SEND-OFF TO THE PREMIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11887, 12 February 1902, Page 6

SEND-OFF TO THE PREMIER.

POLITICAL OR NON-POLITICAL ? A GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING. DECIDED TO AWAIT THE MAYOR'S . : , ACTION. ■ The General Committee formed at a meeting convened on Monday week by Mr. J. H. Witheford for the purpose of arranging for a send-off to the Premier prior to his departure for the Coronation of King Edward VII., met again last night at the Harbour Board rooms. Mr. Witheford presided, and there wore about 25 persons present,- included among the number being Major Harris, Father Patterson, Messrs. W. Coleman, P. J. Nerheny, J. MeLeod, T. H. Giles, Thos. Gresham, McClusky, I. Hill, W. J. Beehan, A. E. Glover, J. Fawcus, J. Patterson, J. M. Morran, Thos. Thompson, J. Regan. Mr. Horace Siinson, the secretary, read letters of apology from several gentlemen, one of whom enclosed a guinea. The following letter from the Mayor to Mr. Witheford, dated February 7, was also read:—"Dear sir,—Re complimentary social to the Premier. I am in receipt of yours of the 6th inst. acknowledging the receipt of mine of the 3rd inst., in which I reiterated what I had already informed you, that I would be unable to take the chair at your meeting owing to my . having been summoned to attend the grand jury for that day. I have also to acknowledge your circular, dated 4th inst., and have carefully noted contents of same. I would like to correct an impression which apparently exists in your mind that a letter sent by Dr. Bakowcll to the meeting wns forwarded by me. I had no knowledge that the doctor had written upon the matter, or that he had intended to do so. I note your request that as Mayor I should take the lead in this movement and act as president of your General Committee, but having as Mayor determined to call a public meeting of citizens to give even greater effect to the recognition of the Premier prior to his departure from New Zealand (which will in no way clash with the good efforts that you are making in this same connection) I shall be unable to act as you suggest. I thank you for the honour you intended to confer upon me and wish your function every success." The Chairman reminded those present that it had been decided to make the sendoff, whatever form, it took, non-political. He might say that Mr. Arthur Myers had proposed the first meeting that had bean called. He considered the meeting had been rather misrepresented by the HERALD, which had held up three persons to ridicule and ignored the presence of a number of other well-known citizens who were present. Ho had always been good friends with the Herald, but he considered its action in this matter was slightly in bad taste. These three names had been held up to ridicule merely because they were members of the Liberal party. Ho pointed out that the movement inaugurated in Auckland had been followed throughout the colony. He had no desire to. take any prominent part in it, and if the Mayor would co-operate with them he could take the whole thing over. All they wanted was to give a kindly send-off to "the old man," and as far as he was concerned ho was quite willing to take eve sixth place to the Mayor if the thing wore carried to a successful conclusion. He did not think there was any doubt as to the enthusiastic nature of the Premier's! send-off. Referring to tho Mayor's letter Mr. Witheford said the communica-

ion from Dr. Bakowell had been handed

to him at the first meeting, and as it was addressed to the Mayor he had concluded that it had boon forwarded by the Mayor, but it appeared that it had only been addressed to him as chairman. The question now for the committee to consider, said Mr. Witheford, was whether they would prefer to work in accordance with the wishes of the people in the South and form one general committee and give a testimonial from the whole colony or take some independent action. Mr. Witheford reiterated that none of them were seeking for self-advancement. All they desired was to see the Premier get a fitting send-off. (Hear, hear). Mr. W. J. Beehan said he was one of those who had been unwarrantably and impudently referred to by the Hebald. It seemed to him that the Herald had gone out of its way to refer to them in the derisive way it had, and he could only think its desire was to kill the movement. Mr. Beehan went on to justify his adherence to the Liberal party, and said the terms used about himself were very insulting. The Herald had insinuated that he and the others mentioned were what was known as "political touts," or quidnuncs, running elections for what they could make. He offered to donate £100 to any charity if any man, woman or child could say that he' got any man's money, or touched it, for -his use at an election. Mr. Beehan thought the proposal to honour the Premier could be carried through without the Mayor. If the Liberals were to be thrown aside he thought they should take the thing in hand themselves. The Liberals were the masses. He was sure the party could do it. Mr. Beehan defied anvone to say that he had crossed the bounds of propriety in the path ho had pursued. (Hear, hear). The Chairman urged the meeting to uvold general politics as much as possible. He sincerely corroborated what Mr. Beehan had •said. As far as election matters were concerned, ho had never known Mr. Beehan take a penny for himself. He thought Mr. Beehan had a perfectly clean record. The business of the meeting, however, was to decide what they should do in regard to the socral to the Premier. If the Mayor called a meeting. and the people were enthusiastically with him, then he (Mr. Witheford) .would be with the people also, as he had no doubt all those present would be also. He was quite prepared to work in with the people, and he intended to do so. He did not care whether he went to Wellington again or not, but whether in Parliament or out of it he would do his utmost to further the interests of the people. He should like the meeting to say what would be the best course to pursue. He had done everything he could to get the Mayor to join with them, and the thing was on a broad basis and free from any political bias. Ho thought it would have been an honour to the Mayor to come into a movement started on such broad lines. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Beehan: It seems to me he is throwing you over completely. Mr. Regan did not think the thing should be allowed to drop, as the chairman suggested. He thought the Herald's attitude was simply intended to kill the movement. It was contemptible of the Herald to refer to Mr. Beehan and the others as it had. He advocated going ahead with the proposal on foot, in spite of the Herald and the Mayor, who he considered was a " wobbler."

Mr. T. H. Giles, as one of those referred to in the Herald, said he would merely say that he considered it imjournalistic and ungentlemanly when a man who took a prominent part in Liberal politics was accused in such a manner of having motives which he (Mr. Giles) disclaimed altogether. Mr. Giles counselled the meeting to make the movement a Liberal one now. Lot them say they would go on their own hook, make it either an Auckland oi colonial movement, and give a presentation that would be an honour to the Premier and to the Liberal cause. (Applause.)

Mr. J. McLeod thought they were wandering from, the point in airing their personal grievances. Ho considered the Liberals were well able to carry out a presentation to Mr. Seddon, but there were others who might not agree with him in polities, but would like to join in the proposal. He suggested that they might wait till the Mayors meeting was held and see what action was then taken, and pointed out they could nil attend that meeting. The Mayor, as head of the city, should lead in such a matter. Mr. McLeod could not understand why the Mayor had not attended the meetings. Mr. Witheford had, he considered, acted as a gentleman. Mr. McLeod thought the best thing that could be done now was to wait and see the result of the public meeting called by the Mayor for Friday. If it was not a success then the committee could go on as they were. Their sole object was to do honour to the Premier. (Hear, hear.) He would move, "That this meeting cordially supports the action of, tho Mayor in calling a public meeting, and will endeavour to further the object." Mr. Beelian: That's not what you said; that's something very different. Mr. McLeod said he had no desire to import discord into the matter, and would move. "That this meeting do adjourn until this day week." They could then, he said, see how the Mayor's meeting turned out. Mr. W. Coleman, who seconded, said Messrs. Boehan, Regan, and Giles appeared to have a quarrel with the Herald, but that was not the place or time to discuss it. They should get on with the main object of the meeting. He thought, Mr. Witheford deservod the very greatest credit for the part he.had taken in the movement to honour the Premier. They might Very well ask Mr. Witheford what he thought of the motion, and if he did not objeot then there was no reason why anyone else should.. He hoped

no more discord would arise, and. that they would all bend their minds to honouring that great man, Mr. Seddon. (Applause.). Mr. Gresham pointed out to Mr. Giles, who suggested that tho proposal should be run on Liberal lines, that the committee had gone farther than that. They had decided that the recognition of Mr. Seddon's services should be upon non-political lines,. and they could not; go back upon: that. now. .He merely pointed this out before the motion was put, so that there should be no misunderstanding. Mr. Giles explained that it was the bitterness ove. the unjustifiable attack that had been made upon him which had caused him to go to the length bo did. f. - j Mr. Witheford considered the proposal to adjourn a very wise one. They did not retiro from the position they had taken up. There was not the slightest doubt about the success of the movemont. There were a dozen men in the room who would be able to bring it to a successful conclusion. :If the matter was left in his hands, and if . he saw that after the Mayor's meeting the thing was not quite satisfactory, then he would call the committee together again. (Hear, hear ) If the thing were not being carried out in a manner fitting to the Premier, then the committee would carry it through. (Hear, hear.) As an amendment, Mr. Regan moved, in order to test the feeling of the meeting, " That the committee formed at tho preliminary stage go on with the business outlined in the resolutions passed at the last meeting." He thought they would be showing weakness to adopt Mr. McLeod's resolution. What good could they do in attending the Mayor's meeting? This was not seconded. , Mr. Thomas Thompson regretted that the Mayor had not presided at the meeting, and also that a leading journal should have referred to Mr. Beehan and the others as it had done, but they had to put those things aside and make the movement as general as possible. In attending the meeting on Friday they would not ho adding kudos to the Mayor, but would show their desire to honour the Premier.

Mr. Nerheny thought the best thing to do would be to carry Mr. McLeod's motion. If the result, of the Mayor's meeting was not a success, they could then carry the proposal out themselves. . He thought they owed a groat deal to their present chairman for having put the proposal upon such broad lines as he had.

Father Patterson advised the meeting to bury personal differences, and reminded them that they " would catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a barrelful of vinegar." Major Harris, who was present at the conversation when the proposal to give the Premier a. send-off was made, said lie thought it was only fair to Mr. Witheford to say that he had distinctly stated he did not wish to take a prominent part in the matter, and that lie thought the Mayor was the proper person to take the lead. Mr. J. Fawcus was of opinion that it would have been more courageous if the committee had carried the proposal through on Liberal lines.

Mr. Beehan: It will come to that in tho end.

Tho motion was carried, with only one vote against it. A, hearty vote of thanks to the chairman for his efforts in the movement brought the meeting to a conclusion.