MINISTER WELCOMED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 11

MINISTER WELCOMED

SPEECHES AT THE DOMAIN A NATIVE HAKA. Speeches of welcome were made to the Minister of Health, at the Domain in the afternoon, the procession forming up to encircle the platform. The Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom) presided. It was fitting, he said, that the celebrations should include the Maori race. They had played such a big part in Patea’s past. The founders of the borough had been optimists and conservatives. They did not believe in reckless spending, and the present council was accepting the responsibility passed on to it. It had been able to reduce the rate threepence in the £ and. in times like the present, that was very welcome. The council hoped to carry on the work of its predecessors. Mr Ramsbottom said that he first came to Patea 31 years ago. He had biked from Wanganui on a cycle fit for a 16 stone man. It had weighed 601bs. at the start. By the time it had reached Patea it was a hundredweight. The most important buildings the

speaker remembered in Waverley were the hotels. (Laughter). The banks had not even enough money to write their names up. He got to Patea in the dark, and next morning the most important buildings that appeared to him there were the banks. He had thought then that if the wise brains at the head of the banks saw fit to come to Patea they must have had faith in its future. Young People’s Effort. The Mayor paid tribute to the young men of the town and the young women —the former for giving their half-holi days to improving the Beach Road and the facilities at the beach, and to laying a mile of piping to supply the town with fresh water. The young ladies had organised a Queen Carnival and had established the training shed and pavilion on the Domain. Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., introduced the Minister (the Hon. A. J. Young) and apologised for the absence of the Prime Minister and the Hon. J. G. Coates. He said that Patea was the largest exporter of cheese in the Dominion, probably in the world and he hoped it would long retain that record. He regretted that Sir Apirana Ngata had been unable to be present, particularly as the earlv history of the town was linked with the Maori race. A characteristic welcome was extended to Mr. Young by Mr. Tupito, representing the Maori race. In quaint native fashion this speaker went back to the legendary davs of Kune and Turi, the finst Maoris to land on these shores. Mr. Tupito aptly remarked that the Maori was the first to people New Zealand. Therefore, it was his privilege to extend a welcome to the pakeha to “these beautiful islands.” (Applause). A spirited haka gave a significant not to the welcome voiced by the speaker. A Great Honour. The Minister looked upon it as a great honour to represent the Government at such a function. Mr Forbes and Mr Coates would have liked to be ; present, but matters of State were important at present. The speaker offered his congratulations to Patea on its progress. That was a tribute to the quality of steadfastness of the British race to which enabled it to prosper whereerer it settled. When the first settlers came they found this land peopled with a great, strong race, which showed resistance. There were troubles in th? ; past, but now, he was happy to say, they had rolled away, and the two races hud joined hands as citizens in a common cause. (Applause). Mr Young was pleased to see the many old settlers present. He took off his hat to the men and women who laid the foundation of a great country. Speaking of the current depression, he said that it was not unique in the world’s history. After every war the same stringency had occurred and if the people of the past had had the

energy and ability to get over the difficulties the present generation had the same qualities and would surmount their present troubles. Addressing the children, the Minister told them of the duty they had as men and women of the future, to cultivate the guidance of their parents and teachers. By that means they would help to make New Zealand better and stronger in every way.