THE REFORM PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 431, 13 February 1909, Page 5

THE REFORM PARTY.

: RECENT OPPOSITION VICTORIES,;^; SUCCESSFUL TARANAKI CANDIDATES. [ V v.INTERESTING SPEECHES^/;-v v;/ (bt telegraph:—special ;-...' I ; :N; .:■"/■•■■ :.-■. Hawerai;February 12. . ! One of the most important political ' ings ever held in Taranaki took placo.' thisI evening at the Opera' House; Hawera; Bepier i sentatives from all parts of the' provincial dia- , trict attended. The function took-. .the "form;.of■ a/banquet; to tho successful',.Opposition .candidates,for the Taranaki electorates, viz.: ;Mr. H. J;. Okey, M.P. for Taranaki;-Mr. G. ,V. Pearce, M.P. for Hawera; Mr.;J. B. !Hine,: M.P. for.Stratford; and Mr. B,. Diye.V :M.P. for Bgmont.; The leader,.of the Oppoisition (Mr.. \V. ;F. .Massey), ashead of the ; party, was the principal guest of the/even--'ing,. The following H.PJa attended,to -do l!honour , to^their successful fellow, members:—' :Messr's. W. Fraser ("Wakatipu), D. H. Gutbiie' (Oroua),D. Buick (Palmerston), and-Edward ■ -Newman' (M-anawatu).: Mr. J. Davidson, was ; chairman;- and Messrs.. Hi- W- Sutton.and W:.. Dingle vice-chairmen.?,:-Amongst the 'others ; present were Messrs. ..J.' G.. Wilson':.(Colbnial President of-...the : Fanners' Union),' R. ,o.' Bruce (es-M.P.), a,..W; Sutton- (Mayor. ,of Hawera),. and about one' hundred l and,',- fifty; j prominent settlers, inY:the ■,

Ml.'-■'■. /;; --The Hon. i.; Bryqe.' : ' : W- : ■;/' ; ff ..i In apologising for , his. ab'Wcb, : ihiHon'.'' John,Bryce said he was prevented from attending, owing to advancing.years. '■■''.■ "It is inostinteresting," he contiuued, "that Mr.vMas-. seyis to bepresentj-fdrheis a gentleman to: whom we- all .pweVa'. debt of gratitude, t<) "an; extent not easily expressod.:!lam -'glaiTtb seo:good;mettrettirhed:lika our friends , who lnllijowith yo.Uj-forit isquitecertairiithere-never-was a : time.in this country!wkeif:'gbo'd: .men were more .required than .they , The,wave of ■distrust-in the: reckless,,and wretched ..financial system , :' , of -thepresent .Gpvernmentyaffdrds, , let ,us-hope. : a" prospect of I feel assured, •'■ in- '■. ■deed/that. , the existence of this feeling, which (rcrtaiitfy /obtains...throughout, 'the-'country ! will; have agopd/ effect -long, before" the ; t'rien-"• mal period has:expired.for.which oiir, friends are.elected.■.,-Indeed^:it is/tolerably evident that some attempts at improvements are even now visible." '--\'A"yi-\'': :■;,'.:.".' V.i.;:■-/;. •. ..Tho-ioasti Iwas duly horj-'.-oured,,/-"; ./. -;/;>; : v : ;c-:-;/»°/:/,;v';:- ..;', *::i-r~:A i ','';;■".,■^riny-and/Havy.-i;.^- o^>--^: in "proposing 1 ifche' . : Arnw; and. Navy,V-asted; those-presenti'to': icousider the position. ■in.- New IZealand in' gard-to' aefenco:; ; ;This :was^a'matterv'which ; .aireotlyj/affeeted. and^NayyV 7 .cause'tha weaker w»-.were : aiid th'e richer"Wβ' becara^as: a .Britishi 'dopendpney ;the''more' A e i^s? s '"H'ty-was thrown upon. , these,Voices; , : Alluding , .to V our.:, unpreparednc'ss ■ •:ho tipned' that; the; ospenditure -in 4ho last ten' ■yearsj.was. close.bn:ten.minions:'.But : what had- wato.show foriit?. Wβ had,, including permanent , artillery, .volunteers'of:all kinds,including defence,cadet-corps and clubs -, less tha.n.:2o,ooo;;men as,defenders., and'this : ■with: a: population :ofa"mmion.',-. Australia nad about four.million population, an'd , -a>d&.;fenco.vforcevof ,;:;:This:;made;!6o,QQQ-,volnnieers/-;to-:,-defend Australia' and' New. .Ho- : . pointed. to ! :the -proximity■ 'of' Jiastern peoples: against-whom We'had : passed : restnctivQ; legislation.;; Ho approved 'of that legislation,, but, an! -educated. .Japanese-"or .Ohinamanthought'differently.-.rln the'event of Britain-being engaged'iiua EuropeaiTwar our ; 'position' would be , Vyery unenviable : If. :We--wanted:t<>-belp;'E%laud-we'm\i'st-'.be i ;aWe'. l to,.defend :outselv.6s v v.Every ■;man: : shou]d;«be .trained:;to ■ and Shav e:■. some' ■ Unowledge; of ..discipline; ■/. TVhat ■' jre' 'wanted -was a .National, Guard 'of:tho sonsof/th© minipu;..for'the;- defence:;-of, New New, Zealand ,was;too rich a plum'to.be-left without-home ;:defence;--^(Applause.) : \:\?We" snould make/preparations': /for ; defence in timos.of:peace.^ ; :. , Ck)mpulsbry,;co'nscription' : as': known m.Europe; would,;,never : do "here.: liverything-thafthe-State 1 /could'do Should' • ; 'v •*-? ,' ...th.e-; ; volunteer v,'rifle. ' f a ° h - .„(Applause.).-.Plenty, of %mmuriitibn, tree ritle ranges 'convenient;to;:every Centre' , ranges-,in ; .the; tbwns,-.-'should ..provided.;1 Reference - ihpuld.rbe;: igiven' • td^vplunfeers. (esijeoially-those Vshbwing.-.longiscvviceV to ,j certam... appointments./" ■ >scnool shODld be...encouraged'to':joini yoluni I «:* Patriotism; and .love of coimtrvshould, be :inculcatod in burVschools.':.':.;(Ap-i plause),-In l :nb.;publio:;duty;had/the Govern^-1 mentiailed-more;clearly ."than/in the;matter.i ;of: defence., :Tliey.had/had seventeen ;or .eigh-1 ;teen:years;m^,which:t(>do.som'ething r ,because; - '"f- 17 ." 3 ,. 110 , B 'aiiestiou; andstill at'tlie. ■end ..of that longvneriod we"- wore' about-as i .cletenceless. : as ever.-,,-M;r;';Ne^ ; man bore eloi*' quenttestimony, to, Ahe .achievements.of' our j Army and' Navy, in 'the past v :" ;;;. • '. ~:.;■

An Irnperlal Army. In responding to this toast, Mr.'i). Bnick, M.P., said he would like to see every boy in tno public schools traiiled to tho use. of arms, and, at least, in the rudiments of military training They had "noticed 'that Mr. Haldane, Minister for War, had approached all dependencies of. tho Empire with the view of establishing an Imperial Armv Ho (Mr. Buiok) ..agreed that. ,we "ought to do our share towards tho' defence of the Empire, .bni , 'that-'should be by contributing to the British -Navy. Wβ must look to the Navy for our main defence (Applause). Every, man in Now Zealand should bo able to handle a rifle, and take his placo at tho post of danger if war should unfortunately occur. Our " should be encouraged more .than -they were.' - (Anplause.) ' Mr. R. It. Martin (Opposition Organiser) also responded in a vigorous speech.' He strongly advocated tho training of youths between seventeen and twenty-ono ■ years 'of ago in the use of the rifle and in thei simpler military movements. That course of training should bo universal. , (Applause.) Parliament of New Zealand. In proposing "The Parliament of New Zealand," Mr. It. C. Bruco delivered a forcible and characteiistic speech. In tho conrso oi his remarks he adverted to the question ol defence, and emphasised the importance cf training all youths to tho use or arms, so that if war occurred wo should have a nation ready to meet the foe. Ho hoped the Opposition would keep the brake or. tho Government. Ho boro eloquent testimony to tho ability and steadfastness of Mr. Massey, who could not be accused, like many other public men, of "trimming." He was an honest and thoroughly independent man. He condemned strongly the methods of tho present Government party. Passing on to appointments to tho Legislative Council, n= said: "Thpy have made a nice menagerie of it now." (Laughter.) The Government borrowed vast earns |0r money, and they had misspent much of it. "A new force," said Mr. Bruce, "is being evolved. A party of young men, whoso hearts will bo found vibrating to tho lofty ideals of a new political generation." (Applause.) Tho Government professed to havo done much for the people. Ho denied the credit which was, claimed-for them,in this respect. Mr. nruco'e speech was as nsual full of happy illustrations and amusing and apt anecdotes. I Mr. W. Fraser, M.P.. briefly replied. Hβ 1 said tho people of tho Dominion must talce a share of the responsibility for tho conduct of public affaire in recent years. Tho people were now awaking to their responsibilities. The electors in tho Taranaki district showed at tho Inst elections that they wore awakened. That had been proved by th« men they returned to Parliament; nien who would do their duty loyally and-well; m<jn who would justify the confidence reposed in them.

The Successful TaranaUl Candidates; Tho chairman (Mr. J. Davidson), in proposing tho toast of tho successful Taranald candidates, said that tho banquet was a marriage feast eolobrntinj; the nnion of Northern and Southern Taranaki. Mr. H Ote-y, M.P.. in rosponso, laid stress on th« necessity of a strong Opposition if thor,o was to. b(v Rood government. Tho' strengthened Opposition recognised that increased responsibilities had been cast upon thorn. Ho condemned some of the legislation forced on tho country by tho present Go-' vornmojit, and claimed credit to the Ojjppsi-

tion for stopping; muck more, harmful-legi*; ;:',''!■"s lation being passed. .He paid a warm tribute -J. to. the Leader oLthe.Opposition for the great' >;■,>,> •ight ho put lip on'the. Land Bill. "Mr. Mas^;:;;;.;'.] sey: was : now, supported by a larger ■ party,,; : ;• #"}. ;;; and,he-was sure;_tne.. ; Dominion-would benefit -t.:^ ■<":■'¥ by-better: legislatioa and. administration, i't*:.:-: ; :i'? • /Mr. G.: f.: Pearco v ' M.P., /said x that the-;.: S;5 gathering showed'tliat the: Opposition- had;';;:;./-.-,' thesupport of the leading men o£.the whole '.;?;: .' of ,the ; West;Coast <>£ thelforth: Island. ;;The-- f : sos[ country, was-dissatisfied with th© Government y4:" '4 in consequence of: the muddle it had niade.ir;;: : '; L : ; connection : with-'both the■ labour laws:: ; ano; ; I <Xr?} ' tlie :land -laws.' If the Oppositibii had'.pui; , : forward.their best-men,-in every bonstituencj -vjiyvij in ..the, Doniinipii they, would-that evening.vVr:.; ; i'i' he thbught,: be "congratulating Mr. Masse; v - • ;;?'-.* ;as^Prime'Slinister."-;-:^/;•;/;•:-,->;■:•;• -■*:: i : - IK'S- . ;Mr. B.r;Hind, >M&,^emphasised "thf- - ; -'s£ important.factor that,the- land question wat.> ■;:■•;;» in the: recent ;electibns; He '■ and: his ■ fellow■'■■; -;;-P Afe; Taranaki: members /would 'do all. in power to:promote r^heladrancement/'a^prori , gress:of :the country.: p'- ■■ ■.'.-:■?<■■.■'■ ; -i.'- ; - r : "fc B-^Dive,--M.it.-- said he/felt-sure iTeturn. of -additional'- members:'of- the 0p- v --'::"''nv position party/ would be 'justified'" by'- the : re- ; '■'■ #.-:' suits;; the" way of 'better legislation administration.'^.■/ ;'"-.-0;-.,v'.- , -: : -v.-!-!' ■',-■'•'■■■ ! ;'.- ::':-■:.-5--.'■'.-.■/#■? ■ ;i : 3^ ; :/''^ea^'df^tha^OpcQSlUon.^^V^ : fl : -'->-.ln^ : iie^pons^;t(>::iao.;tQast/oJ ; his''health ,^ ;^'c .-by-. ,Mr,;O^Haivken)i: : Mr: llasseyf ;.wn«.-.-w.as , ;.'a.ceord?«i::-a'- , most:MthMiastio'--riß»v-'.y'-' l ?t' ceptiori,;said he ,o_f l iTaranaki;,:h'ad■::^^returned 'four:.xepreaenta« ; ' ; :iv,Vfv;' tives i fighting the ,tho ;Parr ■'?''■?-£& liament pf/New'Zealand (applause); and what" '?s% had; happened /in :thoj jebple-o5^':t ; ?;0 Tafauakiswere:New -'Zeahinders : ;in.*th:e -bost ; > isenseTof Cthe ::wbrd.sV ; They; ; wore attached c tb~iis'vv; /the/soil,vtheir,-homes were:;here, ie and \ their; .interests,'.arid they i were/exceedingly, anxious . fc-K-': ■to' l -see; ; and-'v./tAS economically.; ■:.D'or, many .years: past' the".;.. : Vk :country.;had//neither:.been properlif omicalty:;gQverned. nuw "generally; recognised.' 'S3& huge majority of-'tho'peopla;- r;i*.& of. Taranaki- were/- possessed..'of -the -freehekt; \y f^ '■'.■ sentmen't./^/Th'o;'peoplp''of>Taranakijview^^^i; ; S v: i Iwith'suspicion;a/.Government;in■was / bne. 3representitive i- single:. tas|y ;*ii;?: ; "also, a representative'.".of the r lahd:na : ti6nal-,;:-''/'i?! ! '' .witt;.snspicion/a-' goYerrinieut in /which."- there A? ■ f/;'| /were/: , two'-:men 'who::were "thfi 'leading;mem-:; ■'AS/A'i bers;of,- a,'deputatio^■ which,.asked/Mri ; ; Sed-S-;*;S5; dba tp : \vithdraw; the Kawhia' laids iro.m -.the '■?s£•££ ■optionail system'.-i'Those' - lands Vtertheleasehpld V?M ;iniury'Was "done .ta:that-:part:of''the:ceiiiitry^>:'-,;«#•! and:::tq.ithe/.pep]]le;^ho;.'settled : \thero, ; eyU/had:npfe,beeivjremedied., aiidvyouliCpti.l^;: , :be//remediedX'iyhen'-:the: , party.':nbw./ in' : bpposi-;:;::'i-:Sv;i' ; tionfcame/intb'their ;duringf:tho:; hadi:;^As : j :so.vmuch/: interest rbeen:;shb^sM.^public\:af-M:-«i : -w fairs /is>: was/beihg/vshown/ at'ithe ,■ pfeseut - v 'i;HS: tune';^;lt/>;wa,s/•; /mo^f; r■ tak the?:^: £t?i Country ;Vihat;' : ;;' : , ißoimd /vinteresi //jinVv-publio iyaffairte;;;^Hβ :i&<Q£. to-' libel -those/who, Wton/.th© Opposi-'v; '.',''?s;' the;H6usp' by/means'of pampli|lets;iK>;;;:';ftS The; viewsvbf.'th^^^ ■.torted ; iri.a shameful fashion:'.'There,was;bnly ( .V:;vfe;v .one/way, te/cofrect ■•thaV ; and that was for,the;:membejrsotVth]a : :tibn/tb come:before■• theiipublic".as frequently. l : '>j%::s that; they'..wereystraightforwaril,/.':patriotio-: ■;'^i>! 5 ; !mra.;;anxious/to do'/theAbest they-cpuld ; fQrVi ; ;ev«ry 'eactipn ;bf. the 'pommunity.>:(Applause.):: i . : ;:fJiS:i •-Mr. tribute-tb the.^^gcK)dwQft;: ; ;.;'i'i;}!'dohcby'Sir. H: ; Bryco, and-Sir ;Wm.'Russoll.v ; -Massey) ;/accepted - the i : position'/of /Leaderv.Qf-i;.}.!:-:^ 1 ;; tho"party , ; he made-up -liis act !.■ ? ,'&<■■{■, traditions r of/^he:pdsitiohp.;an4 : v ISifv "do/evorything;he;pOMibly ; /could^tb/;mmtain; ,the;:reputation.:fQr. i ''' i hPnour. : : : and.'iintegrity/,:' i>^. , ■•/:;:..- which^e^wasiiglail/to I ,sayy attached to; , thVS- ' eSg :positipn,:?^ppla.usei);;;.:-^\/;H;/v:v;/;/-- ; //;'/■;/;-, ■ i ! ; v ,The: ; _Oppbsitibh .had/put:up^a'/lpng■''-and : - : .V-';:-;.;-r .determined '.fightj;a^fthey:;w6uld'^ntini'e'/to' : S^;-il : -j\ 'fighti.to the; Country.; /(Applaus'e.) ■:: He .;■ -their'- '• •■ •fig^t ! on;:.tho:/land .question. '¥-.They.\ih"as/-.ipa'-.'.-'--'':-i'-.v:y----.many.occasions/;prevented';impropoi.;espeii- / &/Z.\ ture being;made,.and'they-had's'topped many", ;. r .- ; J,. ; ;;,i The|-Opposition l wa'3'iiow/laYgeV/in.;numbers ;than ; , befwe ! 'theilast ! i'f-i'j-} of:;:th^^:bdstV^.cie,n'.:: : in' '■'tha~'f'jM-<f- ; andi able- to:give■ Parliamenti-'X If/politibal/:/ janythingjvauccpss-iwasvlimpdssibleviwith/ 'the/. ! -|!j|( present V-How.;-!: was >' it':--- : y^ : -:"i'\ ■possibly. ;/;fpr,/-;;;;Mr;-:-: ;Il.^,.:M;Eenzie' ' : - : \ !work; ; :; 'iifi'fi'iil T;;' ; :;;Mackenzfoi'--^;^,'_..w<bF. : vin.w* : " :ss: :jvith/;:Mri;'Fowlds ?, ■■;. A : ; hpuse' A-i i ; ;!iS 'divided' against^itself',could : not,standi-.:- lf^■:••'-:■ , W•£ Sir Jospph'/Wa'fdr.was'- possessed 'of !.political"' : ' ''"iJ'ii' principles, JiiiidVte: ibegan'-to- doubt /whether & .tbatOwas/;.the:'case ) ::he>-OTght-'to;;have/ men/bf' his' owni:. v .:;-:/ji-:";: ; w ?J.uof and. ; heipught./to' put '■'■ his r-:' 7, .- iify, policy 'before..the^cpuntrj prepared ,: ' to / stand', or:' failifbyri it;- f-a';.- Government ■&■ was:npt-'preparedVtp.'do;:that,: it-was -not : ;' country like/this. '^(Applause:)^-;; .^ja:; , Mr; /Massey/ then-; said/: the /administration 'of A^': : f:':M ,by backdpiqi .ahd:;Cpmpromise; ■ihstanciag_-.the ! :ftyS : juj? .^and:' question,v.tlie .dairy; .mining'trpuble;/aiid;"the Gisborne/leases. The,.' change. '.ciples' iii;-:order ~to 'retain; ! pffice:;x:That- w'as.;/:': ; ; -it-j; not;.a;;prop^.nPrvdigriified : Jp(^itiPn : Opposition jwas 'anxious ;,to' -se/o ;the,goverried./i]i : :the/ best .'interests',of iits/people,:;//:.;;/;;-;, 1 ;':: out/the , "Gby ernmeut iuPr'e\Wncerned : /sv;';'fn ; ' about • J: in'; 'jxmet.o:M: ■?£*: .(Applause!) ■;* '%: ■ ■ TiV/ j : !-:'-H.--':, :: ~- '■':"r^)^\^^^i^'^ : KJ t : j'iv-:.&;A! p W!^ ss !vp[?3rty^ ,:/ .''Wb- are a. reform■ '[-party/vV saifl.- : sby;/"a* progressive to. see■:the .country, governed on 'sound".deV:J; ■ ■/:?Ti mm\atic, progressive,; and honest liiibs'.". (Ap-vj-V, ts: plause.).;, Ho 'opridoinned , '-kl:rJs /Government the /tlectibn-^its .uSe'-bf; special; ta , ;ture ; bf/:Pnblio-! money,; t-prs//tliat- .''"ehottld:, not/bo /allowed .to/.enter;-.y/:/^/: : ;';j intp:/'any/ : electio'n;;. : necessary ."there ■'shbuld";';S.''.-;:i\"47] be'Megislatipn/^to.:;preveht' v ihat^- ; ; ; .T,he ;exten-;:!/f ?: .sibn;;of :^he/functioris-of. tho. State if/tliat\meant-iincreased' pat-/i.;/ : :v:';4S; tona§e t -:.bett(lr. Vfeaspn.::Would~.--haye. : to ; ;bQ:/J , ./:yK»,; ; .j snpwii.for; i-s,teftsipn, : bf /the/iunctichs-'of Stato": in ;the? futurp' : :than//lia.d/ .beeir; shown :.r ; -vV-?S; '.iiT-the jpast.-: H. 6: spoke-strongly /against Mr. / /Ngata,':-: as.;'/a::;'itepresentatiyo";v pn}y';'';.of:V'.:t'-J. ; the;:/:Maori:ufao^, :v ;bein&: ; ?"gi.Ten ! of inipprtaiit/DeparfeientsTif xhef Stato. ■~Such:';.V l L;;>: , - s 'is.: a thingV ' ■ , lavr7v. ; .He.-- : klsb'Jcoiidemned' :Bir? r JoscpK' Ward's V nnwar-;;;;V; ; Cjjgf - rantablo-interference -yelth. the/ election for tho;:;;•';';K v) :Southe'rn^Maori']Distri(iti^lf : )oould'.only :be. kept in: power by special: Native vy' :;■//;: j'repfe.sentation.it.vi'as, aquestion: whether.'that fe'presontatibh shbuld.be. contiuued.' , /' ■lleforms':.-.-. , .. , . , 'were^'required 1 :^idirectipns/j:for ::;in-;.;:/■'; -Wvl. ';stance,'|in, connection/xJth' finance .'and. , ipiiblic.service.'' Ho quoted^-.tie"-.recent strong remarks'of Sir ; ißobdrt /Stout;on;thp:question/y;;! : r/;ii;';S bl ■ publip V.' r/r 5 should look;to/ability//and attentoi^to/'duty//r./crwi.' for: prbmotiohi'frivther than;,tb; political wir«h:;c^'-' pulling; /(Applause.);,.He advpea'ted-a;PubliO;/,?-7:,:;:S-* Service 1 Board 'as/'the , cure ;;■::;:';;■>';:;/,.:/; w,;i//:/; -iiS; V

"Our system of government," said Mr. Massoy, ''has become- inoss-giown, obsolete, and out of date, and \ve desive to see it replaced by something up to date and more in accordance with tho requirements of tho country tliau tho ■system nqw in operation." (Applause.) Tho other toasts wcro "Dairy Industry and Farming Interests." proposed by Mr. Forsyth and responded to by Messrs. J. G, Wilson and AY. Borrio; "Commercial Int-cr-estSj", "The Ladies," "The Press," and "Tho Chairman."