MEMBER FOR ROSKILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19470, 28 October 1926, Page 12

MEMBER FOR ROSKILL.

MR. V. H. POTTER HONOURED. HIS WORK IN PARLIAMENT. FAITH IN PRIME MINISTER. Reference to his stewardship in Parliament was mado by Mr. Vivian H. Potter, M.P. for Roskill. at a social arranged in his honour by his committee last evening. The Gordon Road hall, Mount Eden, whore tho function was held, was crowded and Mr. L. Joll presided. Mr. A. Harris, M.P., said the district had overy reason to be proud of Mr. Potter, It wis true that sometimes Mr. Potter and tho speaker did not seo ejo to eye with their party, but they at least spoke out when such occasions arose, and lie (the speaker )thought that wbs a very desirable thing in public lite. Mr. Potter was one of those men in Parliament who stood high in the estimation o! nil. He was one of those members who had the reputation in the House of never boing afraid to stand up in support of his principles, even though they might not be palatable to his party. (Applause.) Sir. Potter was greeted with loud applause when he rose to speak. I may have taken a stand against my own party," he began, "but thore is not one action I have done that 1 am not willing to come before you and account for (Applause.) He had always endeavoured to adhere to the political platform of tho late Mr. Massey and ho was prepared to see it carried out to the letter. He was convinced that after his explanation to Parliament, members realised that the mistake did not lie with him, but with certain other partios. Speaking of his attitude toward tho Motor Omnibus Traffic Act, Mr. Potter said that when he was handed a petition containing 77,000 names—the biggest petition ever presented to Parliament —over 10,000 of whom were his electors, he felt bound to present it to Parliament. Ah far as the Town Planning Bill was concerned, he ventured to say that no ons present understood it, not excluding Mr Harris or himself, and that was a suilicient reason for his opposition to it. " I regret," he continued, "that this has been my worst session in Parliament, because I have had to oppose everything my leader has brought down. Roskill knows, however, it is from no personal animus on my part, but merely because I intended to carry out my pledges to the electors." He hoped that thoso who might be offended because he had opposed his leader would understand that he had great faith in the Primo Minister, Mr. Coates was on his trial; he was expected to be a worthy successor of Mr. Massey, and tho speaker was confident he would make good. People who imagined there was grave dissatisfaction within the party were mistaken. It was undivided on all main principles. "As long as I represent Roskill," Mr. Potter concluded, " I will try and do the honest political duties appertaining to a politician. If I cannot give a public explanation of all my actions then something is radically wrong, but I believe I always will." (Applause.) At. the conclusion of his address, Mr. Potter was presented by Captain C. E. Hood with a pocket wallet containing a cheque. Tho wallet was inscribed: "To Mr. Vivian Potter, from his committee and supporters of Roskill, 1926. Kia Ora." Mrs. Potter was the recipient of $ handbag, which was presented to her on behalf of the committee and supporters by Miss B. Payne, secretary of tho committee.