THE REFORM CAUSE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2129, 22 April 1914, Page 8

THE REFORM CAUSE

MR. PIRANI IN VIGOROUS VEIN. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganul. April 21. Mr. F. Pirani, who has Beep selected as tho Reform candidato for the Wanganui seat, was present hy wvitation at the annual meeting of the Wangaillll Women's Branch of the Political Reform League, and gave an address. In the course of Ins remarks Mr. rlrani stated that he intended to make a strong effort to win the Seat. He uacl once definitely decided to keep out or politics, mainly for the reason that he found such a groat field for work m, educational matters —work which could be brought to fruition—that he could hardly afford timo for general _pohtics. Howover. v the call for those willing to help in the maintenance of honost, able, progressive, and sane government had gone forth, and he was not one to shirk the opportunity of showing his faith in Mr. Massey's Government. Ho had worked for six years in Parliament side by side with Mi\ Massey. He knew all the leading men in Parliament intimate" ly. Ho declared that if they wanted the country to be governed in the true interests of the majority of the people, they could only ensure it by keeping the present Government in power. A lot had been said by the Opposition about no scandals being revealed from the pigeonholes of tho "Continuous Ministry," and he had heard it with feelings of shamo, for tho man who had said so most plainly (the Rev. L. M. Isitt) could not have remembered what his friend, the late Mr. T. E. Taylor, had stated so plainly and so frequentjy.' Howover, members of the present Ministry had never said that they were going" to search for scandals. They took up a position that was in the interests of the Dominion, viz., that tho past should be allowed to bury its dead, and that their care was for tho present and future. Personally, he was quite prepared to formulato charges for investigation, the Tesult of which would make tho Dominion ring with the recollection. The reasons for the charges made in the past were that tho abuses complained of existed, but, once they were abated, it was littlo use raking up ashes for purely party purposes. Ho was agreeably surprised at the large gathering there that day, at the enthusiasm displayed by them all, at tho evident thoroughness with which they were going to work, and at the splendid organisation which 'had sprung into existence. Whilst he would ,do his best on the platform, the successful issue of the contost would he duo to the manner in which they stood together and fought for the return of a supporter of tho present Government. ,