A POPULAR OPPOSITIONIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14898, 29 July 1910, Page 5

A POPULAR OPPOSITIONIST

• —.—- o—-.— PRESENTATION TO MR G-. M. THOMSON. ■ (From Obr Own Corhespondiht.) WELLINGTON, July 28. From the moment he entered Parliament Mr, G. M. Thomson has bscome one of the most respected and popular members of the Opposition party, and this evening the ,appreciation of the party was shown to him in a marked way. On ■going into, the Whip's room during tho supper adjournment M,r Thomson .found the Speaker and practically tho whole of the 'Opposition party there waiting for him., i . -

Mr Massey, in a. brief /speech, said they liad met to ma,ke him a presentation on the occasion of his' marriage. Some '18 months ago, when the election for Dunedin North was trembling iii the balance, a feeling of satisfaction ivent from one end of the colony to the other when Miv Thomson was returnedi—(Applause.) Mr Thomson had now made his mark in Par- ; liament, and the speech he had delivered few minutes previously • was one of the most interesting lie (Mr Massey) had ever listened to in the Houije.—(V Hear, hear.") ,He had no hesitation'in 'saying that'the ' New Zealand House of Representatives was all the better for Mr. Thomson's, presence in it. He. presented Mr Thomson with a cake- basket and four flower -vases in soljd filver, which 'lie asked him to hand to Tiis wife as a, small 'token of esteem from the Opposition party. Mr Thomson, who was'quite taken by surprise, thanked the members present very sincerely for their very handsome present. v He said that bis wife would enter into the political and social life of New Zealand with a good deal of zest and She had had some considerable twilling -in literary, educational, and philanthropic Work in Victoria, and had taken a great interest in matters concerning women and children. She . was already keenly interested in the problems that. offered themselves before her here. He believed that members of the party would find in her a true friend. In oon* eluding, lie'said lie could not help remarking upon tlii extreme Unanimity and good feeling that always prevailed among the members of the Opposition party. Tlloy were true gentlemen in. the real-senso.of tho_ word, and their word was as good-as their bond. Although there had just been an unfortunate little incident in the House that evening, he could not help feeling that they hud come, out of .it cleanhanded, as they always did.

The health of Mr-and Mrs Thomson was then drunk with'musical honours, and the meeting terminated: with many good Irishes for thoir future, welfare.