THE GREY SEAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3103, 3 September 1913, Page 10

THE GREY SEAT.

PRESENTATION TO MR MICHEL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUIH, August 19. The social tendered Mr H. L. Michel at Reefton last evening was a great success, there being about idDO ladies and gentlemen present. The theatre was nicely decorated with evergreens, flags, and mottos, while in the front of the stage in large letters was the word “ Welcome.” Mr Isaac Patterson, deputy chairman of Mr Michel's committee, stated that they were there that nignt to recognise tne clean fight that had been put up by Mr Michel in the late by-election. Never before, he said, had * the audiences been ( treated to such splendid addresses as they had had during the late election. He regretted that with the defeat of Mr Michel the West Coast and, in fact, the dominioil had suffered a loss. Especially was this so with regard to the mining industry, with which Mr Michel had been connected for such a number of yearn. He sincerely hoped that in the near future they would see Mr Michel elected as a supporter of the Government and, in fact, a Minister. In his opinion the way to tell a gentleman was by seeing how he took his defeat, and he could assure them Mr Michel was a gentleman of the first water. Mr Patterson then asked Mr Michel to accept from the Reefton residents and supporters a purse of sovereigns as a token of the feelings of the people assembled there that night. He read the following telegram “from the Prime Minister : —“ Many thanks for your telegram of even date conveying, on behalf of Mr Michel’s Reefton committee, an invitation to the social on Monday next. I regret exceedingly that owing to parliamentary duties it is impossible for me to leave Wellington at present. I am confident, however, that your proposed function will be a great success, worthy of the party and worthy of the guest of the evening who put up such a magnficent fight in the recent by-election. * Mr D. Jones addressed a few words expressing his pleasure at again being amongst them after the strenuous fight they had put up and the victory they had achieved in polling such a large number cf votes in favour of Mr Michel as they did. He disagreed with the present system of electing a member. In his opinion the old style was far preferable to the second ballot. He did not think that the Liberals in the Grey district had any chance of returning their candidate, as the late returns showed there were only 1500 Liberals out of the 6500 on .the roll. The manner in which the Reefton district polled showed that they agreed with the manner in which the Government dealt with the Waihi trouble.

Mr Michel, who was received with applause, said that if he had been called on to address them on any social, political or national question he would have found it far easier than he did now to express nis thanks for their kindness. He stated thht at the time of the funeral of the late member for Grey he had not the slightest intention of contesting the seat. He only agreed to do, so owing to no local man offering himself. He went into the contest with a light heart and tried to do his Lest to win by leaving no stone unturned to get to the top of the poll. He desired to thank his Reefton committee for the splendid assistance it had rendered him. He had now contested five elections (counting the second ballot), and he was pleased to state he had never been defeated in Hokitika, Greymouth, or Reefton,'the three i nnc.ipal polling places. The Prime Minister had written to him and expressed his pleasure at the manner in which the Greymouth and Reefton people had supported him at the poll. He hoped the second ballot would be done away with, not because he had been defeated, but it enabled two weak parties to join hands to defeat the strong one. He was sorry to see published ?n the Tablet the remark that it would take him (Mr Michel) a lifetime to live down the things that nad been said about him. Much was a cruel statement to make and ought never to have been printed. He could assure them that neither he nor nis committee had in any way done anything to stir up sectarian strife. If he had fallen out in the first ballot he was certain that Mr Hannan would have looked to nis side to support him, and they would have done so. Everyone now knew how it .was reciprocated. The Government would bring forward at the next election a strong man to contest the seat. He therefore urged them to organise, but on no account to v keep alive bad feelings. He concluded by again thanking his committee and also the Reefton Band for serenading him. With respect to the handsome presentation they had made him, after all the accounts were paid it was his intention to purchase a piece of silver so as to remind him of the past election, and with the balance he was going to further the Reform cause, especially in the Grey district, by distributing literature which no had sent Home and to America. People must not run away with the idea that the jiresent Government was going out of office, or that Mr Massey was weak and the old party strong. Such was not the case. Even Mr Hannan admitted their policy was a good one, although he stated that he would vote them out of office. Mr Michel resumed his seat amid great applause.