A POLITICAL PICNIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1339, 17 January 1912, Page 4

A POLITICAL PICNIC.

V MB. MASSEY HEADY FOR SPUING CLEANING. The member of Parliament for Auckland W-est, Mr. J. It. Bradney, entertained the members of his election committee by tlicin oil a harbour excursion in the s.s. i'iloitoi 011 Saturday alterncon. 't'lio quests numbered 150, ami /'Jf S: " 10 of the Reform jiarty (Mr. \Y. J:'. Mu&.-ev, M.j'.) and two of Ins supporters, .Mr. I'. \V. Lang (tiio member tor Manukau), and Mr. D. Ji. Guthrie (the mcmlwr for Urouu). A landing was made at Pine Island, whore some specch-making was indulged 111, .Mr. JI. N. Baguall, cnairmun of the committoe, presiding. Mr. Bradney thanked his oonimilte lor the splendid unanimity with which they had rc&noudcd to his invitation, and also for tho splendid light linn- put up 111 December last. It hii<l been generally predicted that there would be a dissolution of Parliament before the three years term was up, but he was not ot that opinion. Mr. Massey had boon returned with a sufficient number of sup-portei-H to be able to carry on, and he trusted that when their abl-a and popular leader was placed 111 power he would be able 10 go througa tiie Treasury boxes and see How much was left. (Laughter and apkuse.) Whe-.i they rcuie.nbemi liow Mr. Massey had had to fight against misrepresentation and very often personal insult, he thought they shoul 1 be proud of the position their leader now occupied and also of the fact that so many of his enemies had gone down before him. (Applause.) Messrs. Lang and Guthrie also spoke, congratulating the elistws ot Auckland nest upon having chosen such an excellent representative. Mr. Lang, amid applause, declared' that when Mr. Massey went into power, supported by Mr. Bradney and (.0 majiy new representatives, there would bo a vast improvement in Iho affairs of-the Dominion and of the North Island particularly. Mr. Massey, who was received with prolonged cheering, heartily congratulated Mr. liradney on his election, and also tho people of Auckland West on the member they had secured. Ho felt absolutely certain from what he know of Mr. Bradney that ho would bo nn acquisition to the House. He was just the type of man (he party had been in search of. (Applause.) In viov of <he fact that tho present party had been in office for 21 years he thought it was just about time they had a. spring cleaning, and he assured them that when he, with Mr. Bradney, and his colleagues got an opportunity of going through the cupboards I hey would do it veiv thoroughly. (Applause.) Tho speech-making was followed by the running of "the Bradney Derby of 100 yarns, _ ior which a 'ropli.v, valued at two guineas, was olTered. There were 15 competitors, and the race, which aroused great enthusiasm,iva? won by Mr. Masssy, who passed the winning post a yard ahead of his nearest opponent.