MR. MASSEY HONOURED.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 13, 5 June 1912, Page 2

MR. MASSEY HONOURED.

> Banquetted at Waiuku. In recognition of his fifteen years' service as member for Franklin, and I as leader of th,e Reform Party, Mr W. F. Massey was banquetted at Waiuku on Friday evening Inst. There were over 100 representative electors at table, and the Parliamentary party included Messrs F. W. Lang (Manukau), 1). liuiok (Palinerston North), F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Central), j 1). 11. Guthrie (Oroua), J. H. Brad11ley (Auckland West), and A Harris | (Waitemata). j The evening was marked with great | enthusiasm, and a slip of the tongue iby the chairman, who referred to I "our Premier " was loudly applauded ! The company evidently expected and ! desired that the slip would prove proj plietic. There was nothing very new in Mr Massey's speech, but his criticism of | his opponents was destructive. "Why did Mr Mackenzie, who posed as a ' frond of the farmer, put such a preponderating number of leaseholders iu j the Ministry ?" he asked. In a way the speeches of his fol- ! lowing were even more interesting to | the people than the words of Mr Mas- | sey himself. For the electors' of the | district know exactly where their 1 member stands on all matters of politi- :< ai principle. But in view of the rej ported dissension in the party, the j united expressions of loyalty to their ! leader were cordially received by j everybody present. Not a word was i spoken which suggested anything but | constancy to their Chief and their policy. References were repeatedly made to " our Chief, whose lionhearted courage and sterling work ' set a high example and had lifted the public life of New Zealand." These ■ testimonies, varied in their forms, all ' went to show that when Parliament i meets this month Mr. Massey's following- into the lobby will find not a single member of tho Reform Party missing. Equally cordial were the words of the proposers of the various toasts. Mr Martin Barriball (who proposed "Mr Massey"), Mr S. I. Rossiter (" Political Reform Party of New Zealand"'), Mr McGaviu ("House of Representatives "), Mr 11. Wily ("The Defence Force"), and Mr J. Henry ( " Our Visitors "). We are personally obliged to Mr Albrecht for the kind things he said of the " Pukekohe and Waiuku Times" in proposing the toast of " the Press." The public meeting which followed the banquet, was largely attended, and it was evident that Mr Massey and his following enjoyed the whole-heaitcd support of ihe meeting in anticipation j of tiie political trial which takes place I this month. j