A FIGHT FOR REFORM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2358, 14 January 1915, Page 7

A FIGHT FOR REFORM

THE HUTT SEAT

MR. A. M. SAMUEL'S FINE EFFORT In order to express their good-will him, and to show that they Appreciated tho effort he made to win the Hutt-seat- for Reform at tho recent general election, a uumber of Mr. A., £l. Samuel's supporters entertained- him 1 nt Bellevue Gardens last ovening. Mr. 'E. P. Bunny presided, and' there were bbout 50 persons present, including the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), the Hon. J. Duthie, M.LIC., Hon. W. H. Herries, Hon. Dr. Pomare, 'Mr. D. H. Guthrie, M.P., and Mr. Richard Shortt. The tables were decorated with Mr. Samuel's raoing colours, orange and blue.

When inviting the gathering to drink to the health of Mr. Samuel, Mr. Bunny said that they all wished to compliment their guest on the fight be had put up for Reform in the election contest. Not only (said Mr. Bunny) had Mr: Samuel taken the arena without having had any experience 0f... publio life, but right up to the time of the contest he had managed to conceal witfi remarkable success all those qualifies which had delighted his friends and -dismayed his opponents. He had shown a fine grip of public questions, a gift of incisive speech, and a power of repartee which would have : done credit to an-old'Parliamentarian. Mr. Bunny welcomed the Prime Minister ' and the other members of the Legislature who were present, and said that he sincerely hoped that as the result of the hearing «f petitions, Mr. Massey' would find himself in power with a comfortable majority. (Applause.) Mr. Bunny added that he was not looking forward to a coalition, but said that he was confident that if there was one there would be' no compromise in the principles of Reform, which had been invoked for the good of ' this country. (Applause.) He suggested to the Prime Minister that'there should be no coalition, but instead a policy of annexation. (Applause;) ' Again referring to the good'fight Mr. Samuel had made to win the Hutt seat, Mr. Bunny said that if in the future their guest took up the cudgels of Reform they were all ready -to help, and that next time if he had •the same opponent—but Labour was going ; to' run a Social Democratic candidate, so there would be more than two in the field—they could point to Mr. Samuel as a winner. ■ Mr. Samuel replied that his fight for Reform was-a labour of love. His political 'colours were nailed to the mast, and he defied anyone to pull them down.* " The fight for Reform was the grandest cause that anyone ever had to support.' He was quite certain that the Government were well thought of in this constituency, and that with organisation the seat could be won. Once won to Reform, it would be won for , "keeps." He thanked the chairman for the kind words said about him. Other speakers also complimented Mr. Samuel on" his effortsjto win the seat '"or Reform. The Prime Minister pre- . 'jted that next time Mr. Samuel would p the majority he deserved. <Apiplaise.)'- - "