Labour Supporters In Feilding District

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 3

Labour Supporters In Feilding District

WELCOME TO MR AND MRC G 1 hurt There was an excellent attendance at the welcome ffance and euchre party accorded Mr. C. L. Hunter, M.P., Manawatu, and Mrs. Hunter at the Drill hall, Feilding, on Saturday night. The gathering was organised by the Feilding branch of the Labour Party, and those present included representatives from neighbouring branches of the electorate. Dancing was held in the main hall and this was well patronised throughou t the evening, while in the supper room 22 tables of card players drew entertainment from the game of euchre. N Shortly after 10 o 'clock Mr. W. Oliver, president of the local branch of the Labour Party and also of the L.R.C. for the electorate, referred to the disaster at Wairoa following the cloudburst at an early hour on Saturday morning, and invited she gathering to carry a motion of sympathy with the relatives and friends of those who had lost their lives. The gathering stood in silence to signify its deep sympathy for those who had suffered through the tragic happening.

Mr. Oliver then welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. T. Collins) and assured them that their action in associating with the welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter was veiy much appreciated by members and friends of the Labour Party. The speaker also expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large attendance. Owing to the reshuffling of the electorate, he said, the Oroua electorate had been wiped out and Feilding would, in future, form part of the new Manawatu electorate, and Mr. Hunter as the Government member for the existing Manawatu electorate and official Labour candidate for the next election, had considered it ■advisable to shift his place of residence to Feilding. Mr. Oliver went oa to say that Feilding was now in the unique position of claiming two members of Parliament as citizens of the town. The Mayor, in extending a cordial welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, said that Mr. Oliver had said much of what he had in tended to say. However, as Mr. Oliver had said, Feilding was to form part of the new Manawatu electorate, but that would not be until the next election. In the meantime the people were to be honoured with two members of Parliament as citizens of Feilding, Mr. Hunter as the sitting member for Manawatu, and Hon. Mr. Cobbe, as member for Oroua. After next election there would be only one and it would rest with the people as to which it should be. He was very pleased to have tho opportunity of publicly extending a cordial welcome to Feilding to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter and their five “little troopers.” He hoped they would enjoy their stay and that it would be a very long one. (Applause.) Mr. Hunter, replying, expressed his heartfelt thanks for the cordial welcome that had been extended to Mrs. Hunter and himself. As member for the Manawatu electorate, he recognised that he wan not there purely in the interests of the • Labour Party. His duty was to serve all sections of the community irrespective of political opinion; and as he had already found there was quite a lot of work to be done here, he wa s prepared to do it to tlie best of his ability. In thanking those present for the welcome he had received, he wished specially to extend his personal appreciation and also that of the Labour Parly, to the members of the Foresters’ Lodge, who had foregone their usual Saturday night function, in order to leave their patrons freo to join in welcoming Mrs. Hunter and himself. Ho hoped those present would return that kindly gesture by supporting tlie Foresters’ gathering on Saturday next. Referring feelingly to the great loss of life at the Public Works camp at Wairoa, Miv Hunter said that it was one of those regrettable accidents that could not be foreseen. The Government, he said, was taking all conceivable precautions against accidents to its employees. “We all sympathise deeply with those who have lost relatives and friends in this tragic disaster, and all honour is duo to those who have lost their lives in the service of their country,” said Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter concluded by personally thanking the Mayor and Mayoress for the welcome that had been given on behalf of the people of Feilding. Trophies awarded during the evening were won us follow: —Cards, ladies' section: Mrs. Draper, Mrs. Fraser and Miss Stimpscn tied for first place; men: Mr. Stimpson 1, Mr. Boyle 2; Monte Carlo waltz, Miss Gaskin and Mr. Whitehead; .Lucky Gay Gordons: Mrs. King and Mr. Lille. The special competition was won by Miss Dorothy Mansell. Items contributed by Mr. W. Ward, of Awahuri, were very much appreciated, and a very enjoyable evening concluded at midnight with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne."