BEFORM RALLY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1346, 25 January 1912, Page 5

BEFORM RALLY.

ENTHUSIASTIC DEMONSTRATION. OVATION TO MR. MASSEY, GREAT GATHERING IN AUCKLAND, (Bjr Tclefraph— Press Association.! ' Auckland, January ,2-1. A Lugo (lomonstratiou was hold by Die Reform Party in the Town Hull, tonight. There was. mi attendance of over 3000 persons, (he accommodation of Die hall being fully taxed. Mr. L. J, Bagnail (ex-Mayor) occupied the chair. A long programme of speeches was delivered by members of the Reform Party, of whom eighteen wero present. The audience cave Hγ. Jfassey and his followers ii most hearty reception, fhe leudei' him. self being the subject of a remarkable display of enthusiasm. • ' .:. : DR. NEWMAN OPENS. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington 'linstj opened the mooting, lie remarked that the good reception given to him was reassuring to a Wellington man,, for ho had come to Auckland with some nervousness. "After twenty yenrs In.'tho wilderness," ho continued, "Moses is going to lead ,us into the promised land." (Laughter and applause,)' A man who had shown sucli bulldog courage and such loyalty as Mr. Massey had would take a lot of shifting, and ho would have a good team behind him. There might bo troubles ahead, for th« people whom the Reform Party, would oust from oflico might rally their force*, i>n<l ho urged the supporters of the parly to oreanist so that they would Iμ ready to rail) , to thi* assistance of dieir leader should ho call upon them; Mr. C. K. Wilson. M.P. f.ir Tniundrumil, who nt the elections defeated Mr. W. 'i'. Jennings, a strong Government supporter, paid n warm compliment In the ladies of Ho j.urty expressing his opinion thai to (heir efforts the party owed its victory. (Applause.) Ho emphasised the Ri-avitj- of the handicap imposed unon (ho Dominion by tho negligence o£ the Oovernment in connection with tho settlement of the land, and appealed to the people of tho cities to f-ur>-porl (he back-blocks solders in thejr cfforts to secure better conditions.

OVATION TO Mn. MASSEY. Mr. Massey, when he rose to address the large assembly, was greeted by prolonged cheers, followed by the singing of "i'or he's ii jolly good fellow," and further cheers. When the dom lustration had subsided, the popular leader returned thanks. lie was, he stated, grateful to the people of Auckland for having removed the reproach, often hurled at the prominent members of the Reform party in Parliaincut, that they woro unable to secure support in the great district whore they were best known. Ho was quite certain that they (tho people of Auckland) would never have cause to regret it. (Applause.) He thought, however, that it was only to lie expected that tho citizens of the most progressive and most patriotic centre in the Dominion realised that they were doing the proper thing by supporting the more progressive and patriotic of the two parties. They had done it, and ho believed that what. Auckland raid to-day (lie rest of the Dominion would say tomorrow. (Applause.) Wellington, with, (he administration of (ho Government before its eyes, knew what to say, and said it by declaring that tho Government had to bo removed. Of course they understood that there were districts where the people were so conservative that they still supported the played-out party, but he thought that within a few weeks they would tagin to realise that they were behind (he times, and were supporting the wrong parly v Object of the Gathering. Ho had great pleasure in being there to introduce the members'of the Keform party. The. object of the gathering, he proceeded, was to give tho people of Auckland an opportunity of meeting the members of the Keform party, (ho .members in whom tho confidence of the great'majority of the people of the country had been placed, and from ■ whom the people expected -progressive nnd economical mid eflicient administration. There, were men there that night whoso names would be written large in the history of the country, men who had fought through niiiny a long sitting ■ for •■wntit they believed to be right. Not nil tho gold in the Hank of New Zealand could buy any one of them. (Applause.) The Keform party had been sentback grent.lr increased in strength, and ,hc had no doubt ho would get (he e.'\mc loyal assistance from thn new members as ho had from those moro experienced. Many of Ihe'c new members irero young New 7/w----landers who would niiike, Iliejr Tiarnw in the Parliament of New Zealand. ■ (Ap. plause.) The Lite Elections;;

TV Rfnernl p]rations of .1911 .were nnyr a matter of history, and'he thought it was quite safe to say that never in the lifetime of the present generation would some nf the surprise? and some of the incidents in connection with that election be forgotten, 110 regretted (hat some, of the members of the parly ,had fallen in the battle. It was a pretty goocl record to say that they hnd orily lost four members in six years, but those members were fjooil and true. Th'ey, ,bovever, wore not done with yet, and ho looked forward (o the time when';l hey would again' ta!;o Iheir places in , the nuliticol areua and they would carry the bannrr of the Keform party . to' ■ fitill greater victories. • ' The people of New Zealmid ing forward witlr greit interest'"to'' the coming session of Parliament. So wero Sir Joseph Ward, and himself. A voice: "Hie move?" (Laughter.) "No," rotorted Mr. Massey,.. "it ..\rill be my move when tho House mecte." (Applause,) It did not require a prophet or the ton of ft prophet to predict that for tho first time in twenty-one years the people of New Zealand wero going to have a change of Government. iProlonceil cheers.) The pooplo hiuhdoimiuded it, and what they had demanded (hey must have. (Applause.) It was a mailer upon which ■ any ■ member-of any party should feel proud wlwn ho realised'that it possessed, not only the. conficik'p. l»it also the ailections of the majority oC the people. (Applause.) Ho woufcl sooner possess the confidence and affections of the people of Now Zealand than he would occupy (he. position of Prime Alinis-lcr, irrcat as the honour of that post undoubtedly was. . (Applause.) He knew perfectly well that, when people took over tho'roins of office, they took over great responsibilities, but tho Reform Party had never .shirked, responsibility. Tho Rol'orm Party which had done" its duty as the Opposition would do the same when it was placed in power. (Applanse.) They would no doubt meet difficulties, but the proatcsl pleasure in their lives would be tn overcoino them, and they would tlwil with thorn as they ,cnmo along. . 'Whatever changes look ' place—whether (he party continued in opposition or VHictlier' it oivupied the Treasury benohes— i(.s first (Icoiifiht would be not for themsolves, but for the welfare of the country to which (hey belonged. (Applause.)

Ho know Hint'the country required many reforms, and such reforms as the party hoped to b» able topromote. They hoped to settle tho land question by placinfr llio people on the land, to seo tho industries of tho Dominion developed and to place tlip finances of tlio oountry upon a sound and cWr footing, so that everyone would ljo able (n fob whether his money had boon properly or badly spent. (Applause.) They also hoped to promote economical and efficient administration, iind to disponso. with that form of "pnft" known as "political patronaee." (Applause.) There v;orc many other reforms to which he could refer, but he would content himself with siyiiifT Otsit Ihey wanted In «* the coiintrv d.) its dul;v as being not I ho least of (lie nations (lint made up (.):« Einnire to which i( belonged. (Prolonged applause-) OTHER SPEAKERS. A definite nnderlakine nf his adherence to th« Eefonn parly was inadfl by. Mr, •!. A- Youiik, n-ho, as an ludopcndont caadi-

date, defeated Mr. H. 3. Greensliiidie & the Waitaita. "I am not an. out-scad-out supporter of tho Reform party," he docfawed, I was elected upon a platform which ifl identical in so many respects "with that of the Keform party that it is witK tho fullest confidence and pleasure that I stand upon thia platform, and that I gtand shoulder; to shonldor with Mr. Maesey." (Applause.) Mr. 'Bradney. The now member for Auckland West (Mr. J. IL Bradney) received a cordial welcome. Speaking of tho possibility of a dissolution, Mr. Bradney said that tho peoplo; should show . their disapproval of any action which would lead to that result by. removing from Parliament every member who was in any way responsible for ' a dissolution. Tho party which ho would consider before any other was the people themselves, and what was wanted in New Zealand was government by a party' that would legislate for tho benefit of the .whole community, and not for. any particular class. , ' ■ ' ' Mr. Newman's Speech. "I cannot understand why Mr. Massey is not Prime Minister at the present moment," said Mr. Newman, tho member for Rangitikei. "The proper course which the Prime Minister should have followed was to call Parliament together within a fortnight so that the representatives of the people might decide who should lead them iii .Parliament. If Sir Joseph Ward has not a majority, by what right does ho hold tho position which he now occnples? (Applause.) Tho Government party has, like an ostrich, buried its head in the sand, and, , .like that 'highly-intelligent animal, imagines that there is no danger. I believe that Mr. Massey has somo knowledge af ostriches, and.no doubt he will devote hisutteution to that part of the ostrich which is not buried in the .sand." (Laughter and applause.) "■ V Mr. F. W. Lang, M.P. 'Mr. F.. W. Lang, M.P..said that tho 'vital question the last elections was whether the people approved.of'the "Ward Government, and, in most decisive terms, the people had declared that they desired a change of Government. By their votes a majority of the people had endorsed the policy upon which every, Reform candidate appealed .to .tho electors, and' the party was now strong' enough" to carry, out fhp reforms which it had advocated. :'.'' Mr.'F.'M;B/Fisher.' ■ ' •Air/ Fisher .said-, that he regretted that ever)- Auckland member .was' not taking part-in'the meeting, for the Reform party needed all the .assistance .'that Auckland cotildigivc it. Tho Keform party had at last completed , -, 'tho longest / tunnel in New •'.■ Zealand—the tunnel _ that had undermined '.the. Administration in poifer atspresdnt; (Applause.) Through that tunrtel' c3uld-.be seen .the daylight ■ tha'f.ydald ''bring a fair and a scjuarecteal.'for every jnah. lie forecasted great changes,.but warned the, people that the Ilcforrrt party could not make the grass crow lohger or raise .the.price of wool, but 'If'guaranteed' that everyone of its members was; actuated solely by a desire that the country should go ahead. If,'at tho end of its terra of office, they found that tho party had not proved its qualifications; for : the responsibilities of government, the people could deal with "it-in the way they had dealt'with the Wardparty. ■ v '• ' ■' ■

Mr, J, S. Dickson. Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P. for Parnell. said that he had not been a member of party, but he was glad.of,the opportunity of thanking it for its assistance to him. ■Hβ had-stated that, in the event'of a no-confidence motion being moved by-the party, he would support it, and he now confirmed ,that statement., Oneof his principal reasons'was the injustice , ::done : .to the North by a Southern 'Ministry._; Mr;.'Massey's Ministry would do. justice to (ill parts of the Dominion alike. (Applause.) Mr. W. Fraser. Mr. W. Frascr, M.P. for Wakatipn, said that this demonstration was the result of pleasure that the Ward Administration was about to eud. It was no hysterical exhibition, but tho result of a reasoned determination. The victory, however,' was not yet won. It rested witii : the 'people 'as iwoll as with the members of Parliament to dee that the fruits of tho victory wero sarnored in. Organisation, costing time Snd money, was necessary—the soul of New Zealand was at stake, and his message was that they must organise in readiness for any contingency that might arise lest the old trouble,be upon them again. OTHER SPEAKERS. . Mr. Malcolm said that the meeting appeared to him to be largely a tribute to ifr.'Massey. (Applause.) In his opinion Auckland had given to New Zealand a really great man,»w-ho possessed- the qualities of. strajghtness, great ability, and untiring energy. Jlr. Mawy was a man'.ofthe people, and, in the south,- he-was be■coming. known iii that, character. , . rl"The. Leader of the -Itefdrm party,' said Mr. ;Herrics, "is the only "man. in New Zealand who could command such a meeting as this." He urged the necessity-of maintaining a complete .organisation for the-support of the Reform party, against which wqiiUl, be assembled a strong opposition, so that the party could rely upon tho assistance of the people at any time. X,"I congratulate Auckland on its cooperation with Wellington," said Mr. Buick, "to oust, from the Treasury benches the'most effete Government,that has ever occupied those benches!" ,' .. ;Mr. Gu'thrie s.aid that the .'union . between the two .cities, having been consummated, it must bo cemented .bv a staunch support, in both cities, of tho Eeform ■party. ' •■ . . "Wβ do .not '.want 'government by a tfarty whose:policy is one of expedients,"neclared Mr. J. B. Hine, member for fjtratford, "but government by a. party which will place upon the Statute Book lueasures which will stand the test of time. '<i FINAL RESOLUTION. ■ On'the;raotionof.Mr. J. P.-Campbell, seconded .by Mr- Archibald Clark, ■ the. following .resolution was carried-.by- an'ovcrlShelming majority: "That this mass meeting ot the supporters of the lieform-party thanks ;Mr, 'W... V. 'Masfey,-M.P.,■ and the other..members', of .Parliament who have .addressed.,th'e. meeting, for itheir eloquent and instructive speeches; .expresses its confidence, in .the .Leader-of theHeform party, and in those gentlemen who have been elected to .support him.' and ; confi-dently-anticipates that he will, be entrusted with .tho formation of a Government •whi<Sh will effect such. legislative and ,• administrative reforms 'as. will* conduce.-to the.prosperity and lasting welfare of the Dominion.