FAREWELL SOCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14927, 27 February 1912, Page 5

FAREWELL SOCIAL.

MESSRS. MACDERMOTT AND FOOLE

A farewell social to Mr. W. J. Macdermott, secretary to the Auckland Nolicense League, and Mr. C. H. Poole, exmember for Auckland West, was held in the Y.M.C.A. Hall last evening. Mr. Wesley Spragg presided, and there was a largo attendance of friends. The proceedings were of an enjoyable nature, and several addresses touching upon the work of the guests of the evening in the antiJiquor crusade were delivered. Among the speakers were Mr. Spragg, Hon. Ceo. Fowlds, Mr. F. Isitt, Rev. John Dawson (secretary of the Alliance), Professor W. 1. Mills, and the Rev. Williams (of Oamaru). Though general regret was exPassed at the departure of Mr. Poole and Mr. Macdermott, wishes were conveyed to them of good trips and a speedy return to New Zealand. Mr. Macdermott, who leaves early next month for England after an absence of 30 years, was presented with a purse of sovereigns, a travelling rug, and a dressing case, and Mr. V; "■ Poole with a dressing case, and Ma. Poole with a lady's hand-bag. Expressions of sympathy to ex-members °' Parliament, who were beaten at the Polls in December, formed the principal topic in many of the addresses delivered. Iho Rev. John Dawson said : " We have on the platform to-night two men who were so much men that for the t-inio being the electors have been persuaded they could do better without them than with tnem. Well, if the electors in these two electorates think so, Now Zealand does not, think so, and thev will be sent for a Sam. Mr. 1',*,!,, has been a man through- "'«. Some men are „ little men that lft go back rear after vear. It is to the credit of Messrs. 1-ov.hU and Poole thai Wjey are made of the kind of stuff that wey will not sricrifiee— '• The rest of the sentence was diowned in applause. •Hie Hon. Geo. J'mvJds snoko in the : ?amo strain. "There will not bo found to Parliament." !,.- said, "a man more Worthy than Mr. Poole. A good man in Politics carrie* a h«avv handicap. 110 is antagonistic to »' good many Powerful interests. and these inWests are alwav. alive. The men behind them know" where their intercut lies, ' «0 it does not li„ behind a man like , r - Poole in Parliament. 'Hint is the difference between g..od men and the men 'ho are reprefenting these interests. The interests aro alwavs looking for the men .*ho will be bf-ni-fi.-i.-il to them. Thev « >»ve influence and n.onev. It does not -natter how "cronk" a man mnv be as WZ as ho is sab-. Vou took an'interest J Mr. Poole, 1,,,,, a lot of people took a Jo* vital interest in Mr. Poole than vou M, and for that reason Mr. Poole- is leav?ng r New Zealand." '■ ■ V T* 10 sending to Parliament of the men , &nc«ond did send, and the keeping out "tinmen it did keep out is an emphatic. ffijMnw of the lack of public snirit in • vc * Zealand," said Professor W. T. Mills.