BANQUET AND PRESENTATION AT TAKAKA.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12461, 10 February 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

BANQUET AND PRESENTATION AT TAKAKA.

(From our Special Reporter). Takaka, Feb. 2.

The non. R. McKenzie, Minister for Publio Works, is having a triumphal tour through the Golden Bay district. He has been cordially received everywhere, and great satisfaction is being expressed by persons of all shades of political opinion on bis appointment to the Ministry. On Monday night he was te idered a banquet by the Golden Bay.Agricultural and" Pastoral Association in conjunction with local residents, at che Telegraph Hotel, and presented with a gold-mounted walking stick as a mark of their esteem. Mr Hugh Page, President of the A. and P. Association, occupied the chair, and there was a large and representative attendance of settlers.

Tee Chairman said the banquet was to s-jive a double purpose: to welcome the Hon. R. McKenzie ns a Minister of the Crown, and to follow the usual custom' of entertaining the Judges of fche Show, after their onerous. duties. /

To Mr W. J. Reilly, Chairman of th 9 Takaka County Council, was entrusted the toast of the evening. In proposing tne health of their guest, Mr Reilly said that the Hon. K. McKenzie had been their representative for 15 years, and he had serred them well-, in that capacity, so they wer* all pleased tbat he had become a Minister of the Crown. The appointment of the Hon. R. McKenzie to the positions he held in the Cabinet had been received well by all fche papers of the Dominion, and s.-> far as his qualifications. were concerned they all admitted that he was admirably adapted for the portfolios he held. His appointment was a compliment to the Bon:- K. McKenzie. and was gratifying to bis constituents. On behalf of local residents*, Mr Reilly then handed Mr McKenzie a gold-mounted walking stick as a small token of their esteem. (Applause)

Mr- Andrew Sinclair, in supplementing the remarks -of th 6 previous speaker, said the aistrict was never properly represented until they had Mr McKenzie* as -their member. (Applause.) Their former representatives had done practically nothing for the district, but Mr McKenzie had always spec tnat they bad a fair share of public expenditure, and they bad nothing, to complain of.; They were proud to have a Minister of the Crown as a representative. In that capacity he would have a great deal to attend to, so they must not especfc too much from him. However, -he vvas.sure 'Mr McKenzie' would treat all parts of the Dominion fairly in regard to public expenditure, and that the Golden Bay district would receive its fair share. (Applause.) ; Air \V. C. Haigent and Mr T. Symes spoke ia a similar strain, and *tbe toaaii'was Itoiiour-eci w=t£r-'ea&£iu-siasm. . '■<■■■'- In' responding, Mr McKenzie; thanked them very heartily for their entertainment, and for the handsome presentation made to him. ,-.. During the fifteen yeara that tie had represented the' people of Takaka they had placed many obligations on him, and that was another instance "of their good feeling. He assured them that although a Minister of the Urown they would End no difference in him fie had no intention of neglecting his friends of Golden Bay or any other part of the [electorate, and he would see that they -got fair play and justice— they could not expect; any more than that. As a Minister, he bad about two millions a year passing through his hands, and he would see that the people got their value for the expenditure, tie considered it his duty to see that the peode were served honestly by, those who served them. He intended to serve the people to the best of his ability. The legislation of the Government was for the benefit of the whole community, and not for any class. The Government ' iriteu-; dea to develop the resources of the oountry. and .they could briug about reforms that would be impossible in au old country. They would endeavour to make New Zealand one of toe happiest and most prosperous countries on earth. They could study tne lessons of history, avoid the pitfalls of the' past, and work on the best lines. The Opposition was about 10 or 15 years behind the Liberal Party, and they opposed measures passed by the Government until they found them popular with the public, then they thought them the purest in the world. He would endeavour to maintain their confidence and respect, and would discharge bis duties conscientiously, and for the beaetit of tne whole of tde Dominion. Mr McKenzie then read a telegram from the Hon. James Carroll, Minister of Native Affairs, regretting that it was impssible for him to beat Takaka, to share in the felicitations that fell from the kind and generous people of that district, lie trusted that the function wiuld prove an unequivocal success, and said he bad pleasant recollections of his previous visit to Takaka when he. tasted toe hospitality and good fellowship 1 of the residents. Mr McKenzie concluded bis remirks by again thanking them for their presentation: and resumed his seat amidst applause.

Mr J. F. Rose, in a neat speech, proposed "The Ministry," and said that the Premier had shown great foresight in selecting the Hon. R. McKenzie as a Minister. If the other appointments were as correct as that the country had nothing to fear from the Government.

The Hon. R. McKenzie, in reply, thanked them for tbe enthusiastic manner in which they nad toasted the Ministry, which included seven or eight Scotchmen, so they would take care of the coin. (Laughter. ) The Premier was the ablest; man they had in the Dominion. There was a great deal of development to be- done in New Zealand.' The Gov eminent, could' riot' do it without, outside money. If tney were to wait until they could rely on their own efforts tuey would wait until they were all in the grave. Settlers were crying out for money for railwAys" roads and bridges, and they must be assisted. The finances of the country were on a sound^footing. Some told' them that the-Govern-ment was not borrowing half enough. They were spending a million and three-quarters on public works, s»nd be considerd one million a year was as mu'-h as it was safe ; for the country to borrow at a time. Most of the works were reproductive, either directly or indirectly. .In regard to the Nelson province, he looked upon the Hope Saddle as. a thing of the past, and he loosed forward to the extension 'of tb 9 railway down the Buller Valley. It would mean a big thing for the 'settlers, - and would help to make the freezing works a success. He : was surprised afc tne large area ol land that had been cleared at West Wanganui (now Westhaven), and he tre-Hcted that large supplies of sheep would come from that district in time, and that the population in ten years would equal that of the Takaka Valley, but they must be give tv facilities to en a ble th em to co m pete with - settlers in more favoured localities. 7 7y-*

■'.' The judges and Visitors" was proposed by Mr J. B. Sadd, and spoken to by Mr. F. Pago, and Messrs W. Coleman, Ci. Macmahon, F. W. Fairey, Drummond, J. Hagen, and J. Allan Mitchell responded. Tne last-named said that he bad never seen better lambs in Marlborough tuan he had seeri in the Show grounds that day, and they ought to eiual Canterbury prices. ' Other toasts honoured were !< The Golden Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association," proposed by Mr G. Macmahon. arid responded to by Messrs J. F. Rose and J. G. Page.

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"The jPress," proposed by Dr. Adams, arid responded to 05 vie representatives of the Nelson newspapers; "The Host aud Hostess" (Mr md Mrs Haase) proposed by tbe Chairman: -and ''T-jt* "Chairman," proposed by the Hrn. R. McKenzie. The very" pleasant gathering terminated at eleven o'clock with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."