THE GOVERNOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10346, 29 December 1911, Page 1

THE GOVERNOR.

ENTERTAINED BY THE MAYOR.

A CIVIC BANQUET

Hi 9.' Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, was entcrtainod at a banquet in the City Council Chambers by the Mayor (Mr J. J. Dougall) last evening. The large council chamber was used as a banquet hall, and was tastefully decorated for the occasion. On the right of the Mayor there were his Excellency, Bishop Julius, Sir C. C. Bowcn (Speaker of the Legislative Council), and the Hon H. F. Wigram, M.L.C., and on his left his Honor Mr Justice Denniston, Bishop Grimes, Sir Arthur Guinness (.Speaker of the House of Representatives), and the Hon C. Louisson. The others present wore:—Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., Mr G. T Booth (chairman of the Christchurch Tramway Board), Mr A. L. Parsons (chairman of the Christchurcli Fire Board), Mr W. Hill (ohairman of the Christchurcli Drainage Board), the Rev Father Price, the Rev C. H. Laws, Mr H. J. Otley, Mr W, H. Triggs (editor " Christchurch Press"), Mr F. Graham (consular agent of the United States), Mr H. B. Sorensen (Consul for Denmark), Mr A. Kay© (Vice-Consul for Sweden), Mr G. de Vries (Vice-Consul for. the Netherlands), Mr K. Joosten (Consul for Germany), Mr G. Humphreys (Consular agent for France), Dr H. T. J. Thacker, Mr A. Boyle, Councillors E. Smith, W. H. Cooper, W. R. Smith, F. Burgoyne, A. Williams, T. Gapes and C. 13. Morris, Captain W. Shannon (aide-de-camp to his Excellency the Governor), Mr A. C. Day (his Excellency's assistant-secretary), Mr H. R. Smith (town clerk), Mr A. D. Dobson (oity surveyor), Mr G. W. Hulme and Mr C. Allison. At the conclusion of the banquet a short toast-list was gone through. After the toast of "The King" had been honoured, tho Mayor proposed " His Excellency the Governor." He said that it was his privilege to a,«k those present to drink the toast. It was doubtful if, amongst the Governors of New Zealand, there had been one with quite the same qualifications as were possessed by Lord Islington. (Applause.) When it came to be his Excellency's time to retire, he would carry tho same lovo and esteem that the best of tho Governors who had preceded him had taken. Lord Islington had been many things in his time. He had been a parliamentarian and a member of the London County Council, one of the greatest organisations on the face of the earth. If he gave his experiences they would be a great benefit to the people here. He was also a soldier and carried war medals on his left breast. It was 6aid that it was a higher honour to have a good conduct medal than a war medal, but the speaker did not agree with that. His Excellency also wore ttye Distinguished Service Order decoration. In times of political emergency he was undoubtedly well qualified to deal with positibns in this Bmall crv ->. try. New Zealand had always Altered : 4 *>to experimental legislation from the tnW./>t was given a constitution. AH through career it had had advanced legislation, dealing not only with social matters, but also with business affairs, and it had been able to do that because it was under tho of the British flag and waa part of the British Empire. He doubted if people realised the benefits tliey enjoyed in "that respect. A man at a publio gathering in Christ-church had said that he thanked God that he had 110 flag and no country. The worst thing the speaker could wish that man was that he might actually be without either flag or country. Long might the people of New Zealand live under the British flag, and he asked those present to drink the health of the flag's representative, his Excellency the Governor. (Applause.) The toast was enthusiastically honoured.

On rising to respond, his Excellency was loudly applauded. He thanked the Mayor for the graceful and kindly terms lie had used. His Excellency went on to say that ho wished to convey to all present his sincere appreciation o£ the cordiality of the welcome extended to him as their guest. He was deeply sensible of tlio compliment paid him by the Mayor in extending to him his hospitality that evening, and in organising on so representative a scale that dinner in his honour. He need hardly say how much he welcomed such occasions, because he hoped his term of office asGovernor of New Zealand had now been of sufficient duration for one and all to realise that his chief object and ambition during that term were to associate himself as intimately and sympathetically as possible with the national life and the people throughout the dominion. He had been told that it was sometimes thought by a few that under the influence of extended freedom of the Constitution with the onward march of national development and independence the position of a Governor in a distant self-governing dominion might almost be regarded as a superfluous luxury. He did not hold that view. It was quite true that a Governor had no lot nor part in the political life of a dominion. He knew no distinction between any party; he had no preference for one or the other. In fact, it might be said of a Governor under the modern system, whose duties necessitated frequent speeches, that, whilst he had to think what he was going to say before each speech, ho must never under any circumstances say what ho • really thought. That might seem a somewhat weak and paradoxical position for anyone to occupy, but, as a matter of fact, there lay the strength that attached to the position. Whilst ho was the very last person to disparage or undervalue the supreme importance to a country of its active political life, and the extent to which a country was influenced for weal or woe by that activity, he was convinced, from his experience of public life, that in modern civilisation there was a demand for a great mass of work requiring attention that stood right outside the currents of politics and political controversy, and work that was as vital and essential to the moral and physical character of a country as any legislation placed on the Statute Book. The institutions of this city were an eloquent illustration of the truth of what ho had said. Though this was a new country, and though it enjoyed the possession, much coveted by old countries, of a community comparatively free from extreme poverty and distress, yet he was sure the people could not afford to omit or forego a single institution of those ho had visited without bringing hardship or distress on some portion of the community. If that wero true, then indeed there was work for a Governor to perform in a constitutional country. He could champion the cause of these institutions, he could lend his aid and sympathy to them. He could encourage those who were engaged in that noblo work and stimulate them . to still further endeavours. He hoped a Governor might not be altogether unsuccessful if he applied himself to the task in inducing and persuading others who had hitherto abstained and who possessed the leisure and ability to join their fellow-citizens in supporting and ns"''•tiug in one branch or another in

this great national work as administrators of those numberless institutions for men and women and boys and girls, which comprised the social machinery of the country, and went to tho root of its stability and strength. If this branch of human activity to which he was making special allusion did not offer the same excitement and dramatic attraction as politics, it at least offered this great attraction to all who entered its ranks —the knowledge and conviction that help was being afforded when help was most roquired and sympathy and advice given; and that of itself brought its own rewar.d to those who co-oper-ated and assisted in it.

,1 fc might be said that although he had been nominally in residence at Christchurch for the past two months, yet during a large portion of that time he had been away. Some of them might regard him as a somewhat elusive and wandering Governor. It was quite true that he had been through many parts of thin Island and also to Auckland. Ho regretted that these various and' distant visits had provented him from taking part in many of the Christmas ceremonies in Christj church, which ho would have attended had ho been here; still he could not j but feel great satisfaction at what ho had seen. Each and all had contributed largely to the interest and knowledge he was acquiring of New Zealand, its people and its movements. His visit to the northern city of Auckland was in pursuance of a long-made promise to the Mayor of that city to open the new Town Hall and take part in the various.week's celebrations to commemorate that important occasion. He was glad to see that the Mayor of Christchurch was a guest on that occasion amid that great throng of citizens and colonists who assembled to do honour to the occasion. Might he say that he was glad for two re a-' sons to see him there. First, because lie was sure it was a pleasant, if short, interlude and release to him in tho course of the heavy work that he must do as First Magistrate of the city; and secondly because tho more interchange of thought and idea thcit coiild be brought about between the chief centres of commerce and industry in the dominion, as represented by its leading oublie citizens, the greater the advantages that must result to those centres and therefore to the dominion. The Mayor had acquired fresh ideas as a result of that visit which would be of profit to Christchurch, whilst doubtless he had imparted fresh ideas in the course of his conversation with those in Auckland which would be of benefit to Auckland. The Mayor would have seen that Auckland was making giant strides, both as a port and the centre of a verv fine and oroductive agricultural province still in process of development. The closer the contact and the more frequent the interchange, not only of ideas, but also of trade and business, they could have, the more it would be seen that the interests of the various centres and districts of New Zealand were not merely identical, but indeed were reciprocal, so that tho progress of one part reflected itself on another and so enhanced the aggregate wealth of New Zealand, but the onward maroh of New Zealand depended for its permanence and stability not so much on the rapid development of a single centre as on tho steady progress and development of all the centres. He would like to add a woid in this connection with regard to the extended tour ho had recently made irj the South Island, to the North and West' Coast."' Tlie" trip- had ■ exceeded--1100 miles and had been done in about sixteen, days, with the help of tho efficient and admirable assistance given by Mr Moon, the local representative or the Tourist Department, to whom he was greatly indebted for the services given. He went to the West Coast in the belief that his attention would be confined to admiring the scenery and seeing the industries of gold and coal at work, which had chiefly mad© that district famous in the past, but he found when there something more than that to interest and gratify him. Strangely enough, he did not believe what he was going to say was fully realised by people who lived on this coast, nor' was it yet appreciated more than partially by those who lived on the West. It was this: that all down that western belt there was land in abundance that in due course would become highly profitable for dairy farmers. Were he to mako a prediction about that country he would say that a comparatively few years would prove that large tracts of that wooded country—especially the valleys—would furnish a profitable career for a number of settlers who would be able to substan- | tially increase the export of firstclass butter and cheese to the Home and oversea markets. The country had been scarcely scratched at present, but sufficiently so to show beyond question that dairy fanning could be conducted on a most satisfactory and profitable scale, and tlia.t butter and cheese could be produced second to none in tho London market. There were seven butter factories and one cheese factory already in operation, some of which he visited. The output last year was 195 tons of butter and thirty-nine tons of cheese. As an enterprising settler had put it pertinently to him in one sentence: " Have down with the trees and up with the grass, and this country will flourish along with the host." Tho completion of tho main railway across the island would not merely bring these facts more vividly before them, but would, he wm confident, create an immense quickening of trade activity between tho east and west, or be the means of opening up fresh country in the centre of this island.

There was ono other topic ho would ask their attention to before lie sat down. He had dwelt hitherto upon that aspect of national life which might bo regarded as appropriate for anyone occupying his position to discuss, but it could not be forgotten that every British subject of the Crown, wherever he might be, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, had necessarily imposed upon him the double, responsibility of being both a citizen of hi 3 own country and n member of the British Empire. He had, at one and the same time, to be thinking of the progress of those movements which were good for his own country, and those which were good for the advancement of the Empire. Most of those he was addressing bad recently been actively engaged in tho fanner of these occupations, and, according to tho opinions they held, they approached the task from different points of view. But whatever the divergences might bo in their national policy, ho believed he was safe in saying thero was no divergence in their Imperial creed and aspirations, and that they all desired to see New Zealand, and tho other dominions and dependencies co-operating together in ono organic Empire, in interor.ts of that peace and security upon which the progress and prosperity of each and all so greatly depended. Imperial unity, by which lie maant that voluntary co-operation between tho various parts of tho Empire, had mado gratifying strides in "the past generation. These strides were real, though to many they might not be apparent. But what he thought was true and obvious to most people, and might bo regarded as of the deepest and most hopeful significance to the future, was tho fact that, never in the history of the British Empire had the conviction been more profound that national freedom and imperial unity were compatible

factors in the British constitution. Just as the scope of freedom had developed in the national life, so, to a corresponding extent, had' the adherence to Imperial tie become closer and stronger. Ho was one of those who. m a confident spirit, believed that Imperial consolidation would, as years advanced, develop more and more on practical lines. Its final accomplishment Could only come about by gradual process; it might take years. It would not be the work of any individual, however, inspired, but it would como by the steady trend of opinion, and by people realising more and more that in practical unity wos to bo found the surest guarantee against foreign and outside disturbance. Each dominion was coming to realiso moro and more that un»ler tho British flag a system of constitutional government has been established that was better adapted to the character and instincts of tho British people than any other that had yet been devised. To preserve unchallenged the sea-power, and to protect the Empire's shores and safeguard the trade routes upon which the Empire depended was worth whatever effort and sacrifice Imperial unity might entail. His excuse for speaking in that way to them was their hospitality. They had given him an agreeable and favourable opportunity to discuss with them some of those factors in the national life which helped their progress and their prosperity in the •future. Ho could assuro thorn, -th's,-*. lis was proud to feel that lie was a. fellow British subject with them, that he paid allegiance to the same King, and that .he served under the same nag. (Loud applause). His Honor Mr Justice Denniston proposed " The Parliament of New Zealand." He said that Now Zealand was proud of its parliamentary history, and had good reason to be proud of it. The successful methods of early colonisation gave to early Parliaments a number of educated men, who brgught ability, experience and enthusiasm to bear on their work. He need not mention their names. He believed that later Parliaments had lived up to the high standard set them. The people must admire tho dignity and decorum in which the New Zealand Parliament conducted its proceedings. For that the people were indebted to a long line of Speakers, and ho was pleased that two speakers, Sir Charles Bowen and Sir Arthur Guinness, were present amongst the Mayor's guests that evening. The people should also congratulate; themselves on tho courage with; which': 'Parliament had dealt with new ;coijditions and economic positions had to be met by new methods. Now Zealand, in its legislative efforts, had received from other countries that attention which was the sincorost form of flatterv. Ho hoped that the noAv Parliament would have a happy New Year, and that it would be worthy of its distinguished predecessors. (Applause.)

The toast was drunk with lion ours. •i' , ai^es Bo wen, in responding, said that he had found an intense feolrng of loyalty and public spirit in New Zealand throughout his political career, ihe publics spirit in New Zealand was cqu\"to that in any other part of the His Excellency evidently knew a good deal more about New Zealand than moat othor people who had been in it for a comparatively short time, and the speaker was exceedingly pleased to hear the opinion his Excellency had expressed. He believed that the members of the New Zealand Parliament always realised that they were representatives, not only of tho people here,_ but of people in all parts of' the Empire. Distressful times came to all countries, but ho believed that the Empire would bo equal to any emergency arising from those distressful times. The British colonies, h© was sure, would hold together with tho Empire.

Sir Arthur Guinness said that ho was highly honoured at being invited to attend tho gathering, especially as an old Canterbury boy and resident. As a matter of fact, however, it was tho first time he had had an opportunity of speaking in public in this city, Tho Parliament of Now Zealand liad been always able to grapple with political questions. No doubt it had made many mistakes, but the country possessed such remarkable resources and such good colonists that there was no fear of real harm being done. It was necessary only to look round Christ'church and seo the people gathered from all parts of tho dominion here to realise that there was great prosperity in the country. New Zealand would always strive to maintain the unity of the outlying parts of the Empire. There had bean a great deal of talk lately about defence, but 3ie felt that all true and loyal citizens of the dominion should stand together and prove to their fellow-subjects beyond the sens that they woro ready to take their sharo of tho burden of defence, and were prepared to make thoso sacrifices that the people of the Mother Country also were prepared to make in defence not only of the Mother Country, but also of tho outlying parts. He hoped that tho new Parliament would bo strong and loyal in that direction. (Hear, hear.) In Christohurdi, he felt, ho had come to tho home of the greatest political leaders of New Zealand. In the Provincial Council buildings he had heard those leaders speak. They were men whose histories should be rend by all young people not only in Canterbury, but also in all other parts' of the dominion. Mr ]£ll also responded. He said that

ho was proud to be associated with such veterans in the political field as Sir Charles Bowcn and Sir Arthur Guinness. Ho was very pleased to see the latter present that night, and to know that that gentleman had entered upon his thirtieth year of political lire. New Zealand had done a great deal tor tho happiness of the and that should be the aim of all Parliaments. It was not a time to enter into party politics, but he anight say that he hoped the country would come out of the present ohaos into a state of political calm. His Excellency's remarks had given him great pleasure, and he hoped tnat lii's Excellency would have good weather during tho remainder of his stay in Canterbury. The Hon H. F. Wigram proposed " The Christchurch City Council. _ He thanked the members of the Council for their loyalty to him during his term of office as Mayor. There were not many people who realised the immense amount of work members of the City Council were called upon to do m the service of the city. As a matter or •fact, most of the work was done not at meetings of the Council, but at meetings of "tho comniitteeSj when reportera were not present. A city councillor had to be an expert in many things, from sanitation work to liydiontatics and music. It might indeed be sug<»ested that the University should establish a chair of municipal science, with lecturers, degrees and all the rest, for the benefit of those who would become city; councillors. (Laughter.) The toast was drunk with honours, and those present sang " For they ,are Joily Good Follows." Councillor Cooper, in responding, said that it was a genuine pleasure to be present and to see at the gathering residents of other parts of New Zealand. As Mayor and a member of the Council he had worked for the city for twenty-four years, and he fully endorsed the statement that most of a councillor's work was done outside the Council Chambers. As. to the future, ho believed that in a few years the Christchurch Canal would be .made. When the Lake Coleridge scheme was complete, there would be cheap light and power, and a great impetus would bo given to trade in the city. Councillor Burgoyne, who also responded, thankedT Mr Wigram for the way in which ho had proposed the toast. Christchurch was progressing steadily along 60und lines. Many improvements had been made, especially In Tegard to turning waste spaces into gardens. The city itself had extended itself widely, and he believed that tho extension would continue.

His Excellency proposed " The Chairman." He said that he was verv grateful to the Mayor for the kindly thought that prompted the invitation to that gathering. Around the table there had been gathered a genial group of gentlemen, and an exceedingly pleasant evening had been spent. in responding,.the Mayor said that it had given him great pleasure to bo present, and lie had been specially impressed with the very fine note that rang through his Excellency's speech. The speech would roach not, only to Christchurch, hut to all parts of the dominion, where it would be read with much interest. It was characterised by good, sound, common-sense. t (Hear, near). In conclusion, he wished all present a Happy New Year. The gathering was brought to a conclusion with cheers for his Excellency and Lady Islington.