MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 January 1939, Page 4

MOTUEKA

PRESENTATION TO MR K. J. HOLOAKE SERVICES TO NATIONAL PARTY EULOGISTIC TRIBUTES SUPPORTERS FROM ALL PARTS OF ELECTORATE “TREMENDOUS CRISIS SOONER OR LATER” (From Our Own Correspondent! Last evening at a social tendered to Mr K. J. Holyoake by the National Party of the Motueka electorate, in the Institute Hall, the guest of honour was made the recipient of a handsome grandfather clock, as a token of appreciation of his services as member of Parliament over a period of six years.

Dr. A. R. Green, chairman of the executive of the National Party, presided, and associated with him on the stage were Mr and Mrs K. J. Holyoake, Mr and Mrs E. F. Healy, Blenheim. Mr and Mrs J. R. Kerr. Nelson, Mrs A. R. Green (wife of the president), Mr W. J. Newport. Golden Bay, Mr A. Esler, Murchison. Mr Ford. Tnpawera. Mr A Benseman, Upper Moutere, Mr D. L. Drummond, Riwaka. and members of the local committee. For the occasion the stage had been artistically decorated with bowls of sweet peas, geraniums, and asparagus fern. Following the singing of the National Anthem, Dr. Green extended a welcome to the visitors, especially those who had journeyed long distances. He expressed pleasure at seeing so many people present. approximately 500. an indication of the respect in which Mr Holyoake was held throughout the electorate. Four delegates from Ikamatua over 170 miles away, were, he added, in the hall —a fact that spoke for itself.

TRIBUTES BY BRANCH CHAIRMAN Mr W. J. Newport, Golden Bay, spoke in appreciative terms of the services Mr K. J. Holyoake had rendered to the Motueka electorate, and on behalf of his branch extended to Mr and Mrs Holyoake best wishes for the future. Mr D. L. Drummond. Riwaka. said that Mr Holyoake had represented Motueka for tfix years, and during that period had served well not only Motueka. but the whole of the Dominion. He felt that the time was not far distant when Mr Holyoake would again represent Motueka or some other electorate in New Zealand. Mr Drummond said that he would be lacking in his duty if he did not mention Mrs Holyoake, who had proved a real helpmate to her husband in his parliamentary career. It was the wish of the RiwakaBrooklyn branch of the National Party that Mr Holyoake represent some

electorate in New Zealand, and that he would not turn down the first opportunity afforded him. He w'as one of the men that the Dominion could ill afford to lose. Mr L. Ford (Tapawcra, Ngatimoti, Dovedale and Korere branches) stated that in the back country the committees had worked hard to return Mr Holyoake to Parliament, and had been very disappointed at the result. It was felt that Mr Holyoake’s energy and ability would not be wasted. His ability to grasp the position and understand the needs of the back country people was much appreciated by those concerned. On behalf of the branches lie represented Mr Ford extended to Mr and Mrs Holyoake every good wish for prosperity in the future. Mr A Bensemann (Upper Moutere. Tasman, and Mapua) said that on looking back on the men that had from time to time represented the Motueka elec* torate he was of the opinion that Holyoake compared favourably v • any of them, and had proved one of t best the district had ever had. He had read every one of Mr Holyoake’s speeches and could say of him that he had conducted his business in a gentlemanly manner. Sincere thanks were extended to Mr Holyoake \for the interest he had taken in the speaker’s portion of the electorate. Mr A. Esler (Murchison, Maruia) stated that he was pleased to see so many people and to note the interest that was being taken in Mr Holj'oake. whom the people of Murchison were very proud of. He hoped that Mr Holyoake would soon be back in the House. MR E. F. HEALY AND AN EARLY ELECTION After extending thanks for the invitation to attend the social Mr Healy snid 'ie had many friends in the Motueka and Takaka districts, and among them Mr and Mrs Holyoake. Referring to Mr Holyoake, Mr Kerr, and himself. Mr Healy remarked: “We are three of the ‘outs’; but we are not downhearted.” Continuing he said that Mr Holyoake had been one of the most outstanding members in the House. A fortnight prior to the election, in making a tour of the district he (Mr Healy) had gained the i/npression that only a miracle would return National members in the rural districts to Parliament. Many regrets had been expressed in Marlborough over the defeat of Mr Holyoake, who was a young man of much ability. There was nothing but destruction taking place in New Zealand to-day: and he would not be surprised if an election took place soon after the next session It had given him a thrill to come to Motueka to do honour ot Mr Holyoake, but he had been given a greater thrill at seeing the large attendance of people who had come to show their appreciation. “DICTATORSHIP STALKS THE LAND,” SAYS MR J. R. KERR In his opening remarks Mr J. R. Kerr

stated that in Motueka the Labour j Party had been game enough to put up their candidate; but he could not say J that of the party in Nelson. He thanked the committee for the invitation ex- - tended to him and to the Nelson repre- | sentatives of the National Party. Judg- j ing from the size of the audience that evening, he did not know how Mr Holyoake had lost the election. He had.; however, the worth-while people behind him. Mr Kerr expressed appreciation of the help Mr Holyoake had given him : during the election, and said that Mr j Holyoake had put up a great fight in 1 the interest of democracy. Dictatorship. J he said, stalked the land and the National Party represented the only party that could make for saner government He did not believe that any member of the House, in so short a space as six years, had made the advancement that Mr Holyoake had made. THE PRESENTATIONS Dr Green remarked that, after hearing the various speakers, he was sure that Motueka would not have to look for a candidate for the next election. As chairman of the executive of the National Party he sometimes wondered if they had done their best at the last election; but had come to the conclusion that the odds had been against them. He had known Mr Holyoake for 18 years— I as an energetic footballer and one who j could always express his views in a j quiet and straightforward manner. Mr j Holyoake had a splendid stage appearj ance and a beautiful radio voice. The ! energy he had been in the habit of put- * ting into football he had later put into I politics. The trouble to-day was that I politicians were inclined to think only | of their own electorate, and not of the country as a whole. In his opinion Mr I Holyoake was a man they could ill afi ford to have out of Parliament. Dr. Green, in presenting Mr Holyoake with a handsome grandfather clock, on behalf of the National Party, said the gift was a token of their esteem and admiration for his character, lability and clean political life; and expressed the hope that he would again i represent Motueka. ! At this juncture Mesdames K. J. I Holyoake. J. R. Kerr and E. F. Healy I were presented with beautiful bouquets j of gladioli by Miss Iris McGlashen. DEMOCRACY AT STAKE ! Mr Holyoake. on rising to speak, was accorded musical honours. He was, he said, overwhelmed by the high sounding phrases and expressions of appreciation that had been spoken. He. however, thanked the speakers for their remarks, and hoped he had earned and merited even a half of them. He recognised the spirit in which they had come together to do him honour, and that knowledge was a great measure of compensation for the time and energy he had given during his term of public service. Mr Holyoake referred to the keenness of the party who had travelled from Ikamatua. and of Mr Esler, who had journeyed from Murchison on his own. He expressed pleasure that Mr and Mrs Healy had seen fit to be present, also Mr and Mrs Kerr. He thanked Mr Healy for the assistance and advice he had given him, when first elected to Parliament. Some seven years ago he had been chosen as the standard-bear-er for the Motueka electorate, and he had counted that a great privilege. U had been an honour but carried with it an exacting duty. During these years he had always endeavoured to keep that thought before him. and sincerely hoped that the prestige of the National cause and its philosophy had not suffered because he was its chief advocate in the Motueka electorate. He had sat in Parliament for six years, in times of the greatest changes that had ever been seen It had been a wonderful experience for him. Mr Holyoake contended that the National organisation could have worked better at the last election, and must do so in the future. It had been beaten by a better organised party. Mr Holyoake said that democracy was at :take. The great struggle of the future would be between those who believed that the State could and should control the people's every action, and those who believed in true democracy. By democracy he meant that form of Government that gave the greatest good for the greatest number—-which | protected the rights of the minority as ! well as of the majority, and which guaranteed to the humblest citizen full ' individual liberty and equality—the right of the common people to govern ' themselves. Democracy conferred great privileges upon the people, but it also demanded considerable sacrifice and responsibility. “The price of liberty is everlasting vigilance.’’ said Mr Holyoake. Every man and woman had his or her responsibility if any value was to oc placed on liberty. Democracy was based on the reasoning ability of the electors, and every elector owed it I as a duty to keep abreast of affairs to ! enable a reasoned decision to be made. That must be the work of our organ- * isation. said Mr Holyoake. to educate ! our people thoroughly in the fundamentals of economics and sociology. Attack | must be made along the lines of education. "TREMENDOUS CRISIS” TREDICTEI) If the present public policy was continued New Zealand was in for a time of trouble. Sooner or later industry 1 would face a tremendous crisis. When ’ the time arrived the Socialists would | claim that industry had broken down, and that a completely socialised State must be set up. “Before that time arrives.” declared Mr Holyoake. "our organisation must be complete.” They hod already commenced the work, and ho urged eevryone tc attend the branen . j meetings when the organiser came to I i outline his scheme. “If." said Mr Holy- , onke, "we place any value in the tradi- , tions of our people, and if we value the . heritage of liberty of the individual. * j handed down to us, everyone must be , j prepared to put his or her shoulder to * | the wheel.” , i Mr Holyoake thanked everyone for , | the assistance given him. the electorate [ 1 executive, the secretary, the tireless or- - j gnniser. the branch officers, and the . | women’s organisations. He deeply ap- , i Dreeiated. he said, the way the people , I had taken him to their hearts, and to . j their homes, whenever he had toured . the electorate Mr Holyoake also thanked his suporters for the magnificent gift, for their . encouragement, and many personal \ kindnesses. , i In conclusion, he said, he must agair sincerely thank those who had come , long distances to participate at the function. ] During the evening vocal solos. “Sin 3 cerity” and ‘Trees" were contributed I by Mrs J Boyce and Mr J Greenwood respectvel.v Mrs W M. Thomas and Miss Greenwood played the accompaniments After (he dispensing of a bountifu' i supper L\v the ladies’ committee, thi r I members of which were thanked by Mi

N. J. Lewis, the hall was cleared for 1 dancing, and Mr B. Reeves provided the ! music. TELEGRAM FROM NATIONAL PARTY LEADER The Hon. Adam Hamilton telegraphi ed the secretary of the Motueka comj mittee as follows: “Mrs Hamilton and I ! greatly appreciate your good wishes | and kind invitation to social evening to Mr Holyoake to-night, and very sinj eerely regret our inabilit}’ to be present. Please convey to meeting our personal good wishes for a very pleasant evening and my own and the party’s genuine regret that our beloved Keith was defeated Tell them that we need him back on first available occasion. Kind regards.’ j A telegram from Mr Tunnicliffe. Kara- ; mca, was also read: "Regret Karamea unrepresented Please convey best wishe® ” The chairman read the above tela--1 j grams at the commencement of lit* ■ I function.