COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18590, 26 June 1922, Page 9

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL

ME J. w. MUNRO ENTERTAINED

The friends and supporters of Mr J". W. Munro, M.P. elect, the successful candidate in the North Dunedin by-eleotion, extended to him a complimentary social on Saturday night, the function taking place in the Early Settlers’ TTn.ll. The attendance was large, and the whole of the proceedings were pervaded by enthusiasm. . , . Mr C. M. Moss, who occupied the ohair, said be was sure the election fight had been appreciated by all who took an interest m the Labour movement to-day. The tight put up was recognised as a fight. (A Voice; “And a clean fight too.”) “It was a clean fight from our side,” said the chairman, “but I question whether it was a clean fight from the other side.” Proceeding, he the point that they were only at the beginning of things. The real fight was yet to come: but there was no reason why they should not at the General Election capture at least three of the four Dunedin seats.—(Applause.) The chairman was going on to give a speech in general on the Labour cause, but was interrupted by calls of ‘‘We want Munro,’ so he cut his remarks short and went on with the programme. . , After a number of musical items had been given, Mr Munro was called upon. He was accorded a reception that must have been highly gratifying, an outburst of cheering being followed by “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and renewed cheering continuing for some minutes. He indicated that he had been wondering during the demonstration whether he could do the Labour cause full justice, and gave a solemn promise that he would do the best he possibly could. He proceeded to outline the history of his education into the Labour movement. He had come to realise that the social system was not God-made, but man-made, and the Labour cause was the only cause worth fighting for. They had won the election despite the press and despite the churches, but he emphasised that the great fight lay ahead. It was a question of what King they were to live under—the King of Mammon or the King representing the people. The vote was their bulwark. It was given for the purpose of resisting the pressure of vested interests that would press them down and lower their standard of living. When they understood that there was no power on earth that could keep back the cause of Labour, when Labour ruled in th© countries of the earth, then wars would cease, but not until Classes would disappear and poverty would be no more when the working people managed the world for the purpose God meant it—for there would come about that universal peace for which the Christian Church was praying. . The speech was received with great applause, and was followed by the reading of congratulatory telegrams from the Labour members of Parliament. Mr Munro also produced a batch of telegrams from various organisations, adding that be thought every Labour organisation in the dominion bad sent one.

Supper was afterwards served and a dance followed. . The contributions to the musical programme were as follow:—The Mieses Maurais and Miss Maurais and Miss Alexander (pianoforte duets), . Miss Alexander (recitation), Mesdames Grace, Gilchrist, and Ginn, Daisy Abemethy, and Norman West, Messrs D. French, E. Clyde, J. Gilchrist, and D. Fogarty (songs), Mr Farquharson (cornet solo).