PRIME MISTER AT AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1602, 20 November 1912, Page 7

PRIME MISTER AT AUCKLAND.

A PRESENTATION. WILDLY ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. SPEECHES BY MR. MASSEY." AND OTHERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) . Auckland, November W. j Tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W. P. Massey) was this evening accorded a deception and. presented with an illuminated address by tlio Auckland branch of, the. New- '. Zealand' Political Reform League on the occasion of liis first official visit to."Auck- v. land since his accession to Prime Minis- ' tonal rank. Tho Town Hall, where' the lunctioji was held, was crowded to overI flowing. ■ul e Pr i me . Minister was accorded \ : wiludy enthusiastic reception, and amid the 1 playing of national airs on tho organ, tlio cr Sr s> o< "l up and cheered itself hoarse. Mr. C, J. Parr (Mayor of Auckland) presided, and amongst those on the plat--" form wore tlio Hons. J. Allen; W. H. I Herries, 1?. 11, Rhodes, Dr. Poniare, and | Mrs. Massey. " - Mr. Aicken, vice-president of the Auckland branch of the Political Reform League, presented, an address . bee-ring nearly thirteen thousand signatures. Mr. Herries, in the/course of a'brief - I speech, said that tho Government, now it was in power, was not going: to let it* implements rust, but now that after year* of doggedness it was at the'top cf tn« tree of success it was going to prepare for the next election, and give the Oppty sition an even bigger beating than atlas! election. > • Mr. Allen, who was most enthusiastically received, touched on . the Dominion's duty to that larger organisation, 'the- Bri- ■ tish Empire. Mr. Massey had,..all . the qualities of a leader, and the people by practical experience must know that he had tho capacity, not only of .a leader, but of a great leader. The Labour party, in the Prime Minister and- Minister for Labour of this country, had a true ; and sympathetic friend.'.He hoped,: and. felt sure, that the country would' prosper under the Reform policy.. v-i. Dr. Poniare, who itas greeted with cheers .and war cries, paid" Hi*'tribute to -: his fighting captain, whose policy was "a < squaro deal," and. he was satisfied that under the Massev ijegiuie Maori and pakeha alike would get a square deal. Mr. Rhodes also spoke briefly, statin? that the Reform party was rapidly, gaining ground in the south, and at-tho next'- . election he was confident Canterbury would return four Government supporters; Referring to Mr. Allen's coming visit to : England, ho said that,, besides liis financial mission, there was another important point. All realised that the Dominion must keep in touch with the Mother Country, and through Mr. Allen, who would come iiito contact with the Imperial I statesmen, that end would be augmented, MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH. ALL PLEDGES WILL BE KEPT. Mr. Massey on rising to reply received ii tremendous- ovation,' the-crowd rising, cheering heartily, and singing, "He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and some minutes elapsod before ho could commence. In expressing thanks for the testimonial : Mr. Massey said ho looked on it not only as a compliment to himself, but to his Cabinet, and his supporters outside; and inside the- Houso. He would always appreciate, the volume presented to him as a . token' of tho' confidcnce and the affection of the people who had signed it. Whether he came as Leader of tho' l Opposition or Prime Minister of New Zealand, he was certain of a hearty reception from his fellow-citizens of tho province of Auckland. Now that he and his colleagues had come to the promised land, they were going to>keep'iK)ssession of it: -They were going to do their level best for the welfare aiid- good- of ; the Dominion. He ventured to predict that before the end of the present Parliament all pledges-taken-before and after coming into office would be placed' on the .Statute-book- of the country. Members of tho Legislative Council had agreed that,, its;rqforniation in tlio form of being mado elective was needed, and the Houso of' Representatives had done the same, and next time a Bill was brought forward to that end it wouU) get right through.,' His party had" pledged itself to make -the land policy of. this;'' country' a freehold policy," : 'and' ; t.hey had done it. It: was ; not ' yet complete, but, tho leasehold; . was already a thing of the, past. (Applause.) They had pledged thciiiselves to put an end' to undue extravagance' in- administration,- and- they- had done it. Regarding Mr. Allen's visit .to Loudon, one of the' most important of his, missions - was - to provide for short debentures falling, due within the next few years. After briefly reviewing the;work of the past session,-' Mr. Massey foid that there was already m large and very full programme drawn up for-next session. They-had lots otdiffi- ; culties to encounter. One of the most serious had' been unfortunate industrial .troubles in evia-y part of New Zealand, but ho could assure his hearers that as long as the present party was in power the law would bo administered fearlessly and impartially, without prciiulico anil without favour. No matter .wlio the man .- was lie. .would lie punished for breaking, the law,'and" 110 matter'who 'lie'was'rif he wanted the protection; of,'the'law, he would get. it. They were out- for - tlio progress of -the State; aiul for ..Imperial. progress. So far as Imperialism' -was'con-.' cerned there were many differences of • opinion, but all recognised that New Zealand was 110 unimpoi-ta-ilt- riart'of the Empire, and they meant'to do tlleir duty |by her. Their policy was first to pet tli'e I country into a position to defend .herself - [When necessary,'and .then , to ascertain ! how best they. could play their part., ill ! the advancement of tlio Mother .'.Country. He thanked thosj -present for. all their kindness and encouragement, and .concluded by stating that his party was<iiily out to. do its level best for tlie welfare, good, and improvement of New Zealand. Another enthusiastic demonstration took place at. the close of the speech, ■ loud cheers being given 'for Mr. Massey, - his Ministers, and Mrs,. Massey. It was anticipated that ; a'hostile demonstration would be organised by the federationists, but this did not eventuate, none of that party finding their wav into tho hall. 1 ■ '. "