THE SURREY

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 47

THE SURREY

PUBLIC LUNCHEON ON BOARD. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. i THE QUESTION OF ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS. A luncheon, given by the agents of the troopship Surrey, took place on board that vessel at the Queen’s Wharf on Friday. The table was laid in the troopers’ dining-hall on the lower deck, and the room was gaily decorated with flags, etc. Air E. O wen Cox, mar aging director of the firm of Birt and Co., agents for the Federal iine, occupied the chair, supported by the Right Hon. the Premier and MajorGeneral Babiugtoo, Commandant* of the New Zealand Forces. The vice chair was occupied by Air H. Beauchamp (Bannatyne and Co.). The following other guests were also invited :—The LXons. W. C. Walker, W. Hall-Jones, J. Carroll, James McGowan, T. Duncan and C. IT. Mills; Bishop Wallis, Lieut.-Colonel Owen, Sir Arthur Douglas, Captain Campbell, Sir F. de C. Alalet (chairman of directors of the Bank of New Zealand), Sia.jor Carey (chairman of directors of the Sydney “Daily Telegraph” Company), Mr H. Trinder (of the firm of Trinder, Anderson and f'o., shipowners, London), Air R. Caldwell, M.L.A., South Australia; Mr I. H. Witheford, M.H.R., Auckland- city: captain SlcGibbon, of the ship Surrey ; Messrs D. J. Nathan (president of the Vyelhngton Chamber of Commence), G. E : lolhurst (Union Bank), E. W Lowe, "• ‘V holmes, John Holmes, G. G. Stead, \V alter Nathan, F. Dyer, A. E. . an > B. Brown. Apologies wr ro lesf. u ; ed f rom the Hon. C. H. Alills, the Bishop, and others.

t o aS L° f t?* 10 Kin <?” aviug neon that o r f GC I‘T^ Ir r?’ Beaucham P proposed » Th ,° of New Zcap" d >. coupled with the name r.f the Mr Baaucharo P ta i'i Hiat it of dm known That he was a supporter were r? arty ’ bu " ™ toast vriX S< V be Wo,Bd propose the some of b ., pleasu re, for however much Present aj 6 ™ • I ! ilg l . t differ from the genemL Admin i Str . atlon ’ ib wonld be fa? r SonnPt* t r t th , ey had done a he wi 1. i g ?°d to this colony, aud Btr o r he fm eSP ?T lly to to the marked ~n iperiab stic tone which had begiiini n „ he nf pr f c , sonfc Ministl 7 since the C D . n nl f the . war - Nothing had CountS a.rd Ppr !l lated , in the Home delighthli f i.* n /? tbing , bad been more °f New Ze^lLd 10 sp ] cndld Patriotism feeling 0 f tim' d ’ a ; nd tj ° the strong Au s t J^. People (,° f New Zeala °d largely duo +bf oerally was no doubt British nation of the 40 ac^ now Jedging the Mw Ke tVrf

pire would commend itself to all wellwishers of the Empire. (Applause.) The Government of the day ought to be the true reflex of the people, carrying out the ideals, aims and aspirations of the people. The ideals of the people of this colony were very high indeed, and he could only say that as far as lay in tlieir power Ministers were carrying out the wishes of the people. So long as this was done, we were doing what was intended by those who had given us free and representative government. Taking the colony as it stood at the present time, he would say that notwithstanding the difficulties which had beset the path of those who had the administration of the affairs of the colony, if the colony was to be judged by the conditions now existing, and by the prosperity and well-being of the country, New Zealand had a good Government. He would not enter into political questions' at all; but there were matters immediately concerning the people of our colony and the people of the Motherland which demanded some little attention. He had read with amazement in the newspapers that in regard to tenders for the meat supplies for the troops in South Africa, a syndicate whose tender had been approved was to get its meat from the Argentine. That in itself was hard to bear, but when it was said also that Australia and New Zealand was unable to supply the quantity of meat required, he declared that this was a gross insult, and was absolutely untrue. (Applause.) Here was New Zealand with its twenty millions of sheep, with its mutton in the Old Country and on the water, and yet they tell us that we cannot supply our troops in South Africa. Were they still asleep in the Mother Country? Djd the W T ar Office and theuHome authorities want waking up? ' Because if they did, they would get it. (Applause.) If they did, the colonies would have to let them know with no uncertain voice that Australia and New Zealand could give them supplies ample in quantity and of the best quality. Our men in South Africa could fight much better if fed on our native mutton. It was almost enough to damp our ardour to say that they should be fed on River Plate mutton when there was plenty of Canterbury mutton. He had been outspoken recently regarding" the War Office, but in saying what he had said, he had not wished for a moment to cast any reflection upon General Lord Roberts—(applause)—for we adored Lord Roberts, and we knew that he would bring about reforms. (Hear, hear.) But there were departments of the War Oifiee which demanded attention at the hands of the people, and it would be in the interests of the army if attention were given to these departments. For | instance, they had sent a cable message to him, as Premier, asking him to ad- | vertise in the colony for supplies of | meat, and they had informed him in j the same communication that no tender | would be accepted unless it were on the | form prescribed, that copies of this form • had been posted, and that tenders would ; be accepted on the 6th January. The j forms arrived on the Ist or 2nd January ; and he wished to know how they imagined that the tenders from New Zealand could have been in London by the 6th January. (Mr Witheford: “They did not want it done.”) It would appear to him as though they had done this 4|Tiberately; that at the last moment Uiey had been forced to call , for tenders in the colony, and they had accordingly made the conditions such that it would be impossible to tender. But when they declared that we could not supply the quantity required for the troops, it was time to speak plainly. He had spoken plainly, and he meant to act. also, (Applause.) The last thing he had done before leaving his office that day was to send a cable message to the Secretary of State for the Colonies pointing out- the grave injustice done to Australia and New Zealand. (Applause.) If every ounce of meat to feed the troops in South Africa went from Australia, there would be no jealousy, no heartburnings, on the part of the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) lhe people of Australia were our kindred, our friends and neighbours; but when it came to allowing a foreign nation to supply an article we could supply ourselves, we naturally felt irritated. This was a case in which we were united with Australia to make our voice heard in the best interests of the Empire. Oil the following day, they would have through the colony tenders called for a direct service between New "Zealand and the Cape? (Applause.) The Government, in arranging for that service, and in arranging for refrigerating appliances and machinery, had taken into consideration the supplying of meat to South Africa. To bring in the Argentine, however, would militate against this project, and to that extent would prejudicially affect what New Zealand waS _ doing in respect to this steamer service. Moreover, if this preference were given to the Argentine, there would be direct lines of steamers from the Argentine to South Africa, and thus they would bring a foreign power and foreign people into competition with the people of New Zealand and the people of Australia. To have those in authority assisting others to the detriment of our colonies, 1 which were. making cheerfully these great sacrifices, showed a want of consideration which he must say was unpardonable. (Hear, hear. Mr Witheford: “Keep back the

Eighth Contingent till its rectified.”) He was sure that it was not the British l Government nor the head of the War Office that was to blame. There was some reason for it. It could not be the price; the paltry few pounds would not make this difference, surely. This would not weigh" as against what Australia had done and was doing, or as against what New Zealand had done, and was doing and would do. To say that we could not supply the quantity j of meat required either showed gross ignorance, or there was some other reason. He had an idea of this other reason. He had an idea that British capital had been invested largely in the Argentine, and he had an idea that capital had met with a response; and that this was responsible. for what had > occurred. He would not go further into ! this question at present. He wished to j have a reply to the communication sent Home. He hoped that that communica- i tion would be satisfactory, and that when we proved, as we could prove, that we could supply not only the quantity, but a superior quality of.. meat, the contracts made with the ! Argentine would be cancelled, and the people of the colonies given the fair opportunity to which they were entitled. Speaking of the legislation of the Government, Mr Seddon said it was pleasing to note that the experiments which had been made had proved satisfactory, and had been for the good of our colony. He had great pleasure in noting that there was present that day the General commanding our forces. (Applause.) On personal acquaintance with General Babington, he was more than ever satisfied that our selection was a good one, and that New Zealand was to be congratulated on having him as the Commandant. (Applause.) The Pre- ; mier also welcomed Mr R. Caldwell, of South Australia, now on a visit to this colony. He was sure that there was between New Zealand and South Australia a cordiality and bond of friendship that would last for all time. (Applause.) He was glad to see also Major Carey, whom he knew years ago on the West Coast, and whose New Zealand influence must have aided him materially to gain the high position he now held in New South Wales. Air Seddon, in conclusion, expressed his hearty thanks for the cordial manner in which the company had responded to the toast. (Applause.) ; The Hon. W. C. YValker, in proposing “The Defence Forces of the Empire,” said that as* far as he could read the feelings of the volunteers of New Zealand, it was the proudest day of their , lives when they were first called into , active service and felt that they were : in every sense of the word “soldiers of the Queen.” This feeling was just as J strong to-day as it was two years ago. i (Applause.) He had been very pleased, jin speaking to General Babington on i the day before, to hear the way in ; which he had been able to speak of i "°ur boys” who had fought under him, commanded, he believed, by Colonel : Davies. In our neyv Commandant we had not only a general of experience in the ordinary way, but an officer who knew our men, and whom our men knew.

General Babington, who on risim? to reply was received with hearty applause, said he could speak from personal experience of the work of the New Zealanders in South Africa. As they knew, he had had the honour—he could truthfully say the honour—to have under him the Fourth Contingent of New' Zealand for six months, and during that time, and during the time he had been in South Africa, he had never heard any words but those of praise for the New Zealanders of that contingent and of any other contingent from this colony. (Applause.) As to the colonial forces taking their position alongside the regular army, he would only say that when it was heard that fresh contingents of New' Zealanders w'ere coming to South Africa, everyone -who knew anything at all about the w'ar applied for them. (Hear, hear.) He had had no idea at- that time of coming to New Zealand, but he knew' what the New Zealanders were, and when the Fourth Contingent was dispersed, he parted from the men with as great regret as he had ever felt in parting from men who had served him well. (Applause.) In acknowledging the kind words which had been expressed concerning himself, he said he would devote the best of his time and ability, such as it was, to the defence forces of New Zealand, and he would not stop a day longer in the colony if he felt that he could do no good in it. He had been taken aback by the welcome he had received on the day of his arrival, and still more by the welcome he had received wfithin the past forty-eight hours. He only hoped that when they had had more experience of him, their feelings toward him would be equally cordial, (Applause.) The Hon. J. Carroll proposed “The Commercial Interests of the Empire,” and spoke in favour of a preferential tariff within the British Empire. Mr G. E. Tolhurst, in replying, remarked that a good deal was said about depression. This seemed to him entirely uncalled for in any case, but he would point out that in the course of a tolerably long experience of business, he had always noticed that when one commodity went down, something else took its place. (Hear, hear.) This was our position at the present time. Perhaps the quantity of exports despatched from this country during the coming year

might not he so great as last year, but after all, the difference would be very trifling. Mr D. .J. Nathan, who also, acknowledged the toast, urged that the Premier, when in England, should join with the other statesmen he would meet there in a strong representation to the powers that be cn behalf of preferential trade within our Empire. Mr Nathan suggested that money should be borrowed for the completion of the Main Trunk railway, so as to give the farmers bettervfacilities for the markets. The Premier proposed the toast, “Our Australian Visitors,” coupling with it the names of the chairman, Air R. Caldwell, and Alajor Carey. These gentlemen having responded, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones proposed “The Federal Line of Steamers,” and said that it was their duty as colonists, and . he~would even say that it was tlieir duty as a Govern—ment, to see that the preferential tariff within the Empire was brought about ■as speedily as possibleThe chairman, in responding, said that the Federal Company had been employ- . ed since the commencement of the war in fitting up steamers for the conveyance of, troops and remounts. The announcement of the offer of an Eighth Contingent had come as a surprise to the world, and an unpleasant surprise to the Continent. With regard to the meat contracts, he said it would be disastrous I t° both Australia and New Zealand if j the Argentine got a foothold in South . Africa. e

The proceedings closed with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem.