COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 16, 4 September 1911, Page 5

COMPLIMENTARY SOCIAL.

SOCIAL TO MR. JOSEPH McCLUGGAGE. ' Tho Whangamomona Town Hall was packed on Friday night, the occasion icing a complimentary social and presentation to Mr. Joseph McCluggago, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. At 10.50 Mr. W. A. McCutchan presented Mr. McCluggago with an illuminated address and a solid silver service, and in doing so said that there was no doubt it was a good liing that, notwithstanding the trials ind difficulties of life, opportunity was undo periodically for social relaxation and enjoyment, and perhaps on no occasion was this more desirable than when tho workers, business people, and settlers of tho district associated themselves together to do honour to one who, on account of his efforts to develop the resources ol the district with which lie identified himself, and to promote the welfare of its inhabitants, had won for himself a position of conspicuous prominence. Inch an occasion was the present, and mch a personage was their esteemed rucst, fellow-settlor and friend. “It is twenty years,” said the speaker, “since he first came to Taranaki. He left and came back again three years later and commenced business; and from a very small beginning he built ap a retail business as largo as any in the North Island outside the largo cities, and when that business was sold the other day there were tweutyfight persons on the pay-roll of Me- ’ luggage Bros. This speaks volumes for the treatment by Mr. McCluggage. of his employees. He has had men with him for fourteen and fifteen years, and no one lias ever hoard of any one of these employes say a disloyal word about Mr. McCluggage. There was a spirit of splendid loyalty with them.” Mr. McOutchan mentioned the fact that tho conduct of such an extensive business, demanded much effort, and there could be no more flattering commentary, not only

u mi'. : ucv,iuggage s business enterprise, his commercial probity, and business integrity, than tne tact that a great wholesale house joined in with generous financial assistance towards this presentation to Mr. McCluggage. Of course, in connection with the control and development of his business Mr AlcCluggage became widely known as a man of performance, and it was a fine thing in connection with British communities that' when a man earned a reputation for high capacity his fel-low-men were always desirous of adding to his responsibilities; and in this respect in the years gone by Mr. McCluggago had been nominated to a ■matT on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board by the Stratford County Council, and again tho General Government of the country, recognising Mr. M'cCluggage’s intimate knowledge and close connection with back country development, nominated him as a member of the Taranaki Land Board, in which position he had always conserved the interests of Crown tenants and used the elastic discretionary powers given by the land laws in protection of the bona fide settler, and that, too, without infringing upon or imperilling State interests. Again, subsequently, when a ‘vacancy occurred hi tho ward in which Mr. McCluggage Is a resident. He allowed himself t;o be nominated for a seat on tiie New Plymouth Harbour Board, and at the Board table his voice was always noard advocating progress and development. In all these responsible positions Mr. McCluggage had always discharged his duties wisely and faithfully, and in protection of the various interests controlled by the administrative functions of these local bodies. In making the presentation Mr. McCutcfian,sppko, feelingly of all. the kind actions done by Mr. McCluggage, and said that in view of his splendid services to the district it was deemed advisable to acknowledge in a fitting manner all ho had done, and an enthusiastic general committee was appointed to undertake the task, with tho result that he was privileged on behalf of that largo assemblage to present Mr. McCluggage with an illuminated address, and also torrequest Mr. and Mrs. McCluggage’s acceptance of a solid silver tea service, accompanied by the expression of the general wish or long-continued domestic, felicity for tnem, and that in the future the good things of life might he showered on them with bounteous hand. Mr. McCluggage, in rising to reply, was warmly applauded. Tie said ho sincerely tiianked them on behalf of Mrs. McCluggage and himself for the very kind words spoken and tho very valuable address, which he would treasure as long as life lasted. He also thanked them kindly and sincerely on behalf of Mrs. McCluggage for the very beautiful and valuable tea service. Mrs. McCluggage would have been present that night except that the younger children had hardly got over*the measles'. Mr. McCluggage continued: “I take this large gathering with, the presentation as a very great honour to all my family. I am sure it is more than we deserve. Tho Whangamomona people have always been kind to us both in private and business life. There lias always been a true bond of sympathetic friendship amongst the old settlers, and their kindness will never bo forgotten by mo. During tho seventeen years 1 have been in business, although the first ten years was a very hard time, It was always a happy and a pleasant one, and we were always made welcome by everyone. The history of Whangamomona will bo written in the near future, and one of tho principal characters will bo the late Paddy White. ‘Paddy was a remarkable man in many ways. His life was full of errors, hut at times ho showed he had a very large heart, and was always considerate to settlers with largo families. I do not wish to touch on politics tin’s evening ,but I must say the Government of this Dominion and every other Government in all the British dominions, will have to do something to make life easier for the people with large families, when they have to depend on a daily wage. I know from experience in my boyhood days, through being one of a large family, tho grinding time it is for both parents and children; and if something is not done to assist those people that is one of the factors that will bring about race suicide. Mr. Mc-Cut-clian very kindly made reference to my action on the different local bodies. Well, I may say, since helping to administer tho land laws of Taranaki I have never voted for a forfeiture of a tenant’s holding with a few exceptions of glaring cases, and 1 hold it .vould ho far better for tho Land Boards to sue in Court for a breach of the conditions. Forfeiture is a cruel method, especially for some trivial breach of the lease. Speaking as a member of tho New Plymouth Haib nir Board, although a few years ago the harbour had few friends, in a very short time the big Home boats will be calling at New Plymouth, bringing m our merchandise and taking away our produce. This will mean thousands and thousands of pounds in the pockets of the farmers. Wo have thirtythree feet of water at L.AV.S.i. At tho wharf at present, and when tne wharf is widened and strengthened the He- steamers can come in and out with perfect safety. Wo have always boon fortunate in i lie past that when

I anything was required to further the interests of the district we always sank party politics and worked together for tiio advancement of tho district, and wo have always been ably backed up by Stratford and .’New Plymouth business people and the press. The one thing regretable is the lasing the mail connection fioni Stratford to tho King Country, and when the now tenders come out for tiie mail contract we should get the Stratford and New Plymouth Chambers of Commerce to help us to get a mail connection between the two rail heads. The King Country is mostly Taranaki, and the business should come tin’s way, and the mails always play an important; part in commerce. Auckland is making every effort to get and keep the Ohura trade. Anyone who is not satisfied with his lot in Taranaki should go for a holiday round Now Zealand, and he will conic back with one idea, and that is that for price and carrying capacity our land is better than lie can get elsewhere. Well, I know you are all anxious to go on with tho dancing, so 1 will again thank you for the very great honour you have done me this evening. Mr. M. O’Neill, farmer, To Hun, said ho would like to say a few words. He had known Mr. McCluggago since ho first came'to tho district, and he always admired his energy and perseverance. He (the speaker) was in business in a small way when Mr. McCluggage started there, and though he was always an early riser, it did not matter what time ho* got up in the morning, Mr. McCluggago was up before him. The large gathering that evening, and the largo meeting Mr. McCluggage hold two or three weeks ago—his first political meeting—showed lie had plenty of good support. Mr. W. Gleeson said lie would like to say ho was also pleased to be present to do honour to Mr. Joe McCJnggage. Although they often differed, lie always admired the way lie at all times stuck to tho workers and small farmers of this district. He was at all times a true friend, and on behalf of the workers of tho district ho wished him every success. Mr. McCluggage said lie wished to thank Mr. O’Neill and Mr. Gleeson for their kind remarks, and also to specially thank/ the committee and secretary for the evening’s amusement. He concluded by saying; “Our success in business was by my ’brothers sticking and working together. Unity is strength, and also we always had good men with us. In my wife 1 always had great assistance during the time were were living in Pohokura. Mrs. McCluggage made everyone welcome, irrespective of whether they did business with us or not, and when travelling through the district we always tried to act up to the beautiful lines of the Australian poet, Lindsay Gordon—- “ Kindness in another’s troubles, courage in jour own.” Dancing was resumed and kept going until 4 a.m. During the evening Mr. Sims sang several songs, and was loudly encored. Mr. Fordham also contributed a song which was encored. Mr. Harry Hayward acted as M.C. in his Avell known style, and Mr. Hoddor, and Mr. Cottier supplied the music. Apologic's wore received from Stratford, and New Plymouth people who could not attend.