POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2401, 5 March 1915, Page 6

POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE.

WOMEN'S BRANCH. In spite of unpropitious weather there was a large attendance at the meeting last night of the Women's Branch of the Political Reform League. Mrs. C. Earle presided. e The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey), who was present, was given a most enthusiastic : reception by members In the course, of a brief address, he_ spoke of . the present political situation, and his announcement to the meeting that the petition against Mr. Tau Henare, the Reform member for Northern Maori, had been dismissed was received with loud applause. He spoke also of the great struggle in which the Empire was involved, and of New Zealand's part in the war. He had, ho said, assured the Imperial Government that New Zealand would help to the last man and the last sovereign if need arose. He referred to women's work in politics, and took the opportunity of thanking the women of the Reform League for their efforts to secure the return of candidates pledged to Reform. To show the adj vance in the favour of the people the (party had .made he quoted figures to show that some 83,000 more votes had been cast for Reform at the 1914 elections than at the 1911 elections, as against an increase of only 24,000 votes for all the combined Opposition parties. On the motion of Mrs. Guymer, a vote of thanks to Mr. Massey was carried by acclamation.

[ After the Prime Minister had witli- ' drawn to keep, another appointment, the meeting went on with ordinary business. Miss Speed gave an account of the fund for the purchase of a bed for the Hospital. A proposal was supported by the meeting that the Government' be asked at some future'time to legalise some method b.v which sick and bed-ridden pcoplo may vote at elections. Many such people, it was pointed out, were keenly interested in ' political affairs, and they were surely better entitled to a an. were habitual criminals. Other ordinary business was dealt with, and several new memberß wero elccted.