BANQUET AT TAPAWERA.

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

BANQUET AT TAPAWERA.

Residents from Dovedale,- Stanley Brook, Wangapeka, Motupiko, Sherry, Baton, and as far. away as Wai-iti and Belgrove, met together at the Druids' Hall, at Tapawera on Thursday night to honour the Hon R. McKenzie, the new* Minister for Public Works. The 'ftiuction took the form or a banquet, over which Mr George Macmahon, the i member for the Tadmor riding of the Waimea County, presided, and Mr J. S. Rutherfurd occupied the vice chair. Between sixty and seventy persons were . present, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. -An excellent repast was provided by Mr S. Wadsworth, of Tapawera. Tlie usual loyal toast having been honoured the health of the Hon R. McKenzie was proposed by Mr W. H. Phillips, who referred at ' length to the many services Mr McKenzie had rendered the district as their representative, including the establishment of the Technical School at .Wakefield, which was of invaluable benefit to the district. He _ congratulated the Minister on his elevation to the Cabinet.

Mr Philip Best (Chairman of the Wairnea County Council) endorspd Mr Phillips' remarks and said Mr McKenzie was the right man in the right place.

Mr H. Innes-Jones, in speaking to the' toast,;, said he had always admired Mr McKenzie's independence in the House. He had always stood up for what'was right and they were very -proud to have such a member to represent them.

.The Chairman said the suggestion that the Hon R. McKenzie should be entertained emanated from Mr Innes-Jones some months ago — before he was appointed to his present position — as a. mark of their appreciation of Mr McKenzie's services. He referred to the settlement of the mining trouble at Huntley, which had been brought about by the Minister, and said Mr McKenzie had handled' a delicate question with tact, arid- had impressed everyone' with his ability. Mrs A. Drummond said Mr McKenzie had served their district better than any other member and he was sure in the future he would see that fchey had got justice as they had done in the past. ;

Mr I. Tunnicliffe,' as the represen tative of the Farmers' Union, ' said that in Mr McKenzie they had a friend at court, as he was to a great extent in favour of their platform.

Ma* J. Eatwell said Mr McKenzie had done as much for them as any living man could be expected to do, and he heartily congratulated him upon his elevation to the Cabinet. -. The healfch of the Hon R. McKenzie was then drunk . with musical honours.

„. In replying the. Minister expressed his" sincere thanks for their, kind remarks and for their entertainment that evening. When he was first elected their representative and he spoke of a railway, they did not take him seriously, but it was now an ac eomplisliecl fact a.zicl *b© -was siare -bliey had found it of great benefit. He took it as a great compliment when he saw so many present, especially as some had travelled long distances to attend the function. He would continue to do the best he could for the good of the people of the Domin ion. H 8 referred to the usefulness of tlie railways to enable settlers to get their products to a market, and said- the people in isolated parts of the district deserved special - consideration. In referring to the borrowing policy of. the Government he saw the railways, alone were worth more than all the money they had borrowed. New Zealand was one of the finest countries on the face of the earth, and although great progress had been made since the. Pilgrim •Fathers arrived in Nelson in 1842, few C£uld realise what the country would? be like in another sixty-seven years/ ; Instead of loading posterity with debt they were preparing the "finest asset on earth forHhe people who were to follow. The Farmers' Union was an organisation that could do a great deal of good, as the farming industry was one of the most important in the Dominion, and it would be a suicidal policy to do anything that would be inimical to the farmers' interests. A.s the present Ministry was largely composed of country members it should.be an assurance that the farmers' interests were not going to suffer. He had been returned as a freeholder, and he looked upon the freehold as the ultimate tenure of this country. (Applause.) Referring to -the mineral resources of the district he said thatin time they might have a population bigger than the Waimeas anywhere between Collingwood and Reefton, as the district was rich in .minerals. In regard to the tightness of the money market he thought the fall in the price of wool and the collapse, in the price of hemp was largely responsible for this condition, as it had meant about three and a half • millions less coming into the country than, last year. In conclusion Mr McKenzie thanked the people for the honour they had done him, and resumed his .seat amid applause. ; Other toasts honoured were "The Army, Navy, and "Volunteers," proposed by Mr A. Drummond and re*, sponded to by Dr Hudson and Mi J. S. .Rutherfurd; "The Nelson Harbour Board," proposed by Mr D. J. T. Rouse, arid supported by Mr Macmahon and Dr Hudson, and responded to by Mr Best and Hon R. McKenzie; "The Farming Industry," proposed by Mr J, Eatwell and responded to by Messrs J. Allan Mitchell, H. Innes-Jones, G. Macmahon, A. Drummond, and Jordon; "The Waimea County Couricil," proposed by Dr Hudson and supported by Mr Phillips and responded to by Messrs Best and Macmahon; "Absent Friends," proposed by Mr Falconer; "The Press," proposed by Mr H. Innes-Jones and responded to by "The Colonist" representative; and "The Chairman" proposed by the Hon R. McKenzie. The gathering concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."