BANQUET AT STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 7

BANQUET AT STRATFORD

ATTENDANCE EXCEEDS 300

PARLIAMENT’S REPRESENTATION.

SPEECHES CELEBRATE OPENING.

OPTIMISM GENERALLY EVIDENT.

The largest gathering of public men in the history of Taranaki was held in the Stratford racecourse buildings last night when the Mayor (Mr. Percy Thomson) presided over, a banquet to celebrate the opening of the Stratford-Main Trunk railway. The attendance exceeded 300, amongst the guests being 17 members oh Parliament, including the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Prime Minister), the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works), Mr. H E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. R. Masters (Minister of Industries and Commerce), and the Hon. A. Hamilton (Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts). THE TOAST OF PARLIAMENT.

‘Wo are honoured to-night by the presence of the largest gathering of public men ever assembled m Taranaki,” said Mr. L. M. Moss (New Plymouth) in proposing the toast of “The Parliament of New Zealand,” coupled with the names of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. “To those public men assembled before us, engaged in both national and local affairs, comes the opportunity of fulfilling in large measure the belief which wo all share, ‘that life is a , great and noble calling, not U mean and sordid thing that we are to shuffle through as best we can, but a high, and lofty destiny.’ “What is Parliament? Do we not, in these days, forget that Parliament is not an end in itself, but a method or means to an end; and that it exists not as an. arena in which great men, Or small men, or mediocre men, may deliver long speeches, but to further the highest interests of the nation, and to secure the free expression of the will of the nation and to guarantee the good government Of the people in the highest sense ? We have in the world today many prophets of evil, but it is well to remember that the prophets of evil have been busy before, and time has proved they were wrong. Carlyle, the Duke of Wellington, and a host, of other eminent men predicted almost a century ago that all the tales had been told, all the eongs sung, and that all the deeds worth doing had already been done. True, the sky is black at the present time, but the sun has not been blotted out of the Heavens, and I believe, with all my heart, that a great future remains for us, both in the Empire and in New Zealand. Come what will, we w r ill not submit to the craven fear of facing the stern duty that comes to us as a people bearing an honoured tradition.

SHAPING OF THE FUTURE.

“It is into your hands, gentlemen and Members of Parliament, that we have committed the shaping of that future,” continued Mr. Moss. “You will not, I hope, summon me before an august committee of the House if I compare some of the surprises you give us to that prepared by the old farmer of Tennessee who was notified that he had been left ten thousand dollars by a relative. The magnitude of his misfortune, as he viewed it, simply appalled him. He called together his sons and said, ‘We have everything wo need, plenty of corn, plenty of meat and a comfortable cabin. Whatever can we do with the money? He almost wished that Aunt Mary had not died! Just then the old mother entered carrying in her arms a load of sticks which she proceeded to place on the fire, and then shuffled quietly out of the room. The old man’s eyes brightened up and he drew his sons nearer to him and said, ‘I think I know what WO can do with that money. Mother has worked faithfully and well. Sho has looked after us as no other mother could have done. I would like to plan a little surprise for Mother. If you agree, boys, I think we will spend some of that money for Mother and buy her a new axe.’

LOOKING FOR A LEAD.

“However, you, gentlemen, to wtiom the people have entrusted leadership to-day may feel that you have not controlled events but that events have controlled you, and that the nations condition to-day is not what any man or any party expecteo. or desired. Be that as it may, we do look to you to express through the conduct and acts of Parliament "those fundamental elements of our national character which are tno same everywhere, among all people and in every business —truth, honesty ( and fidelity. In the last analysis, the allimportant factor in national greatness is national character. We, as a people, are again learning that our mission in life is not to pile up great wealth, but to serve mankind with humanity and justice. The tropic growth of prosperity has disappeared, enabling us to see once again the real things of life. If We, as a people, call for high standards in our public men, so will those standards be reflected in and responded to by the people whom they -serve. But, gentlemen, especially■ at this time, do we look to you for high leadership. “I do not think I can do better than Close by quoting the words of Wilfrid Lawson, one of the greatest men who ever entered the House of Commons, “No man ever got lost on a stiaigat road’ Let me also recall those words, spoken by Lawson when commencing fifty years of public life, which forecasted, with a foresight given to few men, the journey that lay before him. He said, Tn this country, the Crown is the fountain of honour, but there is one honour the Crown cannot bestow. The esteem of our fellow-countrymen is theirs alone to give. I shall endeavour so to act, that my supporters shall be able to think of me as one who broke no promise, served no private end, who gained no title and who lost no friend.

MR. FORBES REPLIES.

In response Mr. Fprbes said there was considerable criticism levelled at Par ament but it had to be remembered Pari amentary rule was the highest from of d mocratic government. With all its faults it was the soundest and highest form of Government that had yet been eyolved. In mentioning the Quarters from which the criticism had emanated Mr. FoAes said noone could object to the criticism of the Opposition. Mr. Holland was the principal

critic “pelting, the Government” but he “never hit below the belt.” Many institutions were experiencing difficult times, continued Mr. Forbes. Of them all, Parliament was carrying the greatest burden and experiencing the greatest worry. From his experience as Minister of Finance during the absence of the Hon. Downie Stewart he could reiterate that contention. Public money was built up on private money, and when citizens were experiencing bad times, so was the Government. However, if a person honestly attempted to live within his income it would be no discredit to him if he failed at first. He knew that the farmers and business men of the province had honestly attempted to meet the position by balancing their income and expenditure. Difficulties had already been overcome but many yet remained. Everything possible was being, done at the New Zealand end to improve the produce exported, and yet the fact remained that the prices deserved were not forthcoming. The history of the primary industries of the country had been one 'of heights and depths, but the suddenness of the reverse in prices at the beginning of the present filunip had landed the country in difficulties. Mr. Forbes said he believed that rock-bottom had been reached at last. But the improvements in thestandard of the produce had to be maintained if the produce was to hold its place in the world markets. With regard to the country’s financial position, Mr. Forbes said it had to be admitted that it was at present impossible to balance the budget. The readjustment necessitated by the fall in produce prices had been so severe that countries throughout the whole world were in the same position a® New Zealand. The influence of Great Britain in balancing her budget had been felt the world over, and her efforts to keep finance upon a sound basis were an inspiration to’ the Colonies. New Zealand must endeavour to follow her lead. Sacrifices had been asked of the people and Government expenditure had been reduced, for public money that was available for expenditure had to be wisely spent. It was only the people of a country that could bring that country through times like the present.

SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOURS.

New Zealand primary products had been steadily developed and it was good to know that earnest endeavours were being made by way of science to bring about still further improvements by the use of fertilisers, in grass management, and in the bettering of ~ crops. The limits of New Zealand production had not yet been reached by any means. The glut on the Homs markets was only temporary, for all the people in the world were not yet sufficiently fed or clothed, and when better means of distribution had been evolved the real value of improvements effected in the way of production would become apparent to New Zealanders. ■ He had heard it said that New Zealand should lead the world in the bettering of the methods of distribution, continued Mr. Forbes. However, New Zealand’s produce depended for its price on the Home markets, and until some scheme was evolved whereby the price-level there would be raised New Zealand could only “carry on” as it had been doing. In the dark days of the war people had been inclined to wonder where it would all end. The position was the same at the present time, and he believed that, as before, the way to success still lay along, the path of “carrying on.” He was sure that New Zealand would stick to that route. The speaker then briefly referred to the men out of work, and remarked upon the work and co-operation of societies and the citizens in general to assist them as far as lay Within their means. Such co-opera-tion was one of the lessons learnt and one of the virtues that had received a great deal of stimulation by reason of the times. He did not think the country would be caught again by a sudden drop of prices. The Government was doing all it could to assist the people at the present time, In conclusion he expressed the pleasure of the (Parliamentary party in being present at Stratford on the (jccasion of such a “red-letter day.” The kindness of the people would for long remain a pleasant memory.

MR. HOLLAND’S THANKS.

Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, ateo acknowledged the toast. It was not often one listened, to so eulogistic an addrete a® was delivered by Mr. Moss, he eaid. The hospitality extended by the, people of . Stratford had been exceedingly appreciated, and on behalf of his colleagues he conveyed their deepest thanks to. the member for the district. Stratford people now had. their'railway, but his own district still had an unfinished connection, and so also had other districts. He felt confident he could a&k for the assistance of the Taranaki members in getting the Westport - Inangahua line pushed through. Mr. Holland went on to mention what he called the apparent uneconomical system of building railways in New Zealand. The Stratford-Main Trunk line, for instance, had been 30 years on the way. In the case of his own electorate, the first sod was turned by the late Richard Seddon in 1-906, and Was to liave been completed within five years. Had it been so, it would not have cost anything like what it had already cost in its still unfinished state. Parliament, said Mr. Holland, was reflected in the standard set by the people in the mass, and could govern only just as well as it was allowed. The people themselves had set the level themselves, because Parliament could never rise higher than the standards set by the mass. In this country Parliament either had to be constituted on a basis of purely democratic representation, or else work under a form of dictatorship. He submitted that a. dictatorship would not be tolerated in New Zealand and went on to refer to the history of Great Britain, _ tracing the development of democracy from the time of William the Conqueror, through the growth of a constitution when land-owners secured representation, down to the advent of the Reform Bill of last century. Then the middle class obtained their suffrage. But still the struggle went on until recent years, when the adult mal-e population of Great Britain was given a vote. New Zealand, he was proud to say, was one of the first, if not the first, Parliament in the world to adopt universal suffrage, and even allowed women to sit in its Legislature, though not yet in the Upper House.

NEW AND DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

“Wliat is the job of Parliament today in this greatest of all crises?” asked - th* speaker. It was not the problem that confronted Parliaments of Britain years ago, but it was a new, and admittedly difficult, problem—-the problem of liaving to ensure, in a country where there was not the least shrinkage of production, that the people would not need to go without the necessities of life or the things they needed. New Zealand was a country of abundance, yet there was a big population of unemployed who could not purchase the goods they required, and the consequence was that both wholesalers and retailers were going bankrupt. The job of Parliament was how to use the social credit of its people to confer upon them the right to use such goods as they needed to live in reasonable Comfort.

The Prime Minister had ventured to comment upon the British, conversion loan, but the speaker asked the people to look back-to the early days of 1014, when the war was being financed by Paper money of Britain backed by the

social credit of the country behind it. There wa® at the time not enough money in the country to meet the huge drain of the war, and as the banks were not connected with the Treasury issue they floated huge war loans upon which to-day Britain was paying millions of pounds. Yet these loans were raised from funds that never existed beyond the state of a book entry. This great debt was to-day crippling Britain and other countries as well. Eventually war debt® would have to be cancelled. Therein lay another problem confronting Parliament. The country was doing everything it could be called upon to do as far as production was concerned, but it was failing badly when it came to the question of distribution. Mr. Holland believed a solution could, be found if a fuller and better knowledge ■ was applied in the Salving of it.

PARLIAMENT’S STANDARD HIGH.

“Tn Parliament we fight with gloves off, and we hit hard, though with an endeavour to be fair,” went on Mr. Holland. When all was said and done, he believed. New Zealand had a Parliament that from all standards stood as high as or higher than ahy in the world. In this connection he paid a high tribute to the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham, who he described as one of the moat efficient referees in the world.

Reverting to the question of loans, and the relations between New Zealand and Great Britain, Mr. Holland, said that when Mr. Forbes went to the Old Country on the matter of its debts, it Would be within his rights to remind Great Britain of its attitude towards foreign debtor nations. Italy, for instance, had. actually paid 14s for every £1 it owed. If New Zealand secured the same treatment it would soon recover and. the country would presently be in a much better position financially and otherwise. At the same time Mr. Holland emphasised that no scheme of currency reform would bring the country to better things unless such reforms were accompanied, by industrial reforms.

In conclusion he cordially thanked Mr. Moss for the toast as he had given, it, and thanked, every member, of the gathering for the way the toast had been honoured.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

In proposing the toast Of the Public Works Department Mr. J. B. Richards, substituting for Mr. F. W. Horner (expresidont of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce), who was unable for health reasons to be present, eulogised ,tlie department as one of the most efficient departments in the Dominion. The railway, said Mr. Richards, had been the source of hope, of fear and oven of despair in its long: building, but now it was at last an accomplished fact. In the building of a railway a great deal depended upon the engineers, and Stratford, had had quite a. number of distinguished, engineers. Mr. F. W. Furkert started in a small house in Stratford and had finished at the top of the tree in his profession. Mr. Richards believed that that night marked the close of Mr. Furkert’s professional career, but he would leave behind a record of .which any man might be proud. (Applause.) The influence of a railway upon the development of a district was commented upon by Mr. Richards, who went on to say that the district now served was not yet at a state of full production because the best , and proper means of “bringing in” the country were not yet completely understood. In time they Would be and he looked forward to the arrival of that not far distant day. .Today the province of Taranaki was united and joyful and much was due to Mr. Coates, to whom Stratford people frequently had had to make representations. After paving a tribute to the organisation. of the committee responsible for the celebration arrangements, he referred to the desire not to give the present function too much of’ a Stratford leaning, and for that reason an effort had been made to so arrange the programme of speakers as to supply a provincial representation.

tribute- TO P.WU. officers:

The officers of the department had displayed great knowledge and careful attention to their duties, and had carried out works, big and little, faithfully and well. The Ministers also had played their part and had always given de putationists a careful hearing. At due time, he confessed, a certain amount of disappointment had been felt when Mr. Coates had been unable to meet their requests for expedition. However, they had been told that when the time did arrive the men wduld “hop in and go for their lives.” That they had done in a fine spirit, and now the line was finished. Mr. Coates in response said enough deputations had ' been ’ received over tae question of the railway just completed, and he facetiously added - that he thought he could already detect a note of disappointment in Stratford —there would be nothing left to talk about. Seriously, he was glad that the line had been completed, and he believed that it would be of untold value. At the same time it had to be remembered that the enormous cost entailed m the construction would require considerable revenue in compensation. The Public Works Department had already decreased its expenditure by 40 per cent., and further decreases were still necessary. The people of New Zealand wou.d have to realise that such money as would be spent would be administered as wisely as possible and in the best interests of the country as a whole. Mr. 8. Takle, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, proposed the toast of “Industries and Commerce.” He paid a tribute to the work of Air. blasters and referred to the quotation, “Art thrives most where commerce has enriched the busy coast. He said he believed- it to bo very true. “Secondary industries come first, manufacturing industries next and then come all the business and associated callings, he said. Mr. Takle sketched the advantages that would accrue to Taranaki from the new railway in the way of additional produce and traffic. Secondary and other industries in a country like New Zealand were, he said, interdependent upon the primary industries.

MR. MASTERS’ CONFIDENCE.

“I am convinced that the greatest needs to-day are for the display of more optimism and confidence on. the part of industrialists, investors, and indeed by all sections of the community, ’ said the Hon. K. Masters, Minister of Industry and Gpmmerce, in the course of his reply. There is no doubt that want of confidence in ourselves and our resources hampers and restricts industry to a dangerous degree. “To a certain extent capital has been frozen, as is evidenced by increased bank deposits, the number of Government bonds purchased,, and the fall in shares on the stock exchange. This may be a natural result of the present depression, but I am of the opinion that the time has arrived when there should be a loosening of the purse strings and of judicious Spending. . . -L “I know officially of one concern which desires, to invest £500,000 in New Zealand,” Mr. Masters said. “It needs no emphasising by me to show you what a benefit it would be to have an additional half a million of capital spent here, buying our electricity, giving work to cur un-

employed and producing at a cheap an article that is greatly needed. Such a concern need® encouragement, and. if necessary should be given a concession. I mention this to show that capital outside New Zealand apparently has confidence in us. “More enterprise is needed in New Zealand to-day. There is a real call for development in both primary and secondary industries. “We have just about reached the limit so far as depression and pessimism are concerned, and I think we c&n definitely look forward to better times. There is a limit to taxation, as it is possible to tax beyond taxable value, which has been proved in regard to racing, postage and customs duties. There is also a limit to economy. An excess in either taxation or economy creates hardship, which in turn may create unemployment.” WEALTH OF SCENERY.

The toast of “Tourist and Health Resorts” was proposed by Mr. .T. C. List, who spoke briefly upon the wealth of scenic grandeur with which New Zealand was endowed and which was to bo seen in such profusion on Taranaki’s own Mount Egmont. The Hon. Adam Hamilton, Minister in charge of the department, replied. He said some people seemed to think the New Zealand health and tourist resorts were not of any great value simply because they did not disclose great profits. “Our fault,” he said, “is that we are mixing scenery with finance, but in effect the tourist .traffic is a very valuables asset to any country. It .is worth £1,500,000 and it is interesting to note how that vast sum was distributed. It is divided ds follows: 20 per cent, in merchandise, 37.8 per cent, in hotels, 18.5 per cent, in transport, 2.9 per cent, in confections, etc., 8.5 per cent, in theatres and amusements and 3.2 per cent, in such incidentals as car fares.” The Economy Commission had recommended that most of the tourist resorts should be handed over to private enterprise. From an accountant’s point of view this might be true, but a great deal of indirect gain was derived from tourist traffic,. and this had to be taken into account, it might bo that some would have to go, but he was of' opinion that others were national assets and should be kept by the Government. Among these could be mentioned Waitomd, Rotorua and the New Zealand hot springs. The Chateau might well bo handed over to private enterprise if such a man could be found, but in any case he was pleased to be able to say that the Chateau was to-day almost paying its way. Taranaki, continued the Minister, had its own national asset in Mount Eg-mont—-a real beauty spot—and while, ho had the mountain in mind, he ; would like to say how excellent seemed; theresults achieved under the system .practised in Taranaki, where local' committees worked in happy co-operation yith the Government. This was a very desirable system, and he hoped to see it developed more extensively elsewhere In the Dominion. .

Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., in-proposing the toast of “Taranaki Local Bodies” said the hour was .too late for eloquence. The local bodies had a spirit oL national service that had stood Taranaki in particular and New Zealand in general in good stead. The men who had carried out local body work in Taranaki had done so honestly and well. The rights of local bodies were rights that had to be protected as zealously as those of Parliament. They were doing good, sound and practical work and work that was as economical and aS good as that of Parliament. There was talk of centralisation and amalgamation but the costs were already so low that it was doubtful if the position could"'be improved. Messrs H? V. S. Griffiths (Mayor of, New Plymouth), J. B. Murdoch (chair-i man of the Hawena County Council), C. E. Bellringer (chairman of the Newi Plymouth' Harbour Board), J. 8. Con-; nett (chairman of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association) and I. J. Bridger ■(Mayor of.Eltham) responded. During . the evening items were-given by Mr. A. E. Pollock (-song); Melody, Four Quartet, Messrs Con.l.v-aH, Bell-, ringer, Ok-ay and .Hooker; Miss Ham-, m-erton (eong); Air. A. L. McPherson (monologue); Madame Vet a Cornwall (song with flute obbligato); Mr. P. Coo (song); Mr. F. Cornwall (violin solo); Mr. B. Bellringer (s-ong);. Miss Massey (song); Mr. F. O’Connor (recitation). The orchestra was: First violin, Mr. C. H. Rogers and Miss F. ■Rogers; second violin, Miss Howard; flute, Mr. G. Dick; ’cello, Miss Saunders; bass, Mr. C. Femmell; cornets, ■Aressps H. Voght and A. Kelly; horn, Air. Howard; plan is te and accompanists, Mite E. Afoon.