IMMENSE DEMONSTRATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1303, 5 December 1911, Page 7

IMMENSE DEMONSTRATION.

HUGE MEETING DECLARES FOR REFORI. TOWN HALL CROWDED TO. EXCESS. THOUSANDS TURNED AWAY. CANDIDATES AROUSE TREMENDOUS ENTHUSIASM.

The great Reform meeting which was hold in tho Town Hall last nighl. was a truly magnificent demonstration. Nothing so fine in its way has ever been teen before in this city, or in New Zealand. The gathering, both as to numbers and enthusiasm, surpassed every precedent. At seven o'clock, an hour beforo tho meeting was advertised to start, a large crowd had gathered outside the hall, and as soon as tho doors wero opened tho crowd swarmed in and occupied all tl\o ordinary gating accommodation. Tho seats behind tho stage wero next filled up, and by half-past seven peoplo were seeking standing-room. Tho doors wero sbut at ten minutes to eight, | and thousands wero turned' away, Peoplo were standing at every door and along all the walls both in tho galleries and below, though extra chairs wero placed in the aisles and every availablo spae«. A few agilo persons made their way to tho outside of tho windows, high above the gallery, and remained watching and listening from that lofty perch all the evening. The audience was estimated at neariy 4000, and there was also an overflow meeting in the* street outside, where over 2001) people were present. The holding of such a gathering, to ho addressed by the Reform candidates for the City aud Suburbs, was certainly a happy thought on tho part of the Women's Political Reform Lca-gue, which deserves every congratulation. The league was fortunate in obtaining tho presence of all the local Reform candidates—Dr. Newman (Wellington East), Messrs. A. L. Ilerdman (Wellington North), F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Central), R. A. Wright (Wellington South), and W. H. D. Bell (Suburbs). Applause and cheers, both enthusiastic and prolonged, greeted the chairman (Mr. C. B. it orison) and Mr. Herdman when they appeared on the platform, and Dr. Newman, who had been taking tho first turn nt the overflow meeting, was welcomed in tho same hearty fashion when lie came in. Every speaker had a similar reception, and each ono received a splendid hearing. Evidences of dissent wero scarcely noticeable, while applauso and cheers were frequent, and loud. The remarks which pleased (he audience best wero those in which the present Government was most strongly condemned. Every point was appreciated, and the thoroughly happy relationship between the platform and the audience stimulated tho speaker's to highly' successful efforts. Again and again; between tho bursts of applause in tho hall, similar sounds floated in iroin tho over/low gathering in the street. A splendid optimism was the prevailing note of the meeting. It was the clear belief of the enormous concourse of people—a belief repeatedly affirmed by resounding plaudits—that a great political victory is about to bo achioved. THE CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH. "OLD MAN OF THE SEA." The chairman congratulated the Reform League on the happy thought which prompted tho .meeting, and on tho hHilv success! ul result of it. What we were doing in New Zealand to-dav was endcavouring to shake off a political tvrannv which had promised all sorts of political salvation and finished up by increasing 'h®. cost „ of livi "g- Ho likened tho people of New Zealand to Sindbad the Sailor, who was foolish cnoutjh to let an old man ol tho sea get on his back, in consideration for a great 'favour to come. The people of New Zealand were in that position with this diflerence, that they were goin<* to shake off their old man of tlw sea next Thursday. This country was now being governed very largely by proclamations called Orders-in-Council," aud ho instanced (lie attempt of the Government to take control of the Wellington tramways from the Cilv Council In- tho tramway regulations. If the Wellington Citv Council had not fought those regulations they would havo gone through, ami Wellington Citv tramways would havo passed under the control of the Government. There was one thing the working men of New Zsnlaml should see to, and that was that public money was economically spent, because on them tho burden fell in the end. How prodigal was the waste of the Ward Government was shown by t.lio cost of the Hutt lload and railway. He had a word or two to say to the extreme Socialist, with whom the Reform party did not agree. The Reform party agreed that the State should undertake certain activities, but they did not believe that the people should bo encouraged to become as barnacles, drawing all their support and sustenance from the State, and losing their own individuality mid virility. (Applause.) ADDRESS BY MR. HERDMAN. THE EYES OF TIIE PEOPLE OPENED. As he rose to speak, Mr. Herdman was greeted with loud and continued applauso and cheers. The hugo meeting which had assembled in the Town Hall that evening, ho said, exemplified the fact that tho peoplo of New Zealand desired a change. (Loud applause.) From ono end of the country to the other tho peoplo were heartily fired of tho Government. (Applause.) Ono reason was that the people had been taught (o believe that the Government was a great store-house of glittering gifts. Such an idea was absolutely wrong in principle. The people should be independent and free. Ho believed that when the people came to record their votes they would show that they intended to be free. (Loud applause.) In his speech at Dannevirkc, Sir Joseph Ward had told one man that he was a "blasted liar," another that he was under the influence of liquor, mid a third that lie was druuk. Then tho Prime Minister had told the people of Dannevirko (hit (he Opposition ought to be pole-axed. Sir. Herdman prophesied that when the people went to tho poll on TUurs<ir.y next they would "ax" (he Government to leave office. (Laughter and Applause.) A\ change had come over the spirit of the scene. The people of New Zealand had had their eyes opened. A voice: Time they did, loo! Mr. Herdman heartily concurred. Although New Zealand was supposed to lie a democratic country, the Government of the (lay was really au autocracy. In New Zealand there was government of tho people, by (he Administration, for (lie Administration. Ministers were all-powerful, whether it wns n question of presenting n > Dreadnought, granting returns for tho information of (lie public, or instituting retrenchment. Ministers said in effect, "We are hero to do as we like. We are. (he people in absolute control." In the latter part of his address Mr. Herdman spoke of Public Si-rviiv rcterni. The Reform parly, he said, stood lor the policy which aimed at the extinction of political influence. (Applause.) One section in New Zealand believed in political pull, patronage, and incompetency. Tho Reform party stood for tho extinction of political inUusuco, and tho ostabJitshmcafof ft system u:luck would mum

advancement by merit, (Applause.) Mr. Heidman declared that Commissioner iunbridge had resigned his position boinn.wi 10 T": 1 " 0l , sttuul 11,15 P"HUual i llueiice which was brought to boar on « Police .force. I was a peculiar fact , ns u V In es stood m ?\cw Zealand rot enelunont camo just after a general £ an f increases 0 f salary just before an election. Sir Joseph Ward's statement that he could save .£230.000 a >ear 111 tho expenditure upon the Public ?h^ IC ?), n r' aS I/ l l C ? nfeSSi - 0 ' n Wllich P rOVCj Uul there had boon incompetence and Sl!Ti! Va ?iM ICO on V l ®, P a «'t »f Ministers of Male. 1 ho remedy for such evils was to adopt Hie system which had been adopted in Australia, of control by a commissioner. (Applause.) """ims Political Hangcrs-on. At this stage somo cries of dissent from 41,0 kaelr of the hall. • if, sentlemen who are interruntW ft tho back of the hr.11," saidTr. Heulmau, don't want !o stamp oui political influence. They live by it; that tL™rr C Vi Xlst ' ( A M jla " sc ') Those are tlipi'v ?!> T' 1 ! Who go down on mi . kuco.-s to Ministers, J nin!M^ ai ni Kr - licrclmnn remarked, must 1* placed under the control of a man «ho understood the bminoss (Loud applause ) Mr. Millar m', : htbo a S' no nimn f ° f 1,16 C 'r°wn, but he'was no moie fit to-manege the railways than to command the Channel Fleet. Ton" fc ' S , ad<^V toyman ,™l P n B S Te th f Roform P ar 'y its Hir 17 m « m ]'ers desired to raise the li m'° j\ l ,is countr 5' to a higher lojel, and to make it worthy of the men thr ' Empire the neatest that the world had seen. (Loud and continued apnlause.) DR. NEWMAN IN GOOD FORM. "DOES THIS LOOK LIKE DEATH?" Dr. Newman was also received with a heart,v round of anpiause. "Does this look like death!"' lie asked, in answer to the: telegraphed news of tho l'rime Minis. r)oi l S 'm'm )US !/ 10 Rcf °rni party is nwwnt it "l i 'l! nny f i°! i<)lls nl,ro:ul nt jnesent. It had be-cu teiecraphrd J hat iViot?T'i r "l nol ' t r» VCn '- s ° slronK i"'Weli i, f'at "o Opposition candidate had a hope. It was said that all the Governincut's men would win. Yet; there we?e peopio in Wellington East who were inisKuided enough to say iu tho framcars oiMhe e ii"m C 'r ( ?" « n !,U|: • vo,lr shirt nt i! ?c(or ' ' 0-au K litcr and applaiuo.) l.illung of lmsgoveriiment and favouritism ho instanced the Upper House, which, lie said, was stuffed with the kind of nonentities who tried to defeat Mr. Mas-?°-V' two of lin onnonents |ml ™fin the Lpppr House, and a third had a • i 3 " ,J lor life. "Whv," lie ff'i j'Vt"f R°od things to try to beat Mr. Massey, and what's more; it wo, Id pay n man to run stiff, because he /T„ n u- v° l i;,' a " ,wll i" 5 t Uie same." (Laughter.) Three coincidences! Hut i t. Hamilton, Sir Joseph .Ward's opponent, uould not get into (ho Upper House. Big Borrowing, Big Squandering. .Now wb had a Premier whose only mission was big borrowing, big squandering,' and big taxation. (Applause.) In five ? cars 11 .°,,. h11<1 increased tho debt bv nineteen millions, and last year (he Government had imposed ,£550,0(10 extra latan:. V he wcr ° to go in again there would be more debt and more taxationOur load of taxes was intolerably heavy, alK i! ii f ..People were unwise enough to put the Ward party back in power, it would bo made heavier. People wondered why the cost of living was high, why it juts difficult to put by for a rainv dav — it was because of the high rote (if taxation. there was a popular fiction that somo did not pav taxation because tlicv did not pay it directly. But thev forgot the large amount that was passed on until every man and every woman paid his share ol fixation. And if this colonv did not call a-halt in mad waste, and mad borrowing, and mad taxation, the result would be serious for New Zealand. (\pplause.) The taxation in Sydney was jigiiter. and (lie peopio were going there. 1 own after town, and country after country had been- ruined in , bvgone years by taxation wrung from' the people, and if the taxation here was mans ln'shei more people would ilco to countries where tho burden was lighter. "You Must Turn Out this Government." The Prime Minister hud shown a big surplus last year, and how?—by taking i »i ? s *. fr° m evor y wan, woman, anil child m the country. Every statesman would say that the more money thev could leave in tho hands of the people the better for the people. "Y'ou must turn out this Government," ho said, "if you want to reduce taxation. There is no other alternative but to vote solid on the /tli December. You must sink vour little differences. ' Vou mayn't like'nu-, and you mayn't like Henlinan, but vou must forget those differences, and fiVlit the main battle, which is to put iii » good Government instead of a bad one." (Applause.) Then Dr. Newman went on to tell how the fisht was progressing. Tho Prime Minister said at thf. beginning that the Government would ronio back with a bigger majority than over, but it was the unexpected that happened in polities. When Ward went to Wintoil he found tho unexpected. Ho went lo Danncvirke strid his reception was cool, Prom one end of New Zealand to the' other, the Frinio Minister had been screaming about the position. The Government were in reality very deprcssui about the stnto of things, and*the Reform party had been beaten and lienten for so many years that they could hardly get up their spirits for the occasion. As a matter of fact, tho Prime Minister did not even know whether ho was going to get a majority in Awarua. So serious was his position that li'j would not dare to come to Wellington for election night. (Applause.) The idea of the Prime Minister being out of Wellington on election day was bewildering; it had not happened for thirty years. Wo had got into tho habit of thinking that tho Ministry was here for ever, tint he ii"l'<\ated his idea of tho position. Every one of the Ministers except Sir James Carroll was lighting ior his political life, and two or three cf them van considerable risks of getting beaten. Two years after tho Ward Ministry took oliice tho Opposition fame back eleven seats stronger, and now, three years later, they wore coining back stronger than ever. Wherefore he besought the Reform party "to buck up." At tho end of even- long fight came victory, and however long the lane there was generally a turning in it. The text of his concluding remarks generally was: "It is time wo had a change."' (Loud applause.) MR. F. M. B, FISHER'S OPINION. "WARIVS WATEIiuOO." Mr. Fisher received an ovation as hi entered the hall at a quarter-past nine, and n storm of cheers and applause broke out' as lie rose to speak. He reminded his audience that the morrow would bo the twentieth anniversary of the return to I power of the Libeiul party. "We ure living in hopes." said Air. 'Fisher, "ihnt they will never come of age." (Loud applause.) He was sanguine, because it was impossible to see tho Prime Minister whimpering round the country—screaming beforo ho was kicked—without coming to tho opinion that tlic seventh of December, 1011, vas joins to bo memorable la

tho political history of this eountr.f, oer.atiso it would bo known as "Ward's i\ aterloo " (Loud applause.) He hoped that m the Waterloo lo come, as in the historic past, Wellington would do its V-1"» i Pjjl mi so.) And they might p>;t in a littlo jjlucher if nccessary. (laughter °,?i! APl'lunse.) The prime nnd essential uinerence between the two parlies now seeking the suffrages of the people was that oiio (jftcred progress and reform. Tho lielorm party would not slop borrowing, bill it would see that money was spent in the interests of the public, and not nf Party. (Applause.) The parly in power Illumed Mr. Seddon for everything that was done wrong, but look credit for everything that had been done right. Mr. bell entered at this stage, and was heartily applauded. At Mr. Pisher's call, cheers were loudly given for tho young man who carries the colours of the l!e----!)a,V'.v.in t' lo Suburbs electorate, •'li'. i' isher went on lo say I hat Ihe Reform parlv. desired lo destroy the system under which men had to liecomo party sycophants btioro they could obtain employment al tho hands of the State, Ho wanted them to ir " drink!" Mr. l isher: No, I think you have had ono too many. (Laughter.) A Belated Appeal. Ho asked his auditors lo disregard th« request of tho new-made baronet and Knight, who wanted just Ihreo ' nioio years to do Die things thev might liavo 'Jouo during all the years they hud becu in power with a hip mttjoriiy at their lacks. 1 hey might have carried any reloriii thai they chose, but they were askmg now lor unother three years lo milkier up enough pluck to carry out what tho i peopio wanted. On the seventh of Doecniber fhe people would Imvo an opportunity of putting into power a party that was determined to carry out, in ils first year of oliice, more reforms than had been nut upon the Statute Dook by the present Government during (he 'post three vears. Mr. I'isher asked his auditors lo l give a very hourly welcome to one of the "young bloods" of tho Opposition | party. "D 0 not suggest, as has so often been suggested," eaid Mr. I'isher, "that Mr. Bell and 1 must carry fhe burden of t.ioso crusted old Tories who lived in by(,'ouo days." . A man al (he back of tho hall indulged in some interruptions .at this stage, and lliero wciu suggestions that ho should be thrown out. "I.eavo him alone," said , Mr. .lisher. "He is a fair samplo of the intelligence of tho parlv lie reprosents." (Laujjhlcr.) Mr. Bell and himsell, ho continued, were young recruits i who declined to bear fhe responsibility for things that happened before they were born. He hoped that they would be ablft to sit next each other in the Parliament of 1912. (Loud and continued applause.) MR, BELL'S SPEECH, CAXONS OP FAIR PLAY. Mr. Hell was accorded the hoarty ro. ception bespoke for. him by Mr. Fisher, for which he thanked the large audience. Ihe time had passed, he said, when tho Reform party fought and fought with no present hope of victory, and tho time had conic when the aruiie-s were equal and the result was really in doubt. (Applause.) One last olfort would win the day. Addressing his; remarks more especially to young people, there was, bo said, only one code of honour and play, and, tried by this lest, tho Government's actions would, not bear examination. He referred in especial to Mr. Millar's action in refusing for so many years the suburban rates to' certain stations of the Manaiv,itu line, and then telegraphing a few days ago to a Government candidate that the concessions would be granted.. It have only one object—to win votes for the Government candidate. But such was (he temper of the people that it. had actually, doris him good in his candidature, and thev resented it because it was a bribe.. Ho called it bribery, and he did not withdraw anything that was suggested by that word. (Applause.) Was it not fair that players wl>o played with those (ricks should be disqualified? Was it a coincidence that Opposition papers received less of the Government's advertis. ing? Was it not another instance of bribery? | The Octopus. He bad referred to the Government, ps an octopus stretching its tentacles into every nook and cranny, holding men down so that they could not say ono word about Hie sncred Government. Tentaclo number | one was the Public Revenues Act. into I which.a elnn c e had been slipped which made it possible for tho Govemment to I use moneys voted for one particular purpose. on ether works of the same class in another district. Tentacle number tlvo was called Onler-in-Council. All the main things iu the New Zealand Statutes were left to Orders-in-Conneil. Only the skeleton stood in the Statute Book, and it was left to tho Ministry to say what should ■ be law, what should be done to friend and enemy. Applying the canons of fair sport (*? the Government, jf tho peopio came to the conclusion . that the Government should be acquitted of unfairness, they must vote for the Government; but if they came to the conclusion that tho Government could not be acquitted, they must volo to disqualify tho Government, the player who used theso methods of play. (Applause.) Somo suggested that the Ministry were of such ability that they could not lie replaced. He referred svcli critics to the liappeniuffs in Paraoll. (Applause.) If tho nresent Attorney-General possessed so little ability that lie coui/t not win the seat without hinting that tho capital would bo moved to Auckland, without a etraight-out statement that tho Parnell. ladies wero tile best-looking women in the country, surely he had not fo much ability that lie could not b« spared. (Applause.) . Nothing calamitous need lollow his dismissal. Iu conclusion, lie stated that the time had come for change, and asked the electors to do their duly and vote. (Loud applause.). Mr, wright" prophesies, REFORM AT HAND. . Mr. Wright hud a reception as hearty as tho speakers who had preceded him. lie said that the events of the evening showed the slate of public feeling m Wellington. In each of three electorates, ho went on—North, South, and East—a lawyer and a doctor wcro standing for election. The only phco minus a lawyer and a doctor was Central. Was not timt a shame? (Laughter.) Lawyers and doctors, in his opinion, wero necessary evils. Where three doctors we.ro fonnli together it showed that an operation was contemplated. (Laughter.) Of the threo doctors standing in Wellington, Dr. lznrd thought the Government not beyond hope of repair, but Dr. Newman thought an operation necessary, aud wanted a post-mortem examination afterwards to find out what" really wan wrong. (Laughter.) Mr. Wright said that lie joined himself to those who said that this Government should bo sentenced to death. If thero was no other reason for removing it from office, a reason might, be found ill its treatment of (ho Tuimii Natives, who had been unjustly denri'-cd by the Government oi their rights in the Te Aknu Block. (Ap. nlause.) Tho Native land policy of tho Government had been one of masterly in- • activity. The Reform party were d'elermined that it' tlie.v were returned to oflicn tho three million acres of Native lands now lying idle must.l:e settled either by Natives or by Europeans. Sir John Findlay had taken all fhe credit for tho urisnn reform legislation recently passht, ■ but us a mailer .of fact much of it had been suggoslwl years :i»o. by a Wellington gentleman (Mr. Ftlwin' Arnold), as was shown 'by. a newspaper; article pubIHied in Wellington on March 20, 11)02. An interieclor remarked that Sir .Tolin Findlay was rejected in that year, Mr. Wright said that 'in any caso ho should not ' assume credit' ns ho had done for prison re- . form legislation, which had been copied from the ideas of Mr, Arnold, Concluding, Mr. Wright said he believed that the Reform party would not only strengthen its position at the coming election, but would be returned to power. (Loud applause.) The .lime for a chango had come, and the people realised that the Government had been in office far too long. (Renewed applause.) THE RESOLUTION. "A CfIANGH OF GOVERNMENT ... . DK.STRABLE.'' When Mr. Wright had concluded. Mo, F. V. Hadfield proposed ■ tho following resolution:— ."That, In the opinion of Ibis wetting, a chanjie of Government is'desirable, and this meeting-pledges itself to support tho Opposition candidates for tho City and Suburbs." (Loud applause.) The motion was carried liy acclnma. tion, thero being no. audible couuter. demonstration,