Annual Supper.

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

Annual Supper.

HON: R. McKENZIE ENTERTAINED. After the annual meeting between' forty and fifty members of the Chamber of Commerce, ; representing .the businpss interests 'of the community;- adjourned to the Commercial Hotel, where Host Saunders provided an excellent cold collation. By request the ex-President (Mr A. H. Bislev') presided, and Mr H. R. -Duncan (the Presidents occupied the vicechair. The Hon R. McKensrie. Minister for Public Worts and Mines, who, is. also a member of the Chamber, was present' by invitation.

Ample justice having been done to the supper provided, the Chairman said that while following their usual custom they also desired to take the opportunity of congratulating the Hon R. McKenzie on his elevation to the Ministry. He read a telegram from the Premier expressing his regret that he was unable to be present and announced that the toast list was to be confined to the usual loyal toast and that of the guest of the evening. The toast of "The King" having been honoured, Mr J. H. Cock proposed the health of "The Hon R. McKenzie. The speaker said it was a particularly easy duty to congratulate Mr McKenzie and propose the health of one of their own representatives. Mr McKenzie had been in 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 the Departments under his control, would enable him to fill the portfolios with advantage to the whole Dominion. It was true they liked Nelson to have the reputation of .providing Ministers and in the past Nelson had sent some I able Ministers to Parliament. He was not saying this as a mere phrase of good will, but he was sure that Mr McKenzie had the good will of the whole of this district, and that he would carry out his work with a great amount of common sense. As he had been called to offices for which he was N particularly adapted, he hoped Mr McKenzie 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 ; undoubtediy growth going on in,vfcheir 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 liearing 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 period they were fortunate in having in their midst as one of their representatives the Hon R. McKenzie. -He was sure they would join with him in wishing Mr McKenzie every success in his office, and long 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 appreciate it. (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 friend 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 Dominion. There were always two sides to every question, and lie was sure that Mr McKenzie would. endeaTOM- -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 risirig 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 liim to leave his' present position he. would have the same confidence of tile people as he had that day. He had been* a -representative of the Nelson province *f or many years, and he found that his" friends and political supporters were more numerous now than when he was first returned a member. He had been asked to outline, the policy or the Government, hut 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 pf Nelson 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 the 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 Murchisoii. 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 be used in 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, y Mr McKenzie then referred to the importance of the mining industry and the necessity for the development of the mineral resources of the Dominion, also to the importance of the agricultural and pastoral industry, which was, 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 air classes. They did not intend that the grinding toil of the Old Country should be admitted into New Zealarid, and they recognised that capital was as necessary as labour 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 that the membership was increasing 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 gatFering terminated at 10 o'clock with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.'