PRESENTATIONS TO RETIRING POLITICIANS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 229, 1 October 1902, Page 1

PRESENTATIONS TO RETIRING POLITICIANS.

Wellington, September 30.

At- a meeting of the Opposition Party this afternoon Mr Massey, on behalf of the Party, made a presentation to Messrs Pirani and Hutcheson, who are retiring from active politics. The former received a gold watch, and the latter a silver fish aud dessert service.

Mr Massey said that the Opposition desired to express their appreciation of the good work these two gentlemen had done while they had been members of the House. They had earned a colonial reputation as keen, able and earnest politicians and honest and straightforward men, which those who had been asseciated with them knew that they thoroughly deserved. Mr Pirani, in reply, said he had only done what he deemed to be his duty, and ho was very pleased to know that his actions had the approval of those with whom he was associated and of those who had sent him there. No one felb more than he did the pang of leaving politics, but he trusted in the near future he would b© able to return again to politics.

Mr Hutcheson said that if at any other time he could seek the suffrages of his fellow citizens when he was nob in a position to know hope or fear he believed his destiny would bring Him back into politics.

Sir Wai, Russell expressed the hope that they were only temporarily parting with Messrs Pirani and Hutcheson, whose health was then drunk in bumpers.

Sir Wm. Russell then handed to Mr James Allen a handsome silver flower vase as a present from the Opposition Party to Miss Allen on the eve of her marriage,