SOCIAL TO MR. LAWRY, M.H.R.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13148, 10 April 1906, Page 6

SOCIAL TO MR. LAWRY, M.H.R.

SPEECHES BY LEGISLATORS,

There was a very large gathering in the Oddfellows' Hall. Pan-jell, last evening, when the Parnell branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation tendered a smoke social to Mr. F. Lawry, M.H.R., over 200 being present. The president of the branch (--ir. W. Johns) presided, and amongst those present, beside Mr. Lawry, were: The Hon. A. Pitt (Attorney-General), the Hon. W Lethai), M.L.C., Messrs. A. Kidd and F. E. Baume, M.'sH.R., and Mr. J. Pitt (Mayor of Parnell). Mr. R. Mackenzie, M'.H.R. for Motueka (Nelson), arrived during the evening. The usual loyal toast of " The King" having been honoured, the vice-chairman (Mr. J. R. Lundon) proposed " His Majesty's Ministers in Nov.- Zealand. ' Mr. Lundon

referred to the visit of the Han. A. Pitt,

and regie! that Ministers did not more often visit the Auckland district, and that

Auckland was not represented in the Cabinet.

The Hon. A. Pitt, in response to this toast, stated that during this year, and at the latter end of last year,. Ministers had been very frequently in Auckland. Since the Seddon GoTernmeat came into power Auckland had been represented by the Hon. T. Thompson and Sir Alfred Cadman, and now it had the Hon. J. McGowau and the Hod. J. Carroll in the Ministry. What Mr. Lundon objected to, apparently, was that there was not a Minister of the Crown resident in Auckland city. No Government in the colony ever had so many of the people at its back as the'present Government had. (Applause.) Touching on the subject of workmen's homes, he said under the Government system workmen would have good, comfortable five-roomed homes, at j ironi 8-- to 10s per week. (Loud applause.) j He also dealt with construction of railway ; locomotives in the colony, and said all the workshops were now full of work. Complaints nad been made about the shortage of rolling stock. He had telegraphed to the Premier, when the latter was in Auckland, that 170 trucks and ballast waggons would be ready, and they would relieve the congestion. (Applause.) Mr. Lawry had had the confidence of his district for a period of which any man might be proud— (applause)—«nd was respected by his fellow members, and not only as a good fellow, but also as one who took a keen interest ia every matter affecting the colony or his own constituency. (Applause.) Mr. F. Fitt proposed the health of the legislators present, to which reply was made by* Messrs. JEI, Mackenzie, F. F. Baumc, A. Kidd, M.'sH.K., and the Hon. W. Beehan, M.L.C., each of whom paid high tribute to the regard with which the guest of the evening was held in the House.

The Chairman then proposed the health of " The Guest of the Evening!" and expressed pleasure that the legislators present should have testified such warm regard and high appreciation of the member for Parnell. (Applause.) Mr. F. Lawry, upon rising to respond, was received with an outburst of cheering, and then the assembly stood up to cheer him again. In the course of Ids remarks, he said he could not find words to express his gratitude for the honour paid him that evening. (Applause.) For many years past they had had it dinned into their ears that Auckland was suffering in consequence of a Southern Ministry. His impression, after many years of Parliamentary life, was that it didn't matter two straws where the Ministers were. All the public wanted to know was that the Ministry was capable of carrying on the work and doing its duties. (Applause.) They wanted a system of national distribution of public funds, not in accordance with population, but in accordance with the requirements of population. (Loud applause.) If Auckland people had had two grains of common sense they would have had connection with Wellington by rail three years ago, and a railway from Kawakawa, opening up country fit for immediate and profitable settlement. (Applause.) He was very glad to realise that Auckland people were alive to the necessity for connecting the great districts between Rotorua and Gisborne by railway. (Applause.) Although it had been said by Southern members, who did not know the circumstances associated with settlement in the North, that such a line was not required, he took it that one of the best paying lines in the colony would be from the North of Auckland, and then to connect that magnificent country lying between Rotorua and Gisborne. (Applause.) He was ready to admit that the Main Trunk must be completed, for the country was committed to it, but it was a matter of extreme astonishment that Auckland merchants and Auckland people had not realised that a railway there could not be one iota of good commercially to Auckland city. Hawera was the centre of Taraaaki trade, ami not Is of the trade of that vast district could come to Auckland, for the trade would have to go 90 miles south to make the connection with the main line, and, naturally, the trade would go to Wellington. Other toasts were: " Our National Indus-

tries," " Local Bodies," " The Liberal and Labour Federation," etc.

A number of songs and instrumental ;ems were contributed during the evening.