FAREWELL DINNER

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4314, 25 March 1901, Page 3

FAREWELL DINNER

MESSRS T. BALLINGER AND R. HANNAH. ENTERTAINED BY, INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE. Tbo executive of the Wellington Industrial Association on Saturday evening entertained at a farewell dinner at tho Trocadero Messrs T. Ballinger and 11. Hannah, who are leaving shortly on a visit to the Old Country. In addition to the guests of the evening, there were present Messrs Samuel Brown (president of the association), J. G. W. Aitkeu (Mayor of Wellington), Peter Hutson, H. Fiockton, W. -nuan, D. Jones, A. R. V. Lodder, W. Gnalmers, A. M. Lewis, W. Cable, J. P. Luke, J. Murrell, A. Johnston, H. Reid, H. Hurrell, H. Smith and D. Robertson. An apology for his unavoidable absence was received from Mr D. Sladden. The toasts of “The King” and .“The Governor” were honoured.

Mr Brown, who occupied the chair, proposed the toast of “Our Guests.” He said that Mr Ballinger and Mr Hannah were both well-known business men in Wellington. They were both respected citizens of long standing. But it was not solely on that account that they were being entertained that night. It was principally because they had been members of the Industrial Association from the start, and because they were members of tho executive, and as such had helped to build up the association. (Applause.) Mr Ballinger, as chairman of the Building and Lighting Committee of the Wellington Exhibition, Tendered the association moat valuable service. In fact, his services in that and various other ways contributed in no small degree to the very great success of the exhibition. Air Ballinger had been generous of his time in matters connected with tho association from the day it was started until the present time. Mr Hannah was a man.who had large business interests outside of Wellington, and he was consequently very often away from the city. That prevented him from being as often with them as they would like him to be, and u.s he himself would wish to he The Industrial Association, however, had functions to peiform other than the lidding of formal meetings. In carrying out its aim of promoting manufactures, industrial pursuits and technical education it had been its duty to criticise and offer suggestions on measure’s concerning those interests which came before Parliament, whether they affect--1 eel either employers or working men. He ventured to say that in doing that its exertions had in every case been as much for the benefit of working men as fat the benefit of employers. In connection with the consideration of industrial legislation, Mr Ballinger and M. Hannah, with Mr John Ross and others, bad rendered services which were of gloat value. After urging that it was desirable (bat employers and employees should tic brought face to face to settle difficulties. for themselves, Mr Brown said it seemed to him that, the position (.mild be put very simply. The workman had his Inborn; to sell, mid tho employin' was tharts to buy It, Tho one triad ho Imv as ditto ply, nhil tho other to sol) ns 'dearly, ns tin could. It was a transaction shell as took place every day in business. .But in their business relations it was not tho custom for buyer and seller to jump at each other’s throats or t«n call each other names'if they did net agree. And he failed to see why that should take place between workmen and their employers. It was true, no doubt, that there were faults on both sides. But he was afraid that ill too many cases the workmen’s leaders wore not mea of wisdom, He was afraid that they were too often talkers and agitators, who really did more harm to the workers’ cause than they did good. As a matter of business, If a bargain was made it should be kept. If so much wages was agreed to be paid, it should bo paid, but if so. much work was to he given in return for that wage, it should be honestly given. If they were to have in this country the creed of doing the least amount of work for the greatest amount of wages, he very much feared that in the near future their manufactures would very seriously suffer. . ] Mr Ballinger, in responding, said it was’ forty-three years since he was in England. He was only a child when J.e arrived in Melbourne. It was when lie (Mr Ballinger) was a boy in Westport that he first knew Air Hannah. Now they were neighbours in Wellington. That they should be going Home at about the same time was a rather peculiar coincidence.

Air Hannah said ue regretted that he had not been able to do more work tor the association, which, he thought, was , one that deserved the support of every j right-thinking man who was an employer i of any description. , While they had Mr I Brown at the head of the association, ! they could always look forward to sue-, cess. (Applause.)' In all matters, and on all occasions, careful and wise advice was given,'and good judgment was displayed by their president, who considered not onlv the interests of employers, but also those of employees. They had no right to consider themselves only. They had to look to what was best for all. And he thought he could safely say that that had been the aim of the association, as shown at a,ll the meetings at which he had been present, (Applause.) He hoped that the same rule would he carried out to the end. The Chairman proposed the health of "The Mayor,” who, he said, had during his terra of office performed his duties worthily and well. (Hear, hear.) He did not know of a single instance in which Air Aitken had not been equal to anything that ho had been called upon to perform. As a citizen he", personally, would he proud and to see .Mr

Aitken re-elected Mayor for next,year. (Applause). Mr Aitkon, in reply, remarked that although he was not strictly engaged in any industry, lie would be very pleased to join the association if it was ever in need of a member. (Applause.) He was quite satisfied that Mr Brown and the association along with him had done a great deal, end he was sure they were capable of doing more good work. As to himself, ho also might give expression to the hope that he might be Mayor next vear. f Applause.) If the citizens said “No/’ he would be quite satisfied. If thev re-elected him, it would oe /i' s duty to work to the best of his ability, and push on things, and make Wellington, not only the capital, but also the | most advanced city of the colony. From, some points of view it was that already. They heard a great deal ' said aoMinst Wellington, but there were also things that oould bo «md in it? favour. The vital statistics for the past year had just been publisnod, and tb*\y showed clearly that from a health point of view Wellington stooci first among the cities of the colony. .'Applause.! They had here what they did. not possess in the other cities—a good water supply, good sanitary conveniences, .and a destructor. As a matter of fact, the destructor, for which Mr Brown worked so hard, was of great benefit. In other cities rubbish tips were to be found here and, there for all kinds of refuse—breed-ing-beds for disease. Mr Brown, with

much wisdom, saw what was going to take place in Wellington unless some provision was made against it, and almost at the point of the bayonet, as it were, he succeeded in having the destructor erected. It was time, however, that th© destructor was either enlarged or altered in some way, so that it could more readily do what was now demanded of it. The city had grown very much, and still was growing, and it was very difficult for the destructor to keep pace with the work that required to be done. As to the forthcoming municipal elections, he would say deliberately that he did not know that the citizens could do better than return the present Councillors to office again. Those twelve men were working almost day and night for tho benefit" of the city. The weekly Council meetings were a very small item. It was in connection with the committees that the main part of the work was done and most of the time consumed. He had! been surprised to notice that. some persons thought that very little time had been given to the consideration of the tramway scheme, for instance, because it was passed at one sitting of the Council. Well, although it was passed at that meeting, tho number of meetings held by the Tramways Committee —a large and representative committee—was almost legion. The committee discussed the scheme from every point of view before it was formulated. The amount of time and care and trouble given to the matter by the committee was highly commendable. People could not all agree as to the routes or upon every little bit of detail, but he could: give an assurance that the committee and the Council had gone through the scheme very carefully. In the House of Representatives last session the Municipal Corporations Bill was passed at a sitting. That could not have been done had not the Bill been very carefully handled in committee. The case of the tramways scheme was similar. Indeed, he could without hesitation say that very great care was given by the whole of the Councillors to every item of business that oam© before them. (Applause.) In proposing •the toast of “ Prosperity to the Industrial Association,” the Mayor agreed with Air Brown that the association’s work was of advantage to employees as well as to employers. , He added that he had never oeen able to discover that the interests of the two were-not identical. The teaching that their interests were apart and distinct was quite erroneous. He, at any rate, was from the jump taught that what was for his master’s benefit was also for his benefit, and all his experience had gone to confirm the truth of that teaching. He was pleased ana delighted to see hpw the industries of the city were growing and increasing. Wellington, it was true, was a port, but it must also have industries, if it was to advance as a city, and if it was to find employment for its young people. Mr Brown, in reply, said he bad a feeling that the representations made by the association should carry greater weight with legislators than they did. On a rough calculation, the Wellington ■ association represented: a capital of three and a quarter millions of money. There were in the association men of large andi varied experience, who could see how industrial legislation was going to affect not only themselves but also tho rest of the community, lie re» (fretted that legislators did pot pay to the: association's representations that attention wbioh It would be benqliclal to pay to them, Employers and employees must work together, as well In the Qoionies as in Great Britain, if our ,jnanufaptures were to be maaintatlned against those of foreign nations. Continuing, Air Brown referred to the impetus given to manufactures in Canterbury by the industrial- association there. ’ He ‘ expressed . the; /hope that ;the associations in other parts of the colony would follow the -example of . the parent body in Christchurch, and endeavour to cultivate manufactures, industrial pursuits and technical education. (Applause.) The following toasts were also honoured!—"The- Shipping Industry,” "The Iron Trade,” •! The Timber Trade,’.’ "The Brickmaking Industry,” " The Ladies,” "The Press 7 ’ and “ The Chairman.” During the evening songs were contributed. by Messrs Smith, Hurrell and Lodder. . All the speakers joined l in wishing Air Ballinger and Mr Hannah bon. voyage. Before the party separated, the guests' again thanked their fellow-members for the cordial maher in which they had wished them God-speed on their approaching journey. They promised that they would, while away, look out fop any information which", would be likely to be of value to the association.