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ENTERTAINED BY THE CHIEF
PRESIDENT. \
1
AN ENJOYABLE RIVER TRIP.
With the object of completing the
hospitality that had been extended to
the A.N.A. delegation from Victoria
since its arrival in Launceston, and
with the further object of strengthen
ing tibe bonds of fellowship between the
officials of the city branch, the chief
president of the A.N.A. of Tasmania
(Mr Tasman Shields) provided a most
enjoyable river -trip and a dinner at
Rosevears on Saturday. The party
consisted of over twenty . gentlemen,
and, in addition to the visiting dele
gates (ex-President O'Dwyer and; Di
rector Willcox), the gathering included
the Mayor (Alderman W. C. Wilson)
and Senator J. H. Keating. The little
party left the new pier on board the
motor launch Verona at about 3
o'clock, and in about an bour and a
half Rosevears was reached. After a
short stay there for the purpose' of
making certain arrangements .for the
evening, the launch, with its load of
merrymakers, proceeded as far as
Gravelly Beach, and returned to the
Rosevears Hotel at about 6 o'clock.
An excellent dinner had been provided
by tile - chief president, and this was
served in the dining-room of the
hotel. A short toast list formed a
part of tho programme and several
bappy and' appropriate speeches were
made.
He chairman (Mr Shields) com
menced this portion of the proceedings
by proposing the toast of 'The King,'
which was honored in . the usual way.
The next toast was that of 'The
Commonwealth.' It was one, _ the
chairman said, which needed neither
comment nor response, and it was
drunk with enthusiasm.
UlT M A Crtl/vrvisvn nT/HWCD^ flio friQfif, nf
'The delegates frqm Victoria,' - and
spoke of -the Launceston branch's ap
preciation of the action of the A.NvA.
in Victoria in Bending their delegates
to Tasmania to assist the association
in this State. He referred _ to the
visitors in their private capacity, and
spoke of them as genial, ^ood-natured
fellows. . ?
The response of eX-Preeident O'Dwyer
showed that he and^ his colleague fully
appreciated the hospitality that had
been extended to them, and that they
cherished a sincere desire that their
work in this State would bear fruit.
He spoke briefly of the social side of
the A.N.A., and the benefits he had de
rived from this source during his 20
years' membership. He touched up
on the wonderful pioneering work that
had been done in Victoria, and men
tioned how tie ^knowledge of this made
them love the association more than it
was possible to express. He spoke of
the need for the establishment 'of a
Federal\Board. They wanted to cul
tivate a true -Federal spirit, and it
seemed to him incongruous that, after
having asked the people of the Com
monwealth to federate, the A.N. A.- did
not want a federation of the different
associations in Australia. But he was
hoping that something would be done
in the matter in themear future.; The
association should speak with a united
voice on matters of broad national
policy. With this object in view the
Victorian -board had decided to ar-.
range a conference' of representatives
from all the associations, to be held
?- if 11 ? ? ? :i ? i-i ? ? j xL.. ? ? L-i-
in Meioourne proimoiy, auu . iue wuuw
question -would then be, discussed.
Director Willcox also replied, and
spoke of the bond of mutual fellow
ship in the A.N.A.
Mr J. Gunning proposed 'the toast
of 'Hie Federal Parliament.' It was
!a toast, he said, that ought to be
honored at all public gatherings in
Australia. (Hear, hear.) It was re
grettable that the references to this
Parliament were not always of the
character that it deserved, but no
matter how we viewed J the Federal
Parliament— from the pomt of view of
its origin, from that of the work it did
? 4-IiA mnn +V10+ *+ ? if TTT/YTll/1
bear comparison, with any legislature in
the world. ? When we 'could : with a
clear conscience make that claim fot a
Parliament only in the eighth year of
its existence, - it reflected' more than
could be expressed in a few ' words up
on the capacity of the v. people, wno
formed it and upon the abilities of the
men that composed it. He coupled
with the toast the name of Senator
?Keating, wlo had. done honor to
Tasmania and served ' both the State
and the Commonwealth with distinc
tion. (Hear, bear.)
Mie toast was drunk with enthusi
asm.
In the course of his acknowledgment
of 'the toast, Senator Keating remark
ed that, no matter what might be tbe
personnel of the Federal Parliament
for the time being, he was certain that
the Australian people would always
look up to it with feelings of confi
dence and respect. It was not his in-,
tention to deal with current politics in:
view of Mr Deakin's intended visit for j
that purpose. The ex-Prime Minister
would arrive here on Thursday next,
and this would be tbe first occasion,
since Mr Deakin made such a reputa
tion in England, on which he had left
his own State to make a political
speech. (Hear, bear.) Later in the
year the present Prime Minister (Mr!
Fisher) would visit Tasmania, eo that'
there was no need_ for him at present
to deal with political questions. He:
thanked them for having so enthusi
astically received the toast. I
The Mayor proposed 'Prosperity to;
the AiN.A.' He expressed the opin
ion that the Commonwealth would be!
one of the greatest Empires the world:
had ever seen, and that one day it
would take its place in_ the realms of
art, literature, and diplomacy. . He
mentioned the work of the A.N.A. in
national politics, and made complimen
tary references to the Federal Parlia
ment and its members.
Mr C. Hunt (president of the Laun
ceston branch) suitably responded.
Mr, O'Dwyer proposed ,the health of
'Our host,' to which the chairman re
sponded.
Music was provided by Messrs. Will
cox, A. Frost, H. Abbott, and J. -C.
Dungan.
The party returned to the city at
10.15 p.m., the outing having been a
most enjoyable one.
$