BANQUET AND SPEECH AT NASEBY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 27

BANQUET AND SPEECH AT NASEBY.

Mr W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, reached Ranfurly on Thursday at midday from Alexandra. He was met by Messrs J. R. Smith (chairman of the Maniototo County Council), J. Brown, and J. Kirby, and driven to Naseby, where he was welcomed by Mr E. C. Cutten (Mayor), Mr T. W Kirk, and others.

In the evening Mr Massey was entertained at a banquet at the Royal Hotel, tvhen there was a large attendance not only pf townspeople, but of farmers and miners from the surrounding district. The chair ■was taken by Mr J. R. Smith, who was supported on his right by Mr Massey and Dr Mac Knight, and on his left by Mr T. W. Kirk. The vice-chairman was Mr Jas. Brown, a very old resident of the Naseby Sistrict. Among others present were Messrs E. C. Cutten. J. Law, jun. (Ranfurly), H. Wilson. W. J. M-Creadj- (Kyebm-n), A. plough (Gimmerburn), C. Brown (Giinmerburn), J. P. Malcolm, T. Stevens. F. W. fnder, A. E. Brown, J. Reid. P. Hjorrmg, jT.'Kirby, J. Mitchell, R. Paisley, J. Coughin, and F. Vennall. The Chairman apologised for the absence l-f Mir A. L. Herdman, member for the district, who had been detained at a meeting at Hyde. Later in the evening Mr Herdman arrived, and took a seat on the chairman's left. After Host Ryan's excellent repast had lieen heartily partaken of a short toast-list was taken up, and the loyal toasts were first honoured with enthusiasm. Mr T. W. Kirk proposed the toast of "The Parliament -of New Zealand," which was responded to by Mr P. Hjorring. The Chairman proposed the health of the guest of the evening. • The district was highly honoured, ho said, in having a visit from Mr Massey — an honour to the district "that had not been paid previously in his recollection. Mr Massey was a man of great ability, and in politics he was in the forefront, and wHen the time came for bim to ta-ke the reins of office he would do so honourably and well.— (Applause.) He had pleasure in proposing the health of the Leader of the Opposition, and called upon the gathering- to drink "bottoms^up" to their honoured guest.— (Applause.) Mr Massey, in' reply, thanked the coinpanv for the hearty and kindly manner in ■which they had responded to the toast, for the good feeling- that had prompted the function of that evening, and for the welcome extended to him on his arrival in the afternoon— a welcome -that was only equalled by the receptions with which he had been met during his travels .in other parts of the district. He had visited many places in Central Otago, and if his visit resulted in no good it would certainly not do the district any harm.— (Applause.) Previous to coining "to the district many people had endeavoured to give him the idea that Otago Central was practically a desert. However, he had formed a contrary opinion: it was anything but a desert.— [Applause.) There was a scarcity of water, but he had noticed that wherever there was moisture there was growth, and exceedingly *igt>rous growth. At Alexandra *he had been presented with a large quantity of fruit of splendid quality, and he would fo& glad indeed to convey some of it to Auckland, to show the people there what could be grown in Central Otago.— (Applause.) Settlement was going on in Central Otago, but he doubted it -would be particularly successful under present conditions. Central Otago wanted more rainfall, and to get more rainfall there ought to be more trees. He held that every man taking up a holding in Central Otaero ought to be compelled to plant a certain portion of it with forest trees. If a man planted a tenth part of his land with trees he ought to receive the fee sinrole of his land. — (Applause.) If a man took up 100 or 200 acres and planted 10 or 20 acres in trees he was a benefactor to the country, and deserved the fee simple of the land he occupied. After seeing what was being grown "in Central Otago. he recognised that the soil and the climate were particularly suitable for fruit-growing, and in time to come .he had no doubt there would be a large export of fruit from Central Otago.—(Applause.) He was sorry to learn that the inining industry was not in such a flourishing condition "as it was some time ago. Surface gold, he believed, was beeomftjg exhausted", but experienced men had informed him that there was a profcaMHty Df gold being discovered afc greater depths khan so far had been worked, and, sjpeaking as a member of the House, he wished to say that if there was any probability of gold being found at greater depths it was Hie duty of the State to encourage prospectihg.—(Applause.) The State should kssist in a practical manner. In years gone by the House had on "various occasions loted various sums for prospecting. He was afraid that not much of ifc had reached Otago Central. If he could assist Mr Herdman in getting his share of the money voted for prospecting purposes he would be glad to do so. — (Applause.) He again thanked them for their kindness and the heartiness of the welcome extended to him. — (Applause.) "The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests '" was proposed by Mr R. F. Inder. and responded to by Mr J. Law, jun., and Mr T. J- Francis. "The Mining Interpst " was proposed by Mr E. C. Cutten, and responded to by Mr F. W. Inder. Mr Herdman, who bad put in an appearance at a late stage of the gathering, preceded "The Commercial Interests." Speaking with regard to mining, he said it had! always seemed to him that the Government had "not properly faced the clear duty it owed to the 'mining- community. Particularly in Otago, the mining had played a conspicuous part. He did not know what Otago would have been if it had not been for the mining. — ("Hear, hear.") The miner was practically the pioneer. He attracted a large population to these shores. Hn made his way into the baokblocks with liis billy and swag-, and by his perseverance and industry had done much to develop the internal resources of Otago. A great deal more oould be done by the Government, so far as mining was concerned, if larger sums were to fee devoted towards thoroughly prospecting the country. — (Applause.) Ifc was gratifying- to notice that this fact had impressed itself on the Government. Lately they had imported to the colony a gentleman named Dr Bell, who was at present in that rjopulav part of the colony called the West Coast (laughter)— where he was attempting to discover further mineral

wealth. He hoped that the Government in its wisdom would not allow Dr Bell to confine his attentions entirely to the West Coast, but that it would recollect that there were other parts of the colony that were as much interested in. mining as the West Coast, and would allow him to come down to Otago and endeavour to ascertain whether in Otago there were not new fields awaiting to be developed. — (Applause.) He had met Dr Bell, and found him a keen young American, full of intelligence, activeminded, and thoroughly in love with his profession. — (Applause.) As to the commercial interests, it had often seemed to him that a great deal of the legislation of recent years, instead of fostering and developing those interests, had rather retarded them. A great deal of the legislation was of a socialistic or labour character, one of the effects of which, in his opinion, was to make the man with capital afraid to invest it. He knew men himself who had had money in enterprises, and who had sold out because they did not care to be worried by inspectors of all descriptions. That was not the only evil that resulted. Let him pay at that point that he had the interests of the working man at heart, and lie held that as many avenues as possible ought, to be onened to working men. If capital was prevented from coming into the colony certain avenues of employment would not b& opened, and tiie working man would- be the loser. He would like to see the legislation directed in such a path that confidence would_ be created in the minids of men with capital, so that industries would be established on all hands and plenty of work provided for working men. — (Applause.) He sincerely trusted that in the future if the legislation of the country was to be changed at all it would be changed in the direction of inspiring people possessing capital with confidence. He would like to see the cities with any number of chimneys pointing to the sky, and making it black with their smoke, and when that atate of affairs came about he believed the condition of the country would— be infinitely better than it was .under the existing regime. — (Applause.) Mr J. Brown replied in a brief speech. The other toasts were " The Press " and

The Host and Hostess."

Songs were sung 1 - by Messrs H. Wilson, J. Reid, and E. Brown, and a comio recitation was • given by Dr Mac Knight.