BANQTET TO THE HON. T. Y. DUNEDIN

Otago Witness, Issue 2493, 25 December 1901, Page 11

BANQTET TO THE HON. T. Y. DUNEDIN

(By Our Special Reporter.) OAMARU. December 19. The Hon. T. Y. Duncan, Minister of Lands, was enteitained at a banquet tonight in St. Luke's Hall, the function being held to mark approval of the honourable gentleman's services to the district and his accession to Ministerial position. There were about 120 gentlemen and half a dozen ladies present, every seat in the hall being occupied, while tables had to be provided on the stage. The chair was taken by the Mayor of Oamaru (Mr Allan Hedley), who was supported on his right by the guest of the evening (the Hon. Mr Duncan), Mr E. G. Allen, M.H.R., and Mr A. R. Barclay, M.H.R., and on his left by Sir J. G. Ward (Minister of Railways) and the Hon. G. Jones, M.L.C. Among others present were the Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R., Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R.. Archdeacon Gould, Monsignor Mackay, Colonel Hcpclland, Major Keddell, S.M., Messrs D. Bcrrie, J. Cagney, W. Waddell (croupier), J. Mitchell, W. Milne, G. Livingstone (president North Otago A. and P. Society), J. M. Brown, W. Gr*y, James Macpherson (Totara), T. Hall, J. Menlove, jun., and W. Gardiner. Mr J. Mitchell acted satisfactorily as caterer, and Mr W. Bee supplied the wines, etc. Apologies for absence were received from the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, the Hon. W. C. Walker, the Hon. J. Carroll, the Hon. J. M'Gown, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, the Hon. C. H. Mills, the Hon. A. Lee Smith, M.L.C, Sir H. J. Miller (Speaker ot the Legislative Council), Lady M'Kenzie, Messrs J. A. Millar, M.H.R., J. M'Lachlan, M.H.R., R. M'Nab, M.H.R., D. Sutherland, J. S. Holmes, S. Boreham, T. Meek, and E. P. Burbury. The toast of "The King" was proposed by. the Chairman, and duly honoured, the company singing " God save the King." The Chairman intimated that the ladies had given permission to the gentlemen to smoke if they so desired, an announcement that was received with cheers, which were quickly followed by the production of numerous pipes. Major Keddell proposed " The^ Army, Navy, and Auxiliary Forces of the Empire.' 1 He called attention to the fact that this was the old toast of the army and navy under a new title: and, refening to the assistance ghen to the Mother Country by

the colonies he syoke in complimentary terms of the contingents that had left our shores, and said it was creditable to the colony that New Zealand had again been the first to come to the front with an offer of help in the shape of an eighth contingent. — ( Applause.) Colonel Headland, in replying, said it must not be forgotten that the navy had contributed its quota to the success of the war. The navy covered itself with glory at the battle of Belmont and what might not have happened at Ladysmith if ie had not been for Captain Scott and his brave officers and men and their 4.7 guas on their improvised carriages? He also spoke of the encouragement the defence forces of the colony had received from the p'-esent Ministry. The forces in New Zealand were now in a very good position, and were most efficient, and in that respect occupied a more important position than ever beforp in the history of the colony. The Hon. Major Steward also replied. He said he had two sons fighting for the Empire m South Africa, and he was sorry he hsd not more. — (Loud applause.) Mr A. Avery proposed the toast of "The Ministry." He claimed that the Government had done yeoman <=ervice for the. people of New Zealand. He did not consider they had gone too far. and for what they bad accomplished they dcser\ed great credit. — (Applause.) • Sir Joseph Ward, on rising to reply, was received with cheers. He announced the result of the Caversham election, which was received with applause. Speaking on political matters he made some remarks on borrowing on the lines of his Gore speech, and on the subject of New Zealand's defences. He said it was necessary that they should be put into such a state that the colony -would not get into serious trouble, and that we should be in a position to defend our hearths and homes. — (Applause.) On the question of taxation, he said that since the adoption of the graduated land tax in the colony no increase of taxation had been nece&sary. On the contrary, the Government last year reduced taxation to the extent of £300.000. including £133,000 of customs remission. He went on to controvert the statements of a leading article in the Daily Times of that day, in which his assertion at Gore to the effect that in prosperous times the odds were that the taxation per head would be greater was questioned. He held that his contention was quite correct. Speaking of vrha.t the Government had done for the farming community, he said they had never pretended to be the friends ot any particular class in the colony. The duty of the Go\ eminent was to legislate in the direction of enabling ! the people in their respective walks of life ! to benefit themselves as a result of their labour, and that was what they had attempted to do in the colony. What had they done for the farmers? They had given them concessions on the railways alone to the extent of £238,000. In the customs, he I had already said, the reduction was £133,000, ' and the farmers had undeniably got much benefit from that reduction. The Government had also provided fice storage to the extent of £10,000 a year for the farmers, i They hncl created a system of free graders ; to assist in improving the exports of the colony. They had provided State farms for the purpose of improving the class of the farmers' stock, and they had put £60*000

on the Estimates for the purpose of obtaining market', in South Africa. Yet it was found that because some exception was taken to the Workers' Compensation Act tJiere were people who were prepared to <-ay the Government had, through that measure, actod in a manner that was detrimental to the interests of the farmers. Now, what was the position with respect to that measure.' It was a good thing for the farmers. Before the act was passed there was the Employers' Liability Act, under which if a man met with an accident on a farm the owner of that farm was liable. The man had the right to proceed under common law against the farmer, not for a limited amount as under the Workers Compensation Act, but for any amount he chose to claim. Only a short time ago, in the North Island, a man lost an eye, and proceeded against his employer, with the result that he gained his case and the employer had actually to pay £750 in settlement of the claim. Wbat was the position now? The Conservative Administration of England had passed this very act, with one exception, and made it applicable to the agriculturists and the farm, labourers throughout the United Kingdom, and it had been in operation there and in New Zealand. Under the act as it stood to-day, if any employer paid no more than 10 per cent, per £100 he fully protected himself against any liability for accident. The fait, was that if the' farmers looked into the act they would find it wai one of the fine&t things the Government had done for them. — (Applause ) In the cour?e of further remarks he deprecated the cry of Town against Country. "What was required was a spirit of moderation in all things ; but at the same time what was for the good of the country as a whole should be tackled by members on both *idos of the House, so that the country might he impelled onward and the people uplifted. In speaking of the securing of new markets for the colony, he «.aid that Mr ftoiv, the Trade Commissioner, who was at present exploiting the South African market, had already obtained orders for New Zealand's produce in that part of the Empire. — (Applause.) The Hon. Mr Duncan replied briefly to the toast, expressing his pleasure at the representative gathering, He al=o made some remarks on the arduous duties that fell to the lot of Ministers of the Crown to perform. Mr W. Waddell proposed the toast of "The Premier," and in doing to spoke of the manner in which the colony's legislation was being copied in different parts of the world. He also referred to the indomitable pluck displayed by the late Sir John M'Kenzie in carrying out the most liberal land legislation that existed in any part of the world. — (Applause.) The Hon. G. Jones in replying, said heroism was displayed not only by soldiers on the, battle-field, but also by public men in <he political arena. There were men who had given their best services, and in some cases their lives, for the benefit of their country. — (Applause.) On looking round the room he saw th« faces of some who a few years ago were not on the Liberal bide in politics, and their presence, he took it, indicated that they had come round to the proper view of things. — (Applause.) He expressed the opinion that Mr Menlove's estate of 4000 acres should be acquired by

the Government, and that other estato, should be taken, because wherever land had been resumed for the purpose of settlement the land had been dotted oveT by the happy homes of prosperous settlers. — (Applause.) Although much had been done in the past in regard to social legislation, much yet remained to be done. We must go on conquering and conquering; and the world, would look on with wonder, then admire, and then copy. — (Applause.) The Hon. Major Steward said the Parliament was a veTy busy Parliament, and, considering the amount of work that wuno before it, it did its work very well. To show the arduous task cast on members, he said that in his own case, in the busy period of the session, his hours of attendance in the House averaged 16 daily. Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., said h& believed the members of the House did their work conscientiously and worked in the best interests of the country. Referring to the appointment of Mr Duncan as Minister of Lands, he said that at the time the honourable gentleman was selected it was his (Mr Mackenzie's) opinion that among all who were mentioned for the , vacancy none waa so well fitted for the position as was Mr Duncan. — (Applause.)

The proceedings had not terminated when the telegraph office closed at midnight.