THE OPPOSITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 87, 11 April 1912, Page 6

THE OPPOSITION.

LEADER SPEAKS AT SOCIAL TO MR HARDY. “NO SAINTS OR ANGELS.” (Per Press Association.) Methven, April 10. Mr C. A. C. Hardy, ex-member for Sclwyn, was entertained at a complimentary banquet at Methven to-night, which was attended by about two hundred guests, many being ladies. Amongst those present were Mr Massey (Leader of the Opposition), Messrs W. Nosworthy, E. P. Lee, and F. H. Smith (Opposition members), and many representative men of the district.- After the toast of “The Guest of the Evening” had been honoured, Mr Massey, responding on behalf of the Reform Party, said that the day was ‘an anniversary with him, as just eighteen years ago he was elected member for Waitemata. It was jufet prior to the general election of 1906. when the party was in a weak condition, that, be felt that it was part of bis life’s work to re-establish the party. He had worked to the end of making the party one ,t!iat would work for the good of the country, and be a true Liberal party, not a sham Liberal one—a democratic and progressive party. The position of the party now was that there were 38 good men and true in its ranks, who intended to do the best they could for the country to which they belonged and for the people they represented. They did not profess to be saints or angels, hut lie could say that the party’s thought was not for themselves, but for the people. He predicted that within the next few months there would not be an electorate without a strong branch of the Reform Party established in it. Other toasts were honoured, and afterwards a public meeting was held. The after meeting was held in the Methven town hall, which was crowded on the occasion of the presentation of an illuminated address to Mr C. A. C. Hardy. Speeches were made by several members of the Reform Party; Mr E. P. Lee, member for Oamaru, said that the fact that the Ward Ministry had resigned was proof that it felt that it <Jid not possess the confidence of the country, and the new Ministry similarly did not possess tho country’s confidence and ought to meet the House at the earliest possible moment. Mr F. H. Smith, member for Waitaki, urged the necessity for free agricultural schools, and, referring to the taxation of land, he said that land taxation must be on a fair basis. Mr Hardy, in accepting the illuminated address, stated that he ; bad made up his mind not to contest the Selwyn seat again. Mr W. Nosworthy, member for Ashburton, remarked that though the Reform; Party was not in power it was in a| better position than if ft were in powfjr and relying 1 on thb votes of pledge-breakers. ' f Mi Massey paid a high tribute to Mr Hardy, .and said that though his services were lost to the House, there was another branch of the legislature unlikely to lose his services. (Continued applause.) Hb dealt at considerable length with ’the . present political situation, holding that the present Government did not possess the confidence of the country. ■ It was, he said, speaking politically, a “political humbug.” He defined the Re form Party’s land policy as being in the direction of making available for settlement all the available Crown and native land. Ho was opposed to unfair taxation of the land, but was in favour of any taxation necessary to ensure the closer settlement of .large estates. He hoped that the history of the recent short session would bo written, and that publicity would be given to all the wire-pulling that took place.

Mr G. M. Thomson also spoke, criticising the present Government.