MR W. FRASER HONOURED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15433, 20 April 1912, Page 10

MR W. FRASER HONOURED.

LARGE GATHERING OF SUPPORTERS. REFORM PARTY AT QUKKXSTOWN. (Froh Our Special Reporter.) QUKKXSTOWN, April 19. In tho Town Hall to-night a banquet was tendered to Mr William Fraser, member for Wakatipu. For 18 years Mr Fraser has honourably and ably represented tho district in Paliament, and, although in tliat period he has been tendered many expressions of tho goodwill, of his constituents in other parts of tho electorate, ho had not received a similar compliment at the hands of his numerous supporters in this quarter. A number of supporters, recognising that something of the kind was owing to their representative, took the matter up, and when thev found that othors were only too willing to assist the arrangements were carried on without any difficulty. The banquet proved a great success. It was a testimony of warm appreciation on tlie part of many friends to one who has attended, in and out of Parliament, to their manifold interests for many years. There were visitors present from Cromwell, Arrowtown, Skippers, Glenorehy, Garston. Athol, and other parti, ns well as the following members of tho Reform party in Parliament:—Messrs W. F. Massey (Franklin). D. Ruick (Palmerston), K. P. 1.00 (Oam.iru), J. Allen llfriicc). G. M. Thom«on (I)uncdin North), C. E. Slatham (l)nnedin Central), R. Scott (Otago Contrail. A. S. Malcolm (Ulutha), and 0. .T. Anderson (Mataura). The chair was occupied by Mr J. Edgar (Mayor of Qtieciistown), who was supported on his right by the guest of the, evening, and on the left by Mr Massoy. Apologies for nbsen'co were received from Messrs W. 11. T>. JMI (Wellington Suburbs), V. \Y. Lang (Waikato). F. Smith (Wnitaki), R. 11. Rhodes (Kllesmerc), J. Smith (Luggatc), C. Roy (Bannockburn), and others.

Mr Rhodes telegraphed:—"! am going into camp with the Territorials on Friday, so it will be impossible for mo to get down to tho banquet to Mr Fraser. I shall be with you in spirit, though I cannot ho with you in person, to do honour to one whom wo all respect and esteem, and one to whom wo look for ft lead on so many political questions." After full justice had been done to a sumptuous sprc.l, the toast of "Tho King " wns received with musical honours.

Mr L. Notop proposed the health of the guest. Mr Frasor, he said, was respected by members on both sides of the Houso of Representatives. He was an ideal representative, ami he whs also a colonial statesman, 110 was loyal to his party and courteous to his opponents, and Wakatipu might well b e proud of its representative. —(Applause.) Mr l'raser had represented the district for about 18 years, and ho hail had to fight in every election, but Wakatipu was never fiickle 'in its affections for its representative, and Mr Frnscr could depend upon it that any time ho came forward lie would be again returned as the member for tho district.—(Applause.) 110 was pleased that so many members of Parliament had come down to do honour to Mr l'raser. mid, on behalf of the committee, he thanked them for their presence.— (Applause.)

Mr Frasor, on rising to reply, was received with ehoers. He said the gattaring had laid a heavy task upon his shoulders. It was often a pleasuro to mount a platform and address a meeting on political matters, but that night, when lie lad to tliojik his frionds for tho groat reception thoy had given lam, it was anything but an easy task. Tho man would bo of littlo worth wlio would not feel stirred to tho heart by such a reception as they had extended to Win that night.—(Applause.) As Mr Hotop had eaid, it was now about 18 years ago since ho first represented tho district lie had been asked about tire same timo to contest tho Tuapoka soat, but ho declined that request, and contested Wakatipu on the retirement of Mr Fergus, and ho had never regretted tho choice ho Uion mode,—(Applause) Ho was glad to bo ablo to say that friends ho made at that timo wero still his friends—(Applause.) Ho believed that one of Iho reasons Ik> had been returned time ami again was that the bond between his constituents and himself was ono of fnondslup, and, in some cases, of amotion.—(Applause.) When he entered Parliament in 1894 tho parly to which he belonged numbered only 13 "or 14, but to<!aj its strength was 58.—(Applause. | H was noiwenso to apply the term "Hidebound Tories " to the party, for the Reform party of today was as Liberal, if not more Liberal and more progressive in its ideas than any 38 men who had sat in tho Parliament of Now Zealand since its inception. -(Applause.) They had a leador whom thoy could trust and whom they honoured —a man to whom they were as loval as men could bo.—(Applause.) Referring to tho party at present in power, he said the Govornmcnt had not yet disclosed its policv. In these democratic times tho people claimed tho right to call tlio tune to which tho nation should dance, and their method of calling for tho particular tune they wanted was through tlieir representatives in Parliament and through tho public press. It was loft to the Government to play the tamo called for, but ono had heard of tho Government not playing the tunc that was (died for. Ho could givo an instance, but perhaps ho had better not. Ono had known instances too of a Government not only not playing tho tunc called for, but actually playing a tuno of its own, and ploying it badly.—(Applauso and laughter.) ; Of course the people were very patient, but after a timo they said: -'This will not do; wo had bettor have somo one in tlio Government who will plav the tuno the people want," That he believed was what was happening now.—(Applause.) As their representative ho wished to say that whenever any matters wore brought down which would further tho interests of tho country, cause it to progress, increnso tho population, improve the fertility of tho soil, and enlarge the number of people engaged in agricultural pursuits, his voice would always ba raised in support of such subj'cots.-fAp-platise.) Those wero tlio sentiments that pervaded tho minds of everyone of tho 38 members of tho Reform party.—(Applause.) I Ho thanked his supporters very heartily for I tlio honour thoy had done him that n'ight. If anything would spur him on to greater efforts it was tlio knowledge that the littlo bo had dono in tho past for thorn was so thoroughly appreciated.—(Applause) Three ringing cheers were given for Mr Frasor. Dr .T. Roll Thomson proposed tlio toast of tho Reform party. Ho said ho was a firm supporter of tho party. It was a unilod party, which had never wavered even to gain seats.-fApplauso.) It had kept true to its principles, and had sunk self in tho interests of tho i>oople. It had stormed tlio citadel, but owing to the treachery of ono of tho attackers the citadel had not yet struck its (log. He believed tho e>ay wns coming, however | when the party would bo in full possession I of the rights it had 60 notably striven for — (Applause.) Mr Massey was greeted with very cordial applauso. He thanked the meeting for the enthusiasm displayed in connection with the toast and for tho welcome accorded to the members of tho party. It gave them pleasuro to bo there that night to a"ist in wing Innour fo Mr l<Wr.-(Appiamo.) lhe monibcr for Wakatipu was a gentleman who enjoyed tho respect and esteem of both sides of the House. Ho was a mnn who could )k trusted. There wero no broken plodeos a s far as Mr Frnscr was conccrned.-tApplaiiso.) There was no man in Parliament who looked as closely nftcr tho interests of his constituents or who scanned more attentively tho business of the country than Mr Frasor. In financial niattors ho vat looked on as one of tho lending authorities, not only in Parliament but tho Dominion—(applause),—atiei his opinion was often taken by men on the Government side of the Hotiso in preference to the opinion of other men. The constituency that returned a man like Mr Frasor to represent it did an honour'to itself and benefited the Dominion.-(Ap-plutisc.) Speaking of tho Reform party Mr Massey said that a groat deal of misrepresentation was often circulated concerning it. As a matter of fact, the Refcrrn party was a practical, common sense and progressive boeJy of men, who wero anxious to do tho best thev could for the electors who sent them to Parliament and for tho country as a whole.—iApplou«c) If the peoplo were to see in the Otoeo Witness the portraits of tho dozen members present that night thev would nroably remark that they looked a decent lot of fellows-lapplauso and laughter)and if tho same mombcrs wero to don frock coats and silk hat* for tho occasion the peoplo would probably niv that tho party did not look worse than they did be-fore.-(Appkuso and laughter.) After a reference to tho undemocratio position of tho Government in holding office when it was not known whether it possessed tho confidence of the House or not, Mr Massoy went on to say that tho Government was actually without a policy, and ho erprossoe!' the opinion that it was not able to put) forward a policy—not from want of ability, but for tho reason that it was not acre**! on any important subjects. The Ministers wero simply a set of men who happoned to lind themselves on tlio Treasury benches, and they were now holding on to placo and power and tho emoluments connected

tliorewith.—(Applause.) Tho land question wns probably tho most interesting aw} important to the majority of tho pooplo he was addressing that night, and how did tho Government stand cm that question? In tho Cabinot there wcro six pronounced leaseholders—indoed', violent 'eascholdors— and three freeholders, whilo one was doubtful. Ho (Mr Mas3cy) did not know whnro that gentleman stood on the land question, and probably ho did' not know hunsolf.— (Umghter.) How, then, oould the Government put forward a policy on tho land question? It wns impossible. Tho Cabinet was 11 House divided against itsolf, and it could not possibly stand. For somo timo pa»t, indeed as tar back as tho election, excuses had been mado for tho set-back tho Government had received. It was said the sat buck was duo to misrepresentation. Nothing of the sort. The Government hod been accused nml properly and truthfully accused of extravagance in connection with the administration of public affairs. On account of this extravagance tho cost of government was increased, and becauso tho cost of government wn« increased, taxation was increased, and becauso taxation was increased, the cost of living had gono up |to every individual. Tlioso were some of tho reasons for the set back encountered by the Governnient.-fApplausc.) Tho Reform party did not claim to bo perfect, but ii did claim to be progressive., patriotic, and democratic, and any proposals that camo before Parliament, and were cither progressive, patriotic, or democratic, would navo their support, whether they camo from tho Government side of tlw Houso or not.— »

(Applause.) Their first thoughts wcro not for the party to which thoy belonged, but lor the country and for the welfaro and happiness of its people—(Aptilausc.) Again he thanked the mocting for tho cordiul manner in which it had honoured the Reform party and for tho kindness shown to the members who had boon able to make the trip.—(Applause.) Other members of Parliament also re: plied to the toast. The remaining toasts were honoured with great heartiness, and a programme of song and recitation was pleasantly interspersed. N