MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13946, 29 April 1909, Page 3

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

BANQUETED AT dWAKA. '

Par Preps Association.. ' OWAKA, April 28. To-day the Ron. Thomas Mackenzie, Minister of (Agriculture, Industry, ana Tourist Reports, in response to an lnvi- . tation from the, settlers, visited Owaka. He proceeded by road and river to the various places of scenic' and industrial interest in the' neighbourhood t receiving a few deputations of local import' en route, ana planting tdtara trees in what is to. be known as the. "Mackenzie belt" at the Pounatpea domain. In the evening a social, was held in honour of Mr. Mackenzie's elevation, to Ministerial rank, the guest being played to his seat by HighJ&nd pipers. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, referring to Mr. Mackenne'Js energy and übiquity, said he- would mther be that gentleman's Bible, than his horse. Mr. Anderson, member for,M*taura, in tho course of a forcible speech, said that the man who said this country should I not be defended to the last shining and I t the last man was a traitor. He hoped : during the life of the present Parliament to see such steps taken as would prevent the possibility of German or Japanese violating our shores. The Minister confined^ himself mainly to generalities, mentioning the need for defence, the source of wealth the Tourist Department was likely to be, and the necessity for retrenchment which the Government had resolved to face boldly.