HON. A. MYERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10542, 19 March 1920, Page 4

HON. A. MYERS

LIBERAL LEADER'S PRAISE VALUABLE WORK IN THE NATIONAL CABINET. Uniting with the members of tho Commercial Travellers' Association in bidding farewell yesterday to the Hon. Arthur Myers, the Liberal Leader (the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald) said that after ten years’ close association with Mr Myers, both in the rank and file and as a fellow-Minister of tho Crown, ho wanted to say that he was never associated with a more straightforward and honourable man than his and their friend. (Applause.) “Politics is rather a peculiar occupation,” added Mr MacDonald. “You may do big things or small things, but, if you can't trust your colleagues, you can do nothing. (Applause.) So far as Mr Myers was concerned, however, when bo gave his word I never was in doubt. (Applause.) And whatever the temptations ,may be in this age of semi-boon-leism, 1 know that on no occasion in his political career'has he ever placed his pocket before his honour, (Applause.) “I want to say at once,” continued Mr MacDonald, “how keenly 1 feel the loss of my very close friend politically and also my very close personal friend and colleague, the Hon. Arthur Myers; and I.can assure you that very few of the people of this country realise the difficulties that my friend had to overcome during the four years in the National Cabinet, most of the time as acting-Einance Minister, Minister for Munitions and Supplies, and' Ministor-in-Chargo of the Customs Department. (Applause.) As Minister for Munitions and Supplies he had charge of the Coal Control Department, and I think that anybody who has had anything to dc with coal will know that that was no sinecure. (Laughter and applause.) There were constant outcries about coal from the general public, and everybody ‘could do so much better.’ (Laughter.)” In the political arena, said Mr MacDonald in conclusion, they met with the sins and the sorrow* of men and women ; and whenever anybody came for advice or sympathy, no - man lent a more willing ear than Mr Myers and no man was more determined that justics should be done. (Applause.) For a few weeks or months the country would be the poorer for the loss of the Hon. Arthur Myers. (Loud applause.)