POPULAR MEMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 13

POPULAR MEMBER.

MR. BOLLARD HONOURED. ENTHUSIASM AT TUAKAU. ESTEEM AND AFFECTION. fBY /TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TUAKAU. Thursday. The Hon. 1L F. Bollard, M.P. for Raglan, was entertained at a public banquet tendered to him in the Tuakau Town Hall last evening in honour of his elevation to the rank of a Minister of the Crown and in testimony to his popularity in the electorate. A representative gathering from a wide area, numbering nearly 200 persons, and including a large proportion of ladies, was present, and the function proved a most happy social evening. In proposing the toast of the Reform Party, Mr. H. Wilcox, of Buckland, who presided, said the great reception ac-' corded Mr. Coates in the South augured well for the new Prime Minister's future. "And now it is our part, to send him back with a good majority and give him his chance." he added. "Mr Bollard has now represented the Raglan electorate for 14 years, and having obtained his political education, can give us much better service than a raw recruit. I hope, as one of the old Reformers, he. will long represent this electorate in Parliament," Mr. Bollard said the Reform Government had done excellent work under most difficult circumstances. The Waihi strike, the industrial upheaval in 1913, the Great War, and the epidemic were some of the great difficulties which Mr. Massey had had to face. A young New Zealander was now carrying on the work, and he hoped he would be returned with a sufficient majority to enable him to do justice to the country and himself. Mr. A. H. Waring, president of the Reform League in Raglan, recalled that when lie first asked Mr. Bollard to stand for Parliament he had great difficulty in convincing him that the request was not a joke. It was a delight to him to have been so closely associated with a man who had won such universal esteem and affection.

In proposing "the Member for Raglan," Mr. W. .7. Taylor paid a tribute to the amount of work done by Mr. Bollard for the electorate, including the, town and district of Tuakau, and to his courtesy and straightforwardness as a member of Parliament. On the Minister rising to respond, the, company also rose and gave cheers for him most enthusiastically. Speaking with feeling, Mr. Bollard said it was very gratifying to him to find that after 14 years in Parliament he was still held in such regard. The Dominion could not do without Mr. Coates. Mr. Massev laid down ideals that Mr. Coates was going to carry out. He predicted that the Reform Government would be returned to power, and jocularly declared his own return was a certainty. He urged young New Zealanders to take an interest in politics, for it was their heritage to succeed himself and the older members in Parliament. Since last visiting Tuakau he had been honoured by being appointed a Minister of the Crown —an honour which he shared with the electorate. THE LICENSING QUESTION. LEGISLATION AND POLLS. PRIME MINISTER QUESTIONED. [BY telegraph.—special reporter.] HELENSVILL.E, Thursday. Some of the Prime Minister's opinions on the licensing question were obtained by the Rev. H. King, Methodist minister at Paparoa, during Mr. Coates* meeting there yesterday. Mr. King asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of prohibition not being carried and legislation being introduced, he would favour the two issue ballot paper. "No," replied Mr. Coates. "lam in favour of three isues. The minority should have consideration." In answer to a further question Mr. coates said he had promised to introduce a bill to effect licensing reforms. _ His personal views on the subject did not matter, but in response to requests from all sides he had agreed to let a majority of Parliament decide what should be done. Asked if he would support a reduction of licenses, Mr. Coates said: " Upon my word, I don't know. I have not given much thought to it, I know some places have too many hotels, while others are in need of better accommodation." Mr. King asked whether Mr. Coates was in favour of a longer interval between licensing polls. . " Personally, I have always been m favour of five vear Parliaments, said Mr. Coates. " That, of course, would extend the time betwefen the polls." the waitemata seat. IVJR. LAMONT AND LABOUR. ADDRESS TO SUGAR WORKERS. Mr. T. Lamont, National candidate for Waitemata, addressed a meeting of employees at the Chelsea sugar works during the lunch hour yesterday. Mr. Hadfield, of Birkenhead, occupied the chair. Asked why he was not in the Labour Party, seeing that he was in favour of so much that would benefit the worker, Mr. Lamont replied that lie could not subscribe to the Labour Party policy of the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange. The candidate was accorded an attentive hearing and a vote of thanks.,