Annual Supper.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12459, 8 February 1909, Page 2

Annual Supper.

■HON. R.McKENZIE ENTERTAINED. After the ; annual meeting between' forty and fifty members of the Chamber of- Commerce, representing the business interests of the/ community, to the Commercial' Hotel, where Host- Saunders; provided an excellent cold collation; By request the . ex-President (Mr A. H. Bisley) presided, and Mr H. R. Duncan (the-President) occupied the vicechair. The Hon-Rl McKenzie, Minister for Public Works and -Mines; who is also a member of the Chamber, was present by/invitation. . ' ;. Ample justice having been done/, to the supper provided;'/, the .'■ Chairmari said : that -while following their usual custbih they. also. desired. to-^ take the opportundtv bf congratulating .the Hon R. McKenzie on- his, elevation jbo. the Ministry. He read ; a. telegram from the .Premier expressing his regretthat he was unable to be present arid announced that the. toast list was to be confined to the usual :loyal toast and that of the gliest of! the' evening. ' The toast of ' 'The King" having . been honoured, Mr J. H. Cock/proposed, the health of "The Hqn. R. McKenzie. The speaker said:it yas a easy duty to congratulate Mr McKenzia and propose the health of one of their own representa-, tives. . Mr McKenzie had been - m their midst for. a number of years, and had- won his way, step by step, into Ministerial rank, and now the' whole Colony became his constituency. His breadth of mind and grasp, ot tho Departments under his' control would .enable, him/ to -fill the portf olioSyWithadvantage to the'- whole Dominion. It was true they liked ; Nelson.; tovVhave. 1 the reputation ofprovi6Ung.;:Mirifster3 and in the past Nelson had sent some able Ministers to < Parliament. He was not saying this as a mere phraseof good will, but he was, sure that Mr McKenzie had the. goqd-.wi]l of the, whole , of this district, and that .-j he would carry out his work with a great amount of common- sense. As /he hadbeen called' v to offices for, which, he was ' particularly adapted, he hoped Mr .

MoKeuzie would be able, for many years, to serve this district among others, especially as it was emerging from a somewhat neglected and tardy state. They had undoubtedly growth going on in their midst. They had more rapid development of their railway system, and the work was being pushed on more expeditiously and they were in a better position than they might have hoped for four or five years ago. They had an era of frozen mutton coming on, the harbour works were nearing completion, and enterprise was being shown in local shipping matters, so that the whole district, including Motueka, was emerging from comparative slumber to much greater activity. _ During this periodthey were fortunate in having in their midst as one of their representatives the Hon R. McKenzie. Ho was snre they would join with him iv wishing Mr McKenzie every success in his office, and iong.life and health. He felt sure, without being fulsome or wearisome, that if they could add their feeling of good will to those which had been offered before, the Hon Mr McKenzie would appreciateit. (Loud, applause.) Mr Duncan said the announcement of the appointment of Mr McKenzie to the Ministry, had been received with gratification in Nelson as well as by 'his constituents in Motueka." Mr McKenzie had always been a frieud to the' Nelson district, and when deputations from this city had visited Wellington in connection with railway matters, Mr McKenzie had. always been there to assist them. He was sure Mr McKenzie would use his great experience for , the benefit of the whole pominion. There were always two sides to every question, arid he was sure that Mr McKenzie would endeavour to steer a course that would benefit the country.' There, was not one present who did not feel great pleasure and ' gratification at Mr McKenzie's elevation to the Ministry. : .. ! - ••■;■- The health of the Minister.was then drunk with musical honours. On rising to respond the Hon R. McKenzie was received with prolonged applause.. He thanked them very heartily indeed for the enthusiastic manner in: which they had drunk his -health and said it- gave him; great' pleasure to partake of their hospitality. He hoped that when the time came for him to leave his present position he would have the same confidence of the people as he had that day. He had beeu a representative of tho Nelson province for many years, and he found that his friends and political supporters- were more, numerous now than when he was nrs\. returned a member. He had been asked, to outline the policy of the Government, but he was sure they did not desire a young Minister to give himself away. (Laughter.) The Government in the past had done its best to advance the prosperity of the country and all he woud say was that' that policy would be continued. In the last fifteen years there had been enormous progress in the Nelson province, and the same progress had taken place throughout New .Zealand. He did not intend that the interests of Neison should; bf neglected in any way, and they would be fairly safe .so long as he was a member of the•Cabinet. He was pleased when he went along the railway extension works on the previous day to find that they were -, further advanced than he expected. There were at present between 160 and 180 men on jthe works, and he proposed to increase this number to two hundred, until the line was connected with the Buller road. After that it would have to be continued towards Murchison. There were, no engineering difficulties in the way and it would not be an expensive line. He looked" upon the Midland railway line as one of the most important in the Dominion, and reasonable energy should bo used iv completing it. When -this and the north of Auckland line were finished, then they would be able to pay . some attention to the branch lines of the Dominion. Mr McKenzie then_ referred to the importance of the mining industry and the necessity f or the development of the mineral resources of the Dominion, also to the importance of the agricultural and pastoral industry, which w.as; he said, the mainstay of New Zealand. The Government did not intend to introduce^ any class legislation. They were anxious to make the conditions, of life easier for. all classes. They did not.-intend that the grinding toil bf the Old, Country should be admitted into New Zealand, and they recognised;, that capital was as necessary •as labdur in the development of- the country. They intended to govern the country for the benefit of the community as a whole. (Applause.) Mr McKenzie said he recognised that the. Chamber was doing a great deal of good- in the district, and he_ was glad to hear thatthe membership was in* creasing rapidly, and that the branches throughout the district were doing good work. He concluded his .remarks by again thanking members of the. Chamber for the manner" in which they had honoured the toast.' Three hearty cheers were given for Mr McKenzie and the gathering terminated at 10 o'clock with a- vote of thanks to the Chairman.