THE REFORM PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1929, Page 13

THE REFORM PARTY

CONFIDENCE IN ETJTURE

"TIME FOR .OVERHAUL"

Optimism with regard to the fortunes of the Keform Party and confidence in both its personnel and policy were expressed by speakers at a garden party held under the auspices of "the New Zealand Political Eeform League; at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Ferguson, lieuiuora, on

Saturday. ' The Leader of the Opposition (the '.' Eight Hon. J. G. Coates) said that - after many years of service it was necessary to overhaul the Reform machine. The party had a great history, -which had to be made even great- :. er. The banner of Reform represented ,;the highest ideals and aspirations of all -.classes of the community throughout New Zealand. The business man, the ; primary producer, and the worker all * contributed to' the progress of the ,party. „.-, Mr. Coates said there were only two .. parties worth counting—the Reform . .and the Labour Parties. As the Government members numbered only 28 in a -House of 80, they had not an absolute -.majority, and where possible the Opposition waa giving them an opportunity fulfilling their promises. His party ■^always played the game, but the Gov- . ernment had been continually trying • :: to discredit it by stopping or delaying the Taupo railway, the MorningBide and Palmerston North deviations, and road works, and by spreading "Tumours about Arapuni and other elec■tric schemes. *- • Mr. A. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata, --■who in 1925, as a result of his criti- " 'cism of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Bill, ;'"was accounted a Reform "rebel," and •■was advised by the Hon. W. Downie -Stewart to "go and make his peace •'•■ with' his leader," said a great revival :cf public opinion in favour of the1 '■return to power of the party which I ''during the past 16 years had done so ■/much for New Zealaud, existed! •^hroughout the country. The party was, : -inerely having a "little holiday" be-j -Tore being returned to office. The pre-j Government had proved to be a, r'."jK,-ty of broken pledges," and it behoved every citizen to see that the • tried and tested party was given an opportunity to continue its work. The -"Ward millions," tho loan embargo charge, the increased taxation, the' '"stoppage and construction, of railways -grants being provided for in estimates the authorisation ' bills were passed and tho Government's other sins of omission and commission were by Mr. Harris. The unem•ployment problem, he said, had not been solved, and after the summer the position would be as serious as ever The Government's policy of "spoils to -the victor" was also criticised. In ./that respect the Reform Party, it had ..been said, overlooked their supporters . ivhile the late Mr. Masse'y had been of rewarding his enemies. His : party believed in appointing the most .desirable and best qualified type of man.