VALEDICTORY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 288, 9 November 1925, Page 8

VALEDICTORY.

Mr and Mrs W. Bromley were the guests of a large number of friends and labour sympathisers at 32 To Awe Awo street on Friday afternoon. During the afternoon Mr Bromley was presented with a fountain pen suitably inscribed, and Mrs Bron»ley with a crystal decanter and tumblers. Miss iSlll, on rising to make the presentation, :n a few well chosen words called upon tho gathering to take immediate stops towards organising lor victory at the next election. Addressing herself to Mr Bromley she said: “I'ou came amongst us a stranger this time, but soon won the admiration of us all. We hope to placo you on the next occasion at the top of the poll by a sweeping majority. We ask you and Mrs Bromley on behalf of some of your supporters to accept these small tokens of appreciation tor your clean fight and the good work you have done tor the Labour movement in Palmerston.

Mr Bromley, rising to accept the presents and to respond on beiialf of his wife and himself, was greeted with loud applause. He said:—“l came to contest this seat as a duty to the Labour movement. I have found that a great deal of joy can be extracted from a political fight when it involves fighting for an ideal. I feel that I have made a good many friends here during the campaign. Not only are these to be found amongst the large number who cast their vote for Labour on election day, but I liuvo ample testimony that I can count many amongst those who voted against me. There was quite an avalanche of support at this election for tho Government, exceeding by far tho anticipations of tho most sanguine Reform supporters. 1 don’t agree with those who say that this is an indication that the Labour policy is rejected by the people for all time. The people liavo been led to believe by tne Press that to bring greater prosperity the one thing needed is ’& large working Government majority. They have given that to the Government with lull measure. My opinion is, though, that if the great majority is only to be used for legislating on the lines of the past 10 years that the people will look in vain for improved conditions. Wo on our side, taking our lessons from history, may look forward with quiet but sure confidence to the acceptanco of our policy in the near future. I thank my chairman, Cr. Hodgens, for his valuable assistance through the campaign. 1 thank my secretary, Mr F. C. Alborby. As a secretary myself I know that most of tho secretary’s work is done out of sight, and I thank all you people who worked so hard to achieve success. Lastly, on behalf of my wife and myself, I thank you all sincerely for the tokens of appreciation you offer us this afternoon. (Applause). During the aftornoon many toasts wore honoured, the most popular being the toast to “Our Leader, Mr H. E. Holland.” This was moved by Mr C. Briggs and toasted with musical honours.

A toast to tile host and hostess, Mr and Mrs Davidson, brought a very pleasant afternoon to a close.