IN REMINISCENT MOOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 8

IN REMINISCENT MOOD

PATEA JUBILEE

DINNER TO OLDEN DAYS

SPEECHES. MUSIC AND SONG

The dinner which conducted Tuesday’s portion of the Jubilee programme at Patea was a happy function, charged with the important duty of paying tribute to the pioneers, ex-Mayors and ex-Coun-cillors of the borough and district.

Among those present were the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young), Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P. for Pa tea, the Mayor of Wanganui (Mr. N. G. Armstrong), the Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. Griffiths), the Mayor of Stratford (Mr. Thompson), Mr. W. G. Belton, chairman of the Patea County Council, and chairmen of all the local bodies of Patea.

Visitors were welcomed from the chair by the Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom), who mentioned the Minister, the representatives of Parliament and Mayors of distant towns, including Wanganui and New Plymouth.

“To the Pioneers.” The principal toast of the evening was proposed by the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young), who represented the Coalition Government and the Prime Minister. The speaker visualised the early settlers as a race setting an inspiration to service. “I have a great honour to-night in being asked to propose the distinguished toast of “i'he Pioneers,’” said the Minister. ‘ 1 This is, indeed, an eventful day in the history of the borough and the country districts centering on Patea. It is given to us but once in a lifetime to celebrate a jubilee. To-night our thoughts are for those who have survived the heat and burdens of the past —those people we describe as the pioneers. (Applause). There are some of them present. There will always be some amongst us who will be regarded as pioneers. But we must have a mind, too, for thoso who have departed this life. It would be an act of remission on our part were we not to give a silent thought to the pioneers who have passed to the Great Beyond.” At Mr. Young’s invitation the gathering rose and for a moment paid tribute to the dead.

Historical Interest. “Your community is rich in matters of historical interest,” Mr. Young proceeded. “Apart altogether from tho history associated with us intimately, we have that associated with tho pioneers, New Zealand itself, and that of tho Maori race, dating back to the 14th century.” The speaker referred to the landing of Turi, who mado a voyage over uncharted seas. “And I am pleased that we have representatives of that great navigator in tho Maori race to-day,” the speaker proceeded. Referring to the coming of the white people the Minister said that they met a strong, virile people—the Maoris. Naturally, they resented tho inroads of the whites. “But the hand of civilisation makes. its progress, and so where we have an aboriginal people they must come into line.”

Mr. Young said that the achievement of the pioneers showed what civilisation brought to the people. Tho pioneers had laid the foundations well and civilisation, in its progress, demanded institutions for the benefit of mankind.

The speaker referred, in turn, the institution of Parliament, local government, represented by the Mayor (Air. Ramsbottom) and Borough Council, the Harbour Board, presided over by Air. A. T. Christensen, the West Coast Refrigerating Company, dealing with dairy produce, and the Patea Farmers’ Freezing Company, handling meat.

“The town could not exist wcre.it not for tho farmer,” said Mr. Young. ‘ ‘ Those who dwell in the tdwn areas think they carry everything on their backs, but if they pause they will realise that if there was no land there would be no town. That is why we must do everything to extend sympathy and encouragement to the farmer. And that brings me to the pioneers. What was the first thing the pioneers did? It was to provide food for themselves. The idea of self-preservation has been handed down from Biblical times, and the greatest of all professions is that concerned with the provision of food for the community. The profession that must stand first with us is that of those who do the things which make it possible for mankind to live on the face of the earth,” the Minister proceeded. (Applause.) Reverting again to the institutions which civilisation demanded, he paid tribute to the Mayor and his council, adding too, that it must not be forgotten that the gathering was to do honour to the first Mayor (the late Air. G. F. Sherwood) and the council which had inaugurated the borough of Patea. He paid tribute also to Mr. H. G. G. Dickie, whom he characterised as one of the best rural constituency members in tho House. (Applause.)

Continuing, the Minister mentioned the Patea Hospital Board, presided over by Mr. C. R. Honeyfield, and the institution superintended by the town’s medical practitioner (Dr. W. T. Simmons), and by a splendid matron in Miss Kelley and her staff. Without tho harbour there would not have been the same centre of interest in Patea, and accordingly, the speaker referred to the good work being done by Mr. A. T. Christensen and his board. In his capacity as Minister of Health the speaker was directly concerned with institutions which had to do with the well-being of the body. There was no more important foundation to the health of the community than the health of the child, and the Minister eulogised the work of tho Plunket Society under the presidency of Mrs. T. E. Roberts. “Lesson of Service.” “We learn from tho pioneers the lesson of service,” Air. Young concluded. “While there is a struggle for existence and we have to battle for ourselves, what surplus wealth we have should be placed at the service of mankind.” It did not matter whether it was the tinker tinkering with pots and pans. No matter how humble the life a man lived, if ho was doing service | for the community ho was doing well. I “The pioneers have grown old in the service of the country,” Mr. Young added. “We can show that we, too, ’ can grow old in service.” (Applause.)

The Replies. Messrs. 11. Locker and M. Carey replied. They were received with vociferous applause, which was punctuated with cries of “Good old Harry!” “Good old Mat!” Both speakers, who recollected a Patea of 1864, went back to the old days and paid tribute to the progress made. Parliament. Mr. A. T. Christensen proposed the toast of “Parliament.” He said that ne was convinced that the 80 members of tho House were doing their duty capably, giving of their best for the country. Air. Christensen spoko in humourous vein regarding the powers and outward signs of the House. “Every citizen of New Zealand is proud of that institution called Parliament,” stated Mr. ' H. 8. Dickie, M.P., replying tu the toast. Ho thanked Mr. Christensen for the able and pleasant manner in which he had spoken. Continuing, he stated that any member of Parliament who transgressed fell into disfavour, not only with his fellow members but also with tho public. He referred in eulogistic terms to the Speaker of the House (Sir Charles Statham), stating that he kept tho order of tho House with an iron hand. The present depression, which enveloped the whole world, would be overcome by the best measures that Parliament could find, and it was only through tho example given by such pioneers as Messrs. H. Locker and M. Carey that the country could bo carried through tho economic crisis. He once again congratulated the borough on attaining its fiftieth anniversary.

The Hon. J. A. Young, in replying, also thanked Air. Christenson for the happy manner in which ho proposed the toast. He outlined the composition of Parliament. He stated that if New Zealand had a worthy Parliament, it was duo entirely to tho people themselves. If anything that institution did was not right, he asked the people not to blame Parliament entirely, but, to do a little self-examination, and if possible, correct anything wrong. He urged tire citizens of the Dominion to do their best always, and to do what they thought right.

Other Toasts. Other toasts proposed were: “ExMayors and Councillors,” proposed by the Alayor and replied to by Messrs. J. A. McKenna, George Williams, A. T. Christensen, Hope Gibbons and Dr. W. T. Simmons; ‘ ‘ The Mayor and the Borough Council,” proposed by Air. H. G. Dickie, M.P., and responded to by the Alayor (Air. F. Ramsbotton) and the Deputy-Mayor (Air. C. R. Honeyfield). “Our Visitors,” proposed by Air. C. R. Honeyfield and replied to by representatives of visiting local bodies; Messrs N. G. Armstrong (Alayor of Wanganui), Griffiths (Alayor of New Plymouth), Thompson (Alayor of Stratford), W. G. Belton (chairman Patea County Council), Adlam (chairman Wavcrley Town Board), and J. B. Murdoch (chairman Hawera County, and of South Taranaki Power Board). “Patea’s Benefactor” (the late Mr. Hunter Shaw), proposed by the Alayor and replied to by Air. T. E. Roberts; “Tho Ladies,” proposed by Air. J. B. Alurdoch and replied to by Air. R. C. Rutherford; “The Press,” proposed by Mr. H. Locker and replied to by representatives of the Patea Press, Hawera Star and “Wanganui Chronicle.”