honoured: “Imperial Government,” proposed by Mr H. H. D. Wily, and responded to by Mr A. H. Tapper; “The Army and Navy,” Mr A. Medland — Mr G. Arrowsmith; “The Ladies,” Mr IT. 0. Mellsop—*■ Mrs D. Fulton; “Backblockers,” Mr R. J. Glasgow—Mr McGardle, “The Press,” Mr W. .T. Deoble; “Tiie Chairman," Mr .T. Fulton.

During the evening items were given by the following: Mr Tlare, Mrs Vaughan, Mrs Steer. Mr Ryburn. » A most pleasant function terminated by the company singing the National Anthem.