MR. W. T. JENNINGS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 99, 26 April 1912, Page 2

MR. W. T. JENNINGS.

; • -SPEECH : AT WAJTAB.A. . hollow iiig is the .Mail’s report of the speech 'delivered by Mr W. T. Jennings at the banquet tendered to •him at Waitara on Monday last: — -Mr Jennings said it was hard for him to adequately express his thanks to the assemblage for the honour they were doing him. He must say that what had happened that night took away to a great extent the pangs of bitterness he felt at his rejection at the election. He felt that for nine years of strenuous service it was not a fair return, for he had worked hard and with much goodwill, for all who desired his services. Ho had to express to the two Ministers present his gratification at their kindness in coming such a long distance to do him honour. He expressed, also, his heartfelt gratitude to the ladies and the Mayor and his committee in Waitara.. with Mr Farmer as secretary, for wiiat they had done for him and for the kindner:;. shown him at election time, ft had been a hitter light. He knew it was to he the light of his life before lie left Wellington. J.le knovi Taranaki had turned renegade. Messrs Major and Walter Symcs had been turned down, and at the time of the election lie was the only Liberal mem her left. He know he had all the Opposition forces in Taranaki against him and, too, the rc-arrangcment ol boundaries had taken out some ol his strongholds. With all this lie was beaten, hut not disgraced. He then recalled what, Waitara was ten years ago when he first became member foi the district. Its population had in the interim increased from (iUU to 1600, and the, rateable value of property from L* 17,000 to £150,900. It had now a water supply, electric light, the streets improved in formation, ami would very shortly have a new bridge over the river. The Waitara Mai. had said tlie other day that when the first pile of the bridge came to Ik driven the Minister of Public Works would he ask“d to perform the ceremony. He hoped it would he so, aim if he did come he hoped, that the County Council would get on to him with a view of grants for improving their roads and bridges. • Mr Jennings went on to refer to the progressive measures passed by the Liberal Government, with which he had been associated, particularly referring to the bench ts of cheap money. • Tie quoted figures showing the net profit made by the various Government services between the years 181)0-7 and 191.0-11, reaching an amount altogether ol £1,373,110 as disclosed by a return placed on the table of the House, and never disputed. The measures connected with the using of this money —such as Advances to Settlers and Workers, land settlement, etc.—l.ad been opposed ‘by the party headed by Mr Massey. The people deeded to beware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing. On'the land question, the speaker said it has well known' he was a freeholder. It was said the "Libc'ral Party was against the freehold, but a return laid on the table of the House showed that from 1892 to 1911 there had been sold no loss than 2,314,601 acres of freehold, so the 'party could not have been much agaihst that tenure. Tho'rc were now left in Taranaki only ’310,777 acres, 1 of which 95,000 was being subdivided, and 40,000 were being reserved for climatic purposes, so. that there were only 109,000 acres loft, and this was mostly secondclass land. Of Maori lands, there were 125,700 acres disposed of under the Act of 1894, and further areas otherwise dealt with, leaving only 82,500 acres in Taranaki, and this mostly second and third-class land. Thus the Crown and native lands in Taranaki were almost at vanishing point. He ascribed the progress of Taranaki to close settlement, and said close settlement must bo the watchword ol the province. He emphasised the need for better organisation of the Liberal Party in this district, and throughout the Dominion, and said that the people should not allow themselves to he caught by garden parties such as tin Opposition loved. Every woman who was the wife of a worker was just as good as the woman of leisure, ami it was to the workers’ particular interest to see that the progressive party was kept in power. Mr Wilson (member for Taumarniiui) wherever lie went began talking about the ladies, and he seemed to he a great ladies’ man. I! he (Mr Wilson) could show a letter from a lady such as lie (Mr Jennings) had received he would he glad to shake him .by the hand. Mr Jennings here road two quotations from ladies expressing their gratitude to him for what he had done for them and theirs, and a third from the; Tailoresst s’ Cnion. He believed still that this was a Liberal electorate, and that the people were progressive, so mueli so that if he or anyone else closely identified with the progressive policy came he fore them at a future election the people would give the candidate representing such a policy lull support. He concluded by again expressing hi;dec]) appreciation of the honour done to him and Mrs Jennings, and expressing a hope that whatever betides, prosperity: will remain with the distinct and that the people will enjoy the goodwill of each other and contentment.

There was loud cheering when Mi Jennings concluded his remarks.