"LIBERAL" SOCIAL AT

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1409, 9 April 1912, Page 5

"LIBERAL" SOCIAL AT

STRATFORD. » SPEECHES BY MINISTERS, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Stratford, April S. There was a very largo gathering in tho Town' Hall to-night at a ttogjal given by the supporters of Mr. Joseph M'Cluggage, who contested the seat in. the (Javernment interest at the last election. The Priino Minister (the Uon. T. .Mackenzie) and the Hon. G. W. Hussell and the Hon. U. Laurenson were present. During tho evening a purse of over one hundred sovereigns was presented to Mr. M'Cluggage. All the .Ministers rceeived a hearty welcome. Mr. Laumison said tho present was one oi t.ho youngest and one ol' the most distinctly New Zealand Ministries the country ever had. They wero able to govern the country in the interests of tho men and women in the country. Jlo hoped to again visit Stratford at no distant date, and would deal with Iho Opposition party's charges seriatim, and would junto Mr. I line, or tho best man they had, to coino along, and ho would defy him to refute a single statement ho (Mr. Lauronson) would make. Tho Opposition had caught them napping and captured a lew seats at tho iasl. election. Jlo guaranteed they would not do bo again. Ho decried iho campaign of calumny, to which ho said tho Government had been subjected.

Mr. (.1. W. Kussell said ho was not a stranger to Taranaki, having resided in rvew Plymouth 3(5 years ago. Jlo referred to the remarkable progress of tho province as evidenced by tho exports, and brought about largely by tho policy of cutting up land in .small holdings. -Taraai itself honour in electing air. Thomas Mackenzio as one of its members. Referring to tho political situation, ho said when tho next election camo round, whether it bo in throo months or threo years, there would bo better organisation on the Liberal side. Iho speaker paid a high tribute to Sir Joseph Ward, whom ho said tho country could not afford to allow permanently to stand * aside from tho highest oHi cos of State. There was a revulsion of icoling already evident 011 every .band. Iho tide of calumny and slander was being beaten back, and the peoplo recognised that the men to be trusted with tho administration were tho leaders of tho liberal party. Mr. Massev had spoken slightingly of tho Liberal Ministry, but what public position had Mr. Massey ever held 10 qualify him for administrative work. JS'o member of tho present Cabinet was a singlc-taxer or land nationalise!*, as had been asserted. Mr. Massey had attempted to unfairly place tho position with, regard to leasehold and freehold. Ho felt suro that at tho next election tho neoplo would say the Liberal Ministry had done its work well, and lie hoped Stratford would join in by sending a Liberal member to represent the seat again.

Tho Prime Minister, who was recoivcd with musical honours, said they had been termed a "Stop-gap" Ministry, but they were at nnyrate a party against whom nothing could bo honestly said- They were a clean parly, and tho statements made of corruption and Tammanyism against them were false and unfounded. Mr. Mackenzie went on to deal scathingly with tho Reform party's recent platform utterances at Stratford. Surely it should be the Reform party's merits and hot the bovernmciit's demerits, which should hb that party's recommendation, if any, to tho people. With regard to land,' the Government wanted to deal with territory lather than tenures at this time. The present Government was going into this question whole-heartedly. Referring to the Hino charges, Mr. Mackenzio maintained thut Mr. Hino had proved nothing. Speaking of tho session just ended, tho Prime Minister referred to tho failure of Mr. Massey to givo a pair for Mr. Wilford, and said it was not "playing the game." If Mr. Hcrries, who was now absent owing to ill-health, was not in his place next session, lie would himself pair with him, if 110 other member did so. It was not true as Mr. Massey had said that one member of the' Cabinet wanted to flood the country with yellow labour, nor was it truo that the last loans had been a failure. Mr. Massey might think all fair in politics. A campaign of slander had been directed against one man to drive him out. It had succeeded, but it did not follow that Mr. Massey could take his placc. Ho did not believe the country wanted Sir. Massey, though it had been misled. They wanted to get rid of all this slander and abuse, and to be judged fairly on their merits and' for what they did. Statements were heing cunningly concocted by certain Conservative newspapers to put the financial position falsely" and damage the country's credit. At tho recent Reform rally in Stratford Mr. Massey had said, "Was the country to be dominated by half a dozen men?" But had not Mr. Massey brought the Labour members into Parliament himself, and did ho not claim their vote? Tho present Government recognised the responsibility on its shoulders, and would use every effort to do tlio Tight thing for the people and tho country. The following resolution was carried unanimously amidst oontinued applause: "That this meeting of Liberals heartily congratulates the Hon. T. Mackenzio on his appointment as Prime Minister and his. choice of Ministers, and trusts that they will have a fair and impartial trial in administering the affairs of the Dominion, and considers the best interests of the country will ba fully safeguarded by them."

'The Prime Minister said they -would never regret passing that resolution.