A FINE FIGHTING SPEECH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 4

A FINE FIGHTING SPEECH.

HIGH PRAISE TO Mlt. MASSEY. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) ' Chrlstohurch, March 24. Mr. Masspy's specch at Kaiapoi last niglit was ail auspicious opening for a campaign which it is believed will have a marked effect 011 political opinion in North Canterbury. , That the Leader of tlio Opposition was in great form, even his critics admit. In tho course of an hour and a half ho t-oucliod 011 a number of important matters. Ha spoko with great vigour. He held to tho finish, the close attention of a large imdicnce. Tho "Press" refers to tho speech aa ono of tho best Mr. Massey has ever made on a public platform. Mr. Massey, it adds, is no stranger to a Kaiapoi audience, but if tliero were any among his hearers last night who had not' heard him previously they must have realised why lie holds tho position of Leader of tho Opposition, and why he commands so fully tho confidence of hib party. His speech was tho speech of a leader; vigorous, clear, and convincing; showing a lino grasp qf the numerous subjects referred to; a fighting speech, full of hard hits, and charged also with tlio confidence of coming victory. The "Times," though criticising tho matter of the speech more or less mildly, warmly congratulates;: Mr. Massey upon the manner of tho speech. "Those, ot his audience who remembered his first appoaranco on the ■ same platform seven years ago must have been impressed by the vast improvement lib lias mado as a public spoakcv in the interval. At times he roso ( almost to,, the heights of oratory, ana ho.never fell' to the depths of mere talk.llo was concise, sometimes incisive, always lucid, and occasionally ofi'ective, even from the party point of view. Taken' altogether, his speech was easily tho best presentation of the .case for the Opposition that we have yet had in Canterbury.'' Such' good material should not be. wasted in a, forlorn attempt to oust one, pf'tho most popular, country members bf the prosent House of Representatives.'; The, Leader of tho Opposition, to do liiin' justice, docs not trim his party sails to catch every passing breeze of public, opinion, and apart from the, altered time, and altered circumstances, •there is 110 great difference between his, political platform of 1911 and his political, platform of 1904." 1 ' ■ ■ ,]