WORK. OF LABOUR GOVERNMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23677, 28 November 1938, Page 14

WORK. OF LABOUR GOVERNMENT

SUPPORTERS HONOUR

MR J. J. LYNCH

“GREAT FIGHT AGAINST MR HAMILTON” High praise foi' the ability and. peisonal qualities of Mr J. J. defeated Labour candidate for Wallace, was expressed by many speakers at a banquet given in his honour at Tuatapere on Saturday night. Mr Lynch was congratulated on the fight he had put up in the election campaign against such a redoubtable opponent as the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), and, to show appreciation of his efforts, an armchair was presented to him by Mrs C Duncan on behalf of the women members— representative of Orawia, Orepuki and Tuatapere —of the Waiau Labour Representation Committee. Mr E. Morris was chairman, mere was a big attendance, representative ot all parts of the Wallace electorate. Associated with the guest of honour were the Hon. T. O’Byrne, M.L.C., Mi R. McCracken, president of the Waiau Labour Representation Committee, Mrs C Duncan, president of the womens branch of the Waiau Labour Representation Committee, ana Mr W. D. Rodgers, vice-president of the Labour Representation Committee. The guest of honour was given a rousing reception when he entered the ha and was cheered frequently during the evening. • ™ The chairman, in his opening remarks, referred to the splendid fight Mr Lynch had put up against Mr Hamilton, and. stated that he considered the increased number of votes received at the election by the Labour candidate showed a definite swing towards Labour in Wallace. WORK OF GOVERNMENT Mr L. S. Edmond, of Ohai, described the work done by the Labour Government and discussed what it hoped to accomplish in the future. It was realized, he said, that the Government had had a hard row to hoe—the Press, “the mouthpiece of the capitalists, nad seen to that—but those who had the welfare of New Zealand at heart would . stand by the Government and give it every support. The speaker said he was confident that, “with the grace of God,” Mr Savage and his Cabinet would “reign” for a very long time m New Zealand. , , + Mr O’Bryne expressed thanks ar being invited to be present that evening and said he regretted that Mrs O Byrne, who was in Wellington, was not able to attend the function. After paying a tribute to Mr Lynch, Mr O’Byrne described the work of Mr Savage ana his Ministers and praised their achievements. The speaker said he knew Mr Savage very well, and knew what a wonderful heart he had, how all his interests were bound up m the welfare of the people of New Zealand. When Mr Savage had first gained power the lot of the wage-earner was far from what it should have been. Much assistance was needed for the masses of the people and Mr Savage and his Government saw that they got it. The Government, moreover, was out to help all the people and was successtul in giving useful service to the community. Mr O’Byrne praised the abilities of the Cabinet Ministers, describing the qualifications they had for the positions they held. The benefits of their work, he said, were to be seen throughout New Zealand. They were all men of practical experience, he added. They were men who had “come through the fire,” who knew their job and were doing it (Applause.) PLEA MADE FOR LOYALTY Mr O’Byrne made a plea for loyalty to the Government —loyalty and not selfishness. He urged workers to abide by the decisions bf the Arbitration Court. Although they might not always agree with those decisions, they should stand by their word. People lost confidence if workers went out on In conclusion, Mr O’Byrne said he was delighted by the fight Mr Lynch had put up in the election campaign. Mr Lynch was “only a young colt,” but he was a good man for Wallace, and the speaker felt sure that Labour was going to win the Wallace seat at the next election. Mr H. Whitehead also spoke, stating that the Labour Party’s policy was the only one that was any good for the working people. Mr J. Alsweiler, of Invercargill, discussed the work of the Labour Party, which, he said, although it was still a comparatively young parly, was today a great influence behind the masses of the people. Because of this. Labour, to a certain extent, had now come into its own. The Labour Party was made up of men and women who had the interests of the country at heart and the Labour Government was carrying out excellent work for the After referring to the great success enjoyed by Mr W. M. C. Denham in Invercargill, the speaker praised the ability of Mr Lynch, stating that he was sure that at the next election the Hon. Adam Hamilton would “go out.” Mr A. Prendiville, of Nightcaps, also discussed the work of Mr Lynch, stating that he was a most successful farmer and was, in other directions, working hard in the interests of Wallace and the country as a whole. Wherever Mr Lynch had gone he had gained friends, and none could fail to appreciate his sterling qualities. To show that Mr Lynch had been feared by the National Party during the election campaign, “an editor attacked him in no fewer than two editorials just before the day of the election when Mr Lynch had no chance to reply,” added Mr Prendiville. PRESENTATION MADE At this stage, Mrs Duncan made the presentation to Mr Lynch referring in a short speech to his achievements. Mr W. Grant, of Nightcaps, said the Labour Government was trying to uplift humanity and he was sure that the eyes of the world were on New Zealand and the work being done there by Labour. The speaker also expressed the wish that at the next election Mr Lynch would be returned to represent Wallace. After other speakers, including Mr R. Wyeth, of Orawia, and Mrs Thompson, of Nightcaps, had discussed the work done by Labour, Mr Lynch replied. The guest of honour thanked those responsible for organizing the function and expressed his pleasure at the big attendance. He was very grateful for the splendid gift which he had received that evening, and he also wished to thank the people of Wallace for the assistance and support winch had been given him during the election campaign. It had been an inspiration to him, and one that he would never forget. There was a wonderful spirit in the Labour movement, which was composed of men and women banded together with an aim “based on the common order of social justice.” Labour supporters were really all one big team, in which everyone did his share. Discussing the Press and its attitude to Labour, Mr Lynch said that the Government had had to fight the Press all over New Zealand. He was not speaking of the reporters, it was the

editors who “did the damage.” The newspapers had done their best to put Labour out of office, but the people had not taken much notice of them. In any case, the speaker thought that Labour would have its own newspapers soon. Mr Lynch said he had seen in the newspapers that the National Party had decided it must concentrate on organization. “We will lake that tip from Mr Hamilton,” he said. “We must keep enlarging and widening our organization all the time. We must realize what a terrible thing it would have been for the country if the National Party had got in; all our great gains would have been lost.” Mr Lynch was given keen attention and when he finished his remarks he was greeted by prolonged applause. A number of enjoyable musical items was given during the evening.