“ FIGHTING MAC ”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3945, 30 May 1913, Page 5

“ FIGHTING MAC ”

MR W. D. S. MacDONALD

HONORED

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL AT

PATUTAHI

Upwards of 70 persons attended a 1 complimentary smoko concert tenderto Mr W. D. S. MacDonald in the Patutahi Hall last evening. Mr R. Slierratt presided, and said they were there that night to honor Mr MacDonald. It was originally inthat Sir James Carroll should have been honored on tlio occasion, but his illness had prevented him from attending. He was sure that all would bo pleased to hear that Sir James was making good progress towards recovery, and all would hope that ho would soon be with them once again. r - Tho toast of “The King” was then loyally honored, after which Mr J. !v. Biddoes acceptably sang “The Sleeping Camp.”

"The Farming Interests,” Mr Quirk proposed the toast of ■The Farming Interests.” There was, he said, a growing tendency to crowd into the cities, and there "was a cry in Australia which was heard very often, “Get back to the land.” They should endeavor to keep tfie population in the towns and country about equal. There should be more done in the way of educating farming. Many farmers had gained in the past by rise in values, but that day had passed, and they would now have to settle down to solid farming. He coupled the toast with the names of Messrs Steele and Knight. Mr Knight, in responding, said that 15 years ago, when lie came to the district, there was no such tiling as .co-operative _ dairying or proprietary <?«{irying. They had since made great strides, as was shown by the fact that the value of the exports for butter and cheese from the Dominion had now reached a totalof£4,ooo,ooo. The dairy farmers of this district should now go in for still further improvements. They should study tlio different kinds of grasses, such as lucerne, in order that their cows might bo better maintained during the period they were dry. "There could be no question but that if they kept their cows well while they were turned out, they would give better profit when they came in. Mr A. C. Steele said that 18 years ago, he had a farm of 50 acres at Patutahi, and there being no great prospects then, he decided to go further afield. In those days, he said, they had to go 30 miles for their letters and the roads—well, there were no roads. The mainstay of the district was undoubtedly sheep, and the district depended chiefly on wool, and when the district was opened up by the railway and tlie great bush land was tapped by roads, there would be no better and more prosperous part in New Zealand.—(Applause.) There was no better back country anywhere else in tlio Dominion. He would like to see the railway to Napier pushed on with all celerity. In Mr MacDonald, they had a man who knew every turn and point in the game of .settlement, and they could safely leave the district to Ids care.—(Applause.)

“Our Guest.” Mr Owen Gallagher . proposed the toast of “Our Guest,” and, in doing so, made a typically forcible and humorous speech. Like all Irishman, he said, he would have preferred to have jS ailed till lie had been wanned upmore than at so early a stage(laughter). They had accorded him a great honor in giving him this toast to propose. He had know Mr MacDonald for a very long time—in fact, Ix'vond a quarter of a century. “I knew him,” lie said, “as a small one. Next I knew him as a shepherd boy, and later as ‘Billy the Buckjumper.’— (Laughter). This arose through a horse that was up at Waipaoa that no one could ride. This horse was so clever and learned in his business that if lie could not throw his rider lie would roll on him.” The speaker went on to state that Mr MacDonald’s then employer said he had a shepherd boy who could ride the outlaw. The horse was brought to Ngatapa, and tlio shepherd hoy was asked if lie could ride him. “Yes,” the boy said, “I could ride the devL if I could get tlio bridle on him.”— (Applause and laughter.) And their guest rode the horse from 9 o’clock until they were too late for dinner. — (Applause.) 'Hie next step in Mr MacDonald s progress was that ho was manager of a sheep station, and then a little later lie owned a station for himself. The next step in the ladder of progress was that he was elected a Member of Parliament and later liecame a Cabinet Minister. The speaker could tell them that as a Minister, Mr MacDonald had done credit to himself and honor to his country. —(Applause). If bis duration in office happened to be short, it was not his own fault. If his colleagues had been as honest as lie was, Mr MacDonald would probably still be Minister for Public Works. He would, however, refrain from politics as much as possible, and he trusted that all there would do likewise.— (Hear, hear). While Minister for Public Works Mr MacDonlad had his tested and was quite successful. —(Applause.) When the railway from Gisborne to Napier was promoted, Mr Gallagher went on to say, the surveyors sfleeter three separte routes, and certain sections of the set* tiers each wanted a particular route. The result was that the Engineer-in-Chief camefrom Wellington, and going out to King’s Road in a motor car said, “This is the spotthis will do.” The settlers still did not get much satisfaction, although Mr Armstrong, the District Engineer, tried hard and worked for them. What resource had they left? Why, they had “Fighting Mac,” and lie did much for them.—(Applause.) Mr MacDonald travelled over tho various routes and showed such aptitude and ability that he succeeded in having tho Makaraka route adopted. Mr Armstrong and Mr Thorpe, by their expert knowledge, had helped in the accomplishment of this. When the King’s Road route was _ believed to have been adopted, land in the vicinity went up to £7O per acre, and .ne felt sorry for tlioso who bad cut up their land, but the selected route gave the greatest good to tho greatest numher.—(Applause.) This had been •done by Mr MacDonald and was the reason why they had gathered to do 'him honor.

A Presentation.

On behalf of the settlers of 1 atntahi the speaker said he had been asked to make a presentation to Air MacDonald, and he felt very keenly the honor conferred upon linn. ine present was a handsome travelling rug, the best that money could buy. A rug was a most suitable present, ■ because it was known that,if one could keep the bodv warm ho could keep Ins head cool.—(Laughter). . The rug was initialed and contained the inscription “Kia ora.’’ In liaudimr over the present Mr Gallagher -- . wished Mr MacDonald dong life to wear and enjov the warmth of the lug. (Loud Applause). . '. The toast was _ enthusiastically drunk with musical honors and ringing cheers. ~ , . , . Mr Dilworth Stuhhs also referred in most appreciating terms to the good qualities-of Mr MacDonald.

A Prophecy. Tho Chairman said lie had known Mr MacDonald fbr along time, : arid • - iiad watched his career 'withnnterest. r- : everything Eeihad

had been successful. He would "not be surprised if in a shprt time they had another gathering here, when they woukl.be honoring Mr MacDonald as Prime Minister of the Domin-ion-—(Loud Applause.) Mr A. M. Lewis said he had been associated with Mr MacDonald on several public bodies, and had always found that Mr MacDonald’s motto was the “greatest good for the greatest number.” Mr MacDonald had done a great deal for the ratepayers of Waikohu when, he induced them to breax away from tho Cook County Council, and form a county of their own. This had dono much for the settlers beyond To Karaka. He felt sure that. Mr MacDonald would yet rise high in Dominion politics. Mr J. C. Woodward also spoke, and referred to the conscientious manner m which Mr MacDonald waded through Blue Books, when other people were enjoying themselves. Mr MacDonald in Reply.

Mr. MacDonald, on rising to respond, was greeted with enthusiastic

applause. He thanked them for the kind wav they were entertaining him, and said -his one regret, was that his old colleague, Sir James Carroll, was unable to be present. He bad, however. received word as late as that day saying that Sir James was on his way t-o recovery. Looking round the room he saw many friends wno had fen own him foi 30 years, and who had, with him, taken part in the varying fortunes of Poverty Bay. When he entered politics he did so with misgivings. He had found that there

was only one way to succeed in poli r tic-s, and "that was to plod on and keep right -on the job, A politician must not -narrow down his vision. Every shade of political opinion was represented in the House. A man had to sink self-interest, and take a wide scope in a young and growing country like New Zealand. His ideal since -entering Parii ament was to servo the people who elected him and the peopl ( > as a whole. He had met all shades of political opinion, and found that they were sincere in differing from each other, so ihat-no one should disparage another for. .bis convictions. The Bay of Plenty was one of the largest and most undeveloped electorates in New Zealand. He c 1 aimed To have expert knowledge of land settlement, and said that- every member of Parliament acknowledged that great hardships had to be borne by the people of the backbiocks. It was his opinion that no one class should dominate this country, but whatever party was in power, every man, woman, and child should have justice, irrespective of color, race, or creed. The Government of the day-should have a vigoron,viand policy, in order to induce settlers to go out into the country. Every inducement should be given to people to open up and develop tho land. It was because he understood development work, and would rather have the goodwill of the people than pocketfuls of gold, that he was in the House to-day. The great progress and development of the.country had been brought about by the industry and thrift of the settlers. It bad been said that tho fanners were the backbone of tho country. While he agreed with this, it must not be forgotten that the workers had also done their share. The trend of legislation in the future would be to put people on the land. No better example of closer settlement- existed than in the township of Patutahi. He explained tho trouble which had -arisen over tho rival routes for the railway, and said that he had gone into the matter very closely, and had decided that the present- route wan'd be of the greatest benefit. Tlio gathering which had been tendered to him Was a proof that if a man went the straight way and did the square thing he would meet with the appreciation of his fellow-men. He thanked the people of Patutahi for the beautiful present- they had given him, and said that in years to come he hoped tho friendship of the people of Patutahi would be as close aroundhim as the rug was around his shoulders that night. He said he hoped the Patutahi railway would be pushed on. Ho paid a high tribute to the District Engineer (Mr. C. E. Armstrong), who, lie said, was doing six men’s work for one man’s pay. Mr. Armstrong had carried out- road works in addition to railway construction works, and in every instance with the maximum of advantage to the minimum of discomfort to the setters He also paid a high tribute to Mr. Thorpe, the surveyor who was planning out the route. He thanked them all sincerely for their kind reception and handsome present.

Hearty cheers were then given for Mr. MacDonald, followed bv cheers for Mrs. MacDonald.

Other Toasts.

Mr. C. Matthews made a happy speech in proposing the toast of “Sport.” and touched on tho handicaps placed on the backbloekers in this regard. '

Mr. Gallagher hero gave a spirited recitation,.

Those who responded were Messrs Jordan (shooting). Broadhurst (tennis), D. J. Barry (howling, W. A. J. Gibson (cricket), Poyntor (football), Salmon! golf), and A. Lewis (motoring and horse-racing) and Slierratt (hunting) . Other toasts honored Were : “The Ladies.” “The Chairman,” and “The Press.”

During the evening Mr J. O. Woodward recited “How We beat tlio Favorite.” which earned an enthusiastic encore, to which he responded by singing “The Gallants of England.” Other items on the programme, which was pleasantly interspersed with the speeches, were: “My Old Shako,” Mr J. 0. 'Woodward; “Loch Lomond,” Mr. James Thorpe; “The Admiral’s Broom, and “Queen of tho Earth,” Mr. W. B. Williams; and “Clementine.” Mr. Bilham. The gathering, terminated at 11.30 with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Mr. W. Turner capably acted as accompanist during the evening.