MR WILFORD AT DUNEDIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2473, 29 August 1922, Page 3

MR WILFORD AT DUNEDIN.

Dunedin, Last Night. The Hon. T. M. Wilford addressed a fairly large meeting in His Majesty’s theatre this evening. He spoke for over two hours, and received an attentive hearing. The speaker devoted considerable time to a criticism of what he termed the Massey press. He considered that the control of this country was in the hands of nine persons, namely: Sir Walter Buchanan, Geo Hunter, Edwin Mitelielson, Heaton Rhodes, James Wilson, Geo. Clifford, Frauds Bell, William Herries, and Geo. Femviek. These were the men, he said, who controlled the Reform party in Parliament to-day. If they believed that the interests of these men were the interests of the people of this country, well, be did not. Air Wilford severely criticised the administration of the Hon. C. J. Parr and quoted the Auditor-Gener-al’s report in support of his contention that the affairs of the Education Department are not properly administered. He condemned the Government with regard to the Board of Trade’s administration. It brought charges for trivial offences and let the trusts severely alone. With regard to immigration, Mr Wilford contended that there was room for more people in this country, but this was not the time to introduce them. He said it was the feeling in the North Island and prophesied that the Reform party would lose at least- sixteen seats at the general election. Air Wilford received a vote of thanks at the conclusion of his address.