POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1467, 15 June 1912, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE REFORM PARTY

SUCCESSFUL MEETING AT AUCIC LAND.

SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY,

\Bj Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, Juno 14. Tho first annual general meeting of tho Provincial Council constituted under, the scheme of organisation recently adopted by the Auckland Political Keform League, was held to-day, over fifty delegates beiug present, among them being tho Leader of tho parry (Air. W. P. Massey), who, as president of the league, presided. Mr. Massey, speaking of the activities of tho league, said that promises had been tentatively secured for tho Keform Club which tho executive had decided to establish in Auckland.

A report upon the work of the past year was presented by the Provincial Executive. It .continued a protest against statements that tho Reform Party had tost confidence in its Leader, and that if. UK; party is to succeed politically it must nnd a new leader. Statements of this character, it was stated, were obviously inspired with the idea of belittling the reform movement and tho man who has fought so long, so courageously, and at such, tremendous odds for the great principles of the party. But tho exeoutivo desires to place on record its deliberate opinion, which was also held by the sister leagues and branches.throughout the Dominion, that there was never a period in the history of the Reform Party in. New Zealand when its members were standing together with • greater solidity and with , greater confidence in their leader than was the case, at the present day. (Applause). Satisfaction .was expressed at the.anialgauiation.of three political organisations in Canterbury, which had been working separately, and apart from the New Zealand Political Reform E-eagiie, but which have now united with the league. The report was unanimously adopted.

A series of remits from branches of the leaguo were, considered. Upou the .first of' these the conference unanimously affirmed its opiniou. that the timo has arrived when, in view of tho influences working in the 'opposite' , direction, all citizens of the Dominion having its interest at heart, .should co-operate to secure clean constitutional government of tho Dominion's affair. , '.

The references in the executive report to Mr. Massey were heartily'endorsed .by the conference. Several speakers, including members ol ! Parliament, expressed the confidence and admiration with whicih tho party aud its supporters regarded Mr. Massey, and tho conference unanimously recorded its deep sense of obligation and its appreciation of the valuable services rendered'to tho community by tho members of the Reform party under the leadership of Mr. Massey. Mr. Massey said that the opponents of the Reform party had attacked its policy and 'had been beaten. Then at tho general election its attack upon the K-e----forin candidates had failed, and later they realised that they had made a nilstake in making a personal attack upon himself. At present the friends of the Government were trying to engineer a coalition, but the Reform party . would not coalesce. (Applause.) Tho.rmtterwas discjssed at a recent important aid highly satisfactory meeting of the piiTty in Wellington,. and it; was decided ..that no overtures towards a coalition would be entertained. The Government party was broken into' fragments—a house divided egain'st itself—and when Parliament met the Ministry would find that it only a minority of members supp-ivUng it. (Applause.) The policy of the party in regard to land settlement :ws endorsed by the conference.

It was resolved to >i*ge the party to exhaust every constitutional metlod k> secure the -immediate .-.peiiing of ull idle Crown and Kativo lands r>r teUh-mtnt on the optional tenure.-;--.-,- ..--•.- Mr. Massey paid :n6"aim of the! party ■was to secure tho settlement '>f,evn-y acrq of Crown land, and-to provide the if tilers with, good road access. He explained lhat endowment lands were not included in that. category. It was announced !at n Dominion Conference of the party would be h<ol lii Wellington on July 'if, and delegates were appointed to represent the council.

A REFORM CLUB,

TO BE ESTABLISHED AT AUCKLAND fflv Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Auckland, June Id. The unity of interest and of purpose which has prevailed among supporters of the Reform Party was convincingly manifested in the earnest enthusiasm which marked tho proceedings to-day of the first annual general meeting of the Provincial Council, constituted under the scheme of organisation recently adopted by the Auckland Political Reform League. A cordial welcome.was given to the visiting delegates by the president (Mr. Massey), who remarked that so large an attendance was evidence of the keen interest in the Reform Party that was widespread throughout the prdviiic'e, and of the euthusiasm for its welfare. Speaking of the activities of the. league; Jlr. Massey said that premises had been tentatively secured for (he Reform Club, which tho executive had decided to establish in the city. The club would provide a provincial headquarters for the party, and it would, ho tas sure, bo sobeneficial to the interests of tho part}-, and prove so successful that other centres would recognise the advisability of following the example of Auckland.

The success of the Keform Party at the December polls, the report stated, had had a quickening influence upon its supto Mr. Massey we're Heartily.endorsed bv the Provincial Executive with a plan of organisation, appreciable activity was being shown in almost every electorate.

PREMIER INTERVIEWED

"OUR POLICY." (By Teleßraph.-Presn Association.) Auckland, June 14. Tho Prime Minister arrived ,iu .Auckland this morning, and left by the Helensrillo express on a northern tonr. which will embrace Helensville, Dargaville, and Whanga.rei. Sean by a press representative _ prior to his departure; the Prime Minister had something interesting to say upon the subject of tho present "political situation.

Questioned as to bo expected to happen when Parliament met at t.ho end of tho present month, Mr. Mackenzie- said that ho was confident that the Government would maintain its majority. "As far as the .country is concerned," continued the Prime Minister, "no ono could desire better receptions than members of the Ministry have everywhere received. If nn occasion for an early appeal to the country was to occur, I hare not the slightest doubt ns tn what the result would be. Personally, I have met with the greatest encouragement wherever I have been, and have had assurance? from people of nil shades of political opinion that there is a sympathetic ffeling . towards, the Government, and a desire that we should have an' opportunity of putting into operation tho work which we have either undertaken or indicated our intention to undertake. The Ministry which I liava the honour of lending meets with the Teasc-naMc wishes of the great bulk of the community. Our policy may fail to satisfy Conservatives end the ever-agitating Socialist, but it appeals to tho great mass of the people, anil so' I think that tho bulk of the people are willing to put us on our trial so that we may show the mottle we are made of."

HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP. _

STATEMF.NT BY THE HON. T. MACKENZIE. Auckland, .Tune 1-1. "Who will be the next High Commissioner?" was a question put by a press representative this morning lo tlia JTn'l, Thomas Mackenzie. The attention of tlie Prime Minister was at Ih<> sa'iK- time called to I lit , reports which appeared in the Opposition press recently (o Hit; effect that the Cabinet had considered making an appointment, and had eomo to a ballot which resulted in favour of the Hon. K. M'Kenzio in preference to Ibe Hou. -Sir ,T. Findlay. This report tho Prime Minister emphatically denied. The matter. h'r> said, had not eren been considered bv Cabinet,, nnd there was no likelihood of any appointment tq the

position of High Comniissionorstiip until after Parliament had met. :

THE HON. G. W. RUSSELL. SPEECH AT TAIHAPE. (By Telegra.pli.-Pr«ss Association.) Tnihape, Juno 14. Tho Hon. G. W. Russell gave a politic ii address at Taihapo to-night. Tho Gretnu Hall was crowded, and ho was accorded an enthusiastic hearing, the meeting passing olf without any interruptions. ,Ho defended tho appointment of the various commissions now sitting, and described tho objects of each commission. He contended that all the Ministers wero tried men of larger experience in public affairs than any on tho Opposition side. _ Ho compared the action of the Opposition over tho voting of Messrs. Payne and Robertson with their eagerness to embrace ex-Ministers. Ho was confident the latter would not break pledges or vote against the Government. He was satisfied that tho Liberals would stand solid. Inferring to tho remarks of Mr. Massey regarding the vacant High Commissionership, and Sir Josoph Ward's resignation of the Imperial Trade ho remarked that tho Opposition, over since the Government took offico, had been conlending that no appointments should be made, and were now claiming that appointments ought to have been filled. Dealing with Mr. Massey's statement that taxes came back to tho producers, he quoted the case of the Dreadnought gift, winch was partly met by increased death duties, certainly not affecting the producer, who was dead, while the other part was increased duty payable by the banks. After dealing with, matters in his own Departments, and laying stress on the desire of the Government to supply nurses for the hack-blocks, to preserve infant life, to restore mentally afflicted, to encourage the right class of emigrants, he concluded amid great applause, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in the Government.