POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2204, 17 July 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE

. THIRD ANNUAL CONGRESS PARTY'S SPLENDID RECORD REVIEWED OPPOSITION AND " RED FED." MENACE The third;-fihmial .conference; of -the . New Zealand 11'oliticai Reform League opened at the .'Sydney- Street Hall , yesterday with 'a'-'.iuU*.representation of . delegates' l from 1 all parts-of the.Doihin- ' lion, including'a-'number of Maori re- ' preventatives from-the Native branches of tlio"''.'league''established (more ..particularly in the;Tauranga, -Bay . of ■Plenty, and Hawke's Bay districts), Eomothing4ike, 260 delegates and members of hio league being "present.. Mr. .H. I'\ von' Haast was elected' cliairI man. Tho Prime- Minister (the Eight i Pon. W. F. 'Massey),- president 'of the [ league,'. washeartily ■ cheered', on ar- ( rival.'"' MrMassey . was ' accompanied ; by the Hon.; failles Allen,, the.Hon. A. ; tL. Herdman,-tho Hon; .F. M. B. Fisher; .tho Hon;-W.'Eraser,.the Hon. H. : D. :Bell, and the Hou. . Dr. Pomare, and .most of the Reform members. An apol■ogy for absence was received from the •Hon.-W. H? Herries'. ( 'President's Address. ' / Mr.' Massoy 'delivered' a . stirring address, in . welcoming the delegates 1 (many of whom had. travelled great P distances ; to bo present) said ho . reigarded tho-.Vsplendid -attendance as 'an indication of ..the keen.; interest taken 'in the Reform ■ Party, and. a'hopeful •augury of its future. He • was especi- . '/ally glad to' seo so many representatives, of the Maori: race present, and '"welcomed tliern to their counsels. Mr. .►Massey referred in feeling terms to vthe losses, sustained by the party/in itlio deaths of many old friends since Ihey, liad last . met. . | Referring iii hopeful terms to the' ;prosp_ects..of,tho party, lie pointed out that'tho country; had progressed under the legislation . and administration of the last -two years, . tho.. country being in a sounder financial position to-day than ever it': had-been. The Government was' 'doing- all .that it could in building roads,'bridgeSj and railways to open up and develop the country, and. 'doing all in its power-to promote the (happiness and prosperity of the people. | Reform candidates had , already an- ! Bounced themselves for. seventy of tho seats, and whgri,'.the. time for the elec- . tions came.rouiid they would have Reform candidates, forthcoming, for the whole of the eighty : scais—-strong, progressive candidates' whom: he .had , no idoubt would -give a good account of ■themselves' at .the forthcoming- contest' jHe had no 1 ! hesitation inlaying'' that ithe. prospects, of ;.the party were paifticularly;'bhght, ! and;he'.would.;'iiot -fear, an appeal to ,tlie' country even at the ' present timb,' ." They must remember, however, that they had five months to go, and that their opponents were combining^.theiivforceS' -to -.try -and-' secure Itho.-control'of';tho Treasury Benches.' ,There* was' every'-need;" therefore, ' for Ithe supporters of .the Reform' Party !to be alert and ready; and in a position to nieet any'contingency or , com- ' bination ; that might arise. •;'... Maori Delegation, Followiug Mr.. .Massoy'.s', address a {Maori delegation. waß4irittoducedto tho ;con'fercac«,.lfi6:''cße^^^a\»a^poki;of/ To Te i Heahikoia, of Pakipaki, Hawke's Bay, acting as spokesman. Both chiefs delivered impressive addresses, their re;mjrks being interpreted ■ by ;Mr. Bal- ' ii(®vis.. • They- expressed their-gratitude to the Government for what' they had 'done for the,, benefit 01 the Maori ; people sinc'6.- ; came into power, .pointedly remarking:''"What you have done is different from what we have exporienced.;p"rio"r";to your' time." .' ; "3ly heart;"' said the latter speaker, "is indeed glad, for you have idealised tho saying of the great Queen that her representative/Government in New Zealand is for'tho purpose.of'properly ..protecting the members* of both races." "The English 'and- the Maori race," the chief concluded, .'.'are under the • Treaty of Waitangi, and, living as.one | people, and now that "you are head of i the Government, we know you "will 1 'take',good caro to look'after the members of both these races. May you long live, Mr. President and Mr. Chairman, ■ and "all "those who "are 'here' to-day."' 1 ' PARTY'S. GOOD WORK. , THE ANNUAL REPORT. The Dominion Executive in its annual Teport congratulated the members of the Inform . and. more particu-. larly its Leader, the' Right. Hon.; W.: K!;ala«sey,,M.P;, and his colleagues in tho the improved outlook aiitkproxp'q'et's of'tlie party.genei---v.i',V j T^CI y'(!uc to tbe-very able admin\stratioD';Of the country's affairs by ilinisters during their two years of jfficc, and to a widespread feeiing that .the. Reform Government "can- be trusted '' % do _ _ its duty faithfully and to- administer tho law impartially i'and fearlessly,-,- . and legis-v late oft: lines that Swill;.'diisiire' a, just, recognition of tho rights 'of' every! citizen, whether liis standing be high or low,-.rich or poor." The country had lost nothing in tho ■ shape of Liberal » legislation, but had -.gained! immensely by 'the-chango of Government inaugurated on July 10, 1912. "Liberal legislation accomplished by - Mr. Massey;. arid*liis 'colleagues is set foi-tli in the;; special mid-winter issuo of tho Reform.- journal, 'Light and' Liberty,-' rccentlv issued, ••'which covers 'the work of the} Reform 'Government during its ( two ye.jrs of office, and which deals,"inter alia with the improved conditions of tho finances under the Hon. Mr. - Allen's administration; details' 'How the Man on the' Land' has been helped, 'How tile wage-earner .is helped,' 'tho Improved Pensions Scheme,' and the many ways in which the Government has worked for the common good. ''It is proposed to circulate this' special number in largo quantities throughout the constituents, and to get the paper distributed •■and read over the widest possible area. . Honoured by the King. ' ' , "Your executive think it only .fitting to place on record its and the league's appreciation of the fact that Mr. Massey's services to the country have been honoured by the King, in conferring upon him the rank of a Privy Councillor,' thus calling tho right honourable gentleman into the inner circle of Hia' Majesty's advisers, the honour, bestowed upon our leader being reserved only for the" distinguished few. It is proposed to ask'the conference to pass a resolution congratulating the Primo,Minister upon tho. distinction he now so worthily holds, 5 and which it is earnestly hoped he may live long to enjoy. "Since last conference Messrs. E. C. H.uie, of Christchurch, and'E. H. WilHams/or Napier, have resigned'the. posii tions as members of the executive, to _ which they were then elected. The resignations were received with sincere regret ; by the executive, .which suffered a severe loss by, their retirement from the positions they so;; worthily filled. Both gentlemen have rendered valuable serviced to the party in tho past. Their ! sympathy with the Reform Government is undiminished, and in their capacity as private citizens, -wo are assured of their, continued support; Mr. Huic's j position!®, .the executive was filled by I the apppiStinenJi-.ofiM.r. Gjlberfc-Garson, { of Wanganfli;" 'jrfio' w 'ttghesfi "on" We

list of non-elected candidates for seats on' the executive last year. Mr. Williams's resignation was of more recent occurrence, and tho conference being fixed for a much earlier date than usual, it was not deemed necessary to-appoint his successor. Work of Organisation. "The work 1 of organisation has been vigorously proceeded with during tho nine months .that have intervened sinco tho last conference was held. . The staff of organisers has 'been reinforced in tho interval, and there are now four organisers' actively engaged in the interests of tho league—Messrs. A. A. Paape (who 'has the general oversight of the North Island, excluding.the East. Coast electorates) and of certain West Coast electorates in tho South Island; Mr. P. L. Witherby, who is working the Hawke's Bay and East Coast electorates (with 'the assistance of a suborganiser); Mr. David Jones, of Christchurch. and Mr. D. T. Fleming, of Balclntha, the two latter, dividing the South Island electorates between them, and.good work is reported by all four gentlemen,. with healthy. prospects for the coming elections. In addition to the organisers already referred to, a special representative of "Light and Liberty," who has been engaged obtaining subscribers for that journal, has assisted branches already in existence, and helped to form other branches in the districts he has visited in the Mast.erton, Wairnrapa, Palmerston, Oroun, Wangahui, Patea, Egmont, Stratford, and Taranaki "l°ctoratei!, onroll'nE nroximately 2000 -members of ' the league. Opposition and "Red Feds." . "While the outlook is good, it must be recognised—and your executive cannot too strongly impress the fact upon the delegates and supporters of tho party generally—that thero is a stiff fight in front of us, and that victory can only be secured by the Reform Party at tho polls as the result of united action, backed up by energetic and persistent effort. There is much in ' our_ favour, but thero is also much against us. A movement has evidently been begun, and apparently consummated, to' bring about a working agree-, ment and practical alliance between the Liberals and the "Red Feds./' with a view towards capturing the Reform citadel next December. "The Opposition Party in Parliament are apparently prepared to proceed to any extreme in their attempt to oust, tho Reform Government from office, and although Mr. Webb, like other of bis 'Red Fed.''associates, declares tha't he has even less faith in the 'Liberals' than in t'ho Reformers, and that lie would cheerfully join in a vote of noconfidence in Sir Joseph Ward, the fact remains- tliat the 'Liberals' are acting upon tho advice tendered them by Mr. W. T. Mills, at the LytteKon by-elec-tion last December. While 'waiting for their funeral,' they are prepared to support 'Red Fed.' candidates, where seats are held .by the latter, or wh'ero it is thought they command a majority which would be split in favour' of Reform, if a Liberal- candidate stands. In return, , the Liberals expect to secure the support of the 'Red Feds.' where Liberal candidates have the better prospect of winning the seats. . "Such an. arrangement, as. this is a distinct menace to good government, and can only end in disaster to tho couiitry. The danger is, fortunately, recognised, and, ! with its recognition, comes the necessity for action. The country has to^choose between a- strong Reform Government, under Mr. Massey, which is not afraid to speak its mind and preserve order in times of national .-peril, and an Administration that would bo dominated by political extremists who desire to destroy the existing Constitution, in order 'that thoy niay, ( inaugurate the Socialistic State. '"Your executive feel that it.is matter for congratulation that'so many representatives of tho Maori race have arranged to attend the present conference. ; The interest they are taking in political affairs is a very healthy sign, and the..fact that they are seeking the assistance,/of the league in bringing about important changes in the laws more particularly affecting themselves is, in tho" opinion of your executive, an indication that the Maoris recognise that.iihjjir truest friends are to be found on Reform side of the House. - . ' . ..Tho Now Executive. "With a, view to obviating delay in tho election of the new executive, it is proposed- to: take nominations-at: the close of the first; proceedings of the prosent' conference, so as to permit of the ballot-. papers being printed and the election- taking place at 10 o'clock on tlie second "morning. The members of the present "executive, all of, whom aro eligible_fbr-re-election, are: Messrs. H. D. Acland'(Christchurch), E. W Alison! (Auckland), W. H. D. Bell, M.P. (Wellington), Sir Walter Buchanan, M.P. (Wairarapa), M. A. Clark (Auckland), • Gilbert Carson (Wanganui), Charles Ferguson (Marlborough), D. H. Guthrie, M.P. (Oroua), John MacGreeor (Dunodin), C. B. Morison (Wellington), R. Scott, M'.P. (Otago), H. F. von Haast (Wellington), Mrs. C. Earle (Wellington), _ and Mrs. R. St. Barbe Hnslam (Christchurch). ' Mr. E. H. . Williams, of ;Hastings, having .resigned 'liis seat.' left a vacancy wliich has also •to' bo filled." ' ' Tlie report was adopted on the voices, and the conference then proceeded' to deal with the several remits sent forward by .the branches, committees being set up to arrange the order of discussion, and to make recommendations' to the conference. Pending the receipt of their '"report, the Tehiits ; forwarded by tbe Maori branches were discussed. Secret Ballot for^Maoris. • Mr. George Hall, representing the Tauranga tribe, moved the first remit as follows:— "That it be a recommendation to the Government from this conference that in all future elections of Maori members. ;to : Parliament, provision - should bo made .' for a secret ballot, so thatI the voters may bo relieved pf the necessity of openly declaring for whom they intend to vote." The motion was carried unanimously. A further motion, made by tho same delcgato.Mvas as follows:— "That in the. best interests of the Native race this a conference further Urges upon the Government, the necessity'for taking such action as will help tiio Maoris to follow agricultural and farming pursuits, and to afford them such instruction in the business as mil result in their becoming independent and self-reliant citizens of the State." The motion gave rise to an interesting discussion, in which the Maori delegates themselves took part, . one of their numbor (a lady). naively remarking, in speaking of the habits of. the Maoris and certain references which had been inado to their fondness of snort: 'They've bpen taught to play bil- ' liards—why couldn't they be taught agriculture?''. Tho motion also was carried unanimously. . / In the- afternoon tlio business dealt ' with concerned questions of organisa- ■ tion, and suggested amendments in : the constitution of the_ league, Amongst . ] r.ther motions carried was one recommending that provision should be made ifor the equal representation of men • 'and women delegates at the general . . conference. Before rising, nominai tions were received for the new execu- . tive. the election of which will be the i first business proceeded with this morni ing, when the conference resumes at 10 i o'clock, ! ' . 1 ' i