THE REFORM PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 430, 12 February 1909, Page 5

THE REFORM PARTY.

OPPOSITION'S NEW NAME. '. MR D. BUICK, M.P., HONOURED. " IB! TKLIaEAFH.—SPECIAL COE[tSSPOi<DKtiT.t Palmcrston North, February 11. The supporters of Mr. D.Buick, M:P. fot •. .Palmcrston, did him honour to-night at a conversazione: acterised with tho greatest: enthusiasm," '77 Amongst those present were . Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of tho • Opposition, Mr. E. Newman, M.P. for Manawatu; Mr. D. H. Guthrie, M.P. for Oi'oua,\and the .Mayor ofPalmerston (Mr. J. A. Nash). Tho Freehold. Mr. J. G. Wilson, president of the Farmers' • Union of New' Zealand,' writing 1 on behalf of that; important body, expressed;his-'regret at - , ■not 'being able to : bepresent,' as .lie .'was., 1 livering an'address.that' evening at Wahgaiiui. 5 but ho set .forth the opinions of the general .' body of farmers " and settlers in tho following 77: well-expressed terms: —. ,7- 7.;., "Tho success of the.freeholders on this r v : . I.coast is most gratifying', and the Farmers'/1,-,V>- •> Unions'ithroughputi the iwhole Dominion- 'j -.';' .. : are'jubilant, at the.thought,that,wo : -My ;;y',;^s' look forward' to an' early common-sense '-. land policy will give ; iothe :CrpwuX; : v : ■ teuants tho right, if they wish to 'cxer-. cise it,'.of converting.their leaseHolds;into . Y - freeholdsV ; on equitable ' .termai'' believing'. '■ ' j as wo would be a. good ,bargain 'for the colony,' and in ,the best' intercsts•■'li-r 1 ' -' of tho people-J. G. WILSON." "A Victory of Special Value." .... Mr. John Duthie wrote:— "I have much i>lcasuro in congratulate , ing bdth,Mr. ; :Buick' and hid supporters ;. t ' over their success. His retunv ror. Pal-. . 7 lriorston was a victory of special value .7 77: ; ■!in its moral effect, throughout.. New .. '. Zealand." , •> - - Mr. Bulck's Speech. , In . tho courso of his . address, Mr. Bujck v . M.P.",7 laid, stress on^ ; tbe'f. : increas^. : res'ponsir .was approaching a crisis. Tlio Opposition " -.was called .upon, at this juncture; f<>.;a§sistl ;;; 'every proposal "that-was' for tlio, good\6f..the v?>V : : Dominion,but itwould .-.be'■ its^toty'to.-resist V;:'.''; -to tho uttermost whatever proposals of tho :. -v !Government• thoy. felt■ to .be. inimical tho , . best,;interests; of New"Zealand.' 7 t-.;;.-:; < *£■';$ Address by Mr. Massey. Mr;- Massey, ■-.who:vwas^niosii:'icprdialli..'.^-v.yi:i i ccived, said it gave liinvihe. utmost pleasure in, being present to do honpur .to Mr. Buick. Ho said- Mr.- Buick possessed that most valu-. - able-possession, .'commcn-;'; sense; arid sound ;'-'/.: judgment.- He predicted, a successful .public career-.fox the .ne.w,member for: Palmerston» The people oKNew?-Zealand seemed now -to bo - looking, to the. Opposition mora than to tho: Government for good administrationaiid -7.. sound, beneficial' legislation in tho best: in- - terests ef all. The Opposition was now in- ' creased ; in numbers. 7 There were, mero independent members in tho House (and he , trusted they would'Temain independent), and it was ■very, significant that the .voting at .they. recent - general election' sliowed increased -; ■ majorities for. the Opposition.' The last election demonstrated: clearly 1 that the people 7-7 wero" determined: to have reform on sound • lines in many ' directions. " During' the lona - . ; . : . tenure of offico of the present Adtninistra-, tion : many evils had .grown up in. connection 1 y?ith' the" - pf ' the/, country..7'lt :; would be the, duty of ;.the_ Opposition to do >. its best to rempve these-evils. -party :' 7 now in opppsitipn," said Mr. Massey, with great-emphasis, "is"the ItefQna' : party. ";That. : ■ is. the name by which it known ip.: ■ tho.futnra." ■■■.'. ■ . '■This-declaration, by which Mr.-MasEey con , eluded his address, was loudly cheered. Other Speeches. : Guthrie, ' ILP.,- in - a\brief address, ; added hiß- :testimony,to 'Mr.. Buick's wprth. : • !He was -a-.man steadfast-> -to- his . political ; : principles, and ivith qommon-sense and baok- : bono. ,7 ..-7.:-7 ~-.7. ;:' - 7';' ..'Mr.7 E. Newman, M.P.':for!::Manawatu,,: .said ho was convinced of this—that tlio. people of bis district detennined^■.•. upon oho point,: arid: thatywas that .the. land - .7 tenure in futura should'-bo.tha freehold. In - fact'that feelingiwas" now; almost -universal 77in the towns asi well as in tho country. -He firmly believed 'it had-.more, to' do with his return than almost ajiy other question that ; was laid-beforo the electors. ' He: also found.; : that'.if was 'the', desire,-'; and. indeed the de- ■. 'termiriSiori, of'the people to put-semo check : upon "tho- somewhat'-reckless, system and nd- , .ministration of the: present Government. :