GISBORNE ROTARIANS ENTERTAIN PREMIER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6851, 5 March 1929, Page 7

GISBORNE ROTARIANS ENTERTAIN PREMIER

MAORI HUI VISITED.

NATIVE THANKS FOR HIS THOUGHTFULNESS,

Per Press Association.

GISBORNE, Last Night.

The wonderful ’ receptions accorded tho Prime Minister since his arrival in Gisborne were substantially added to to-day, when he was the recipient of many enthusiastic welcomes. After receiving deputations in the morning, ho attended a Rotary club luncheon, where in the words of tho president, Rotarian Irvine, he l was received not as a Rotarian in fact but as Rotarian in principle and spirit. The Prime Minister’s long associa-' tion with the national affairs of New Zealand, said Mr. Irvine, represented the spirit of Rotary. _ “Wo hope your resumption of the reins of office will be accompanied by many years of prosperity and progress. We must all congratulate you on your personal appearance, which gives the lie direct to those who said you woro on your last legs. All I can say is that if you are on your last legs, you must be the possessor of a considerable number of useful spare parts” (laughter and applause). 1 The Prime Minister, who was acclaimed on rising to respond, raised a laugh by intimating that he intended to take advantage of the general order that Rotarians could move their coats and that he would take his off to avoid the call of taxation to which the president had been obliged to respond. Speaking in his shirt sleeves, Sir Joseph congratulated Rotary on its ideals and aspirations and on tho work it was performing. Ho paid a tribute to the climate of Gisborne and expressed tho belief that his visit had brought him into touch with a clear indication that the people had confidence in the district, tho town and in themselves (applause). . In the afternoon, the Prime Minister inspected a house, built from the captain’s cabin of the ill-fated Star of Canada and then visited tho. Bowling club with which the late Sir James Carroll bad been so intimately csxnectIn replying thero to many felicitous references, the Primo Minister in a brief mention of politics, said that from information ho had received, there was evidence that the majority of the people in New Zealand wanted. to see tho new government given a fair trial to implement their policy. Sir Joseph then visited the Maori hui to bid farewell to Lady Carroll, who in returning thanks for the Primo Minister’s consideration, and thoughtfullness, said through an interpreter that with Sir Joseph Ward’s visit had come back to life the being of her late husband, Timi Kara. . . . Ono by one, the representative Chiefs present greeted the Prime Minister and wished him long life nnd prosperity# He was farewelled by the huge concourse in Maori and given deafening cheers in English. An informal reception at the Poverty Bay club completed an arduous day s work.