THE OPPOSITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 93, 19 April 1912, Page 8

THE OPPOSITION.

* rally l\ the south. (Per Press Association .) Wyndham, April IS. A banquet to Mr G. J. Anderson, M.P. for Mataura, was held in Wyndliam Town Hall last night. There was remarkable enthusiasm shown. Members of the Reform Party were present. The seating (capacity of the hall was taxed to the utmost, and besides prominent residents of the electorate the following members of the Reform Party were present:— Messrs W. F-. Massey (Leader of the Opposition), H. Buiek (Palmerston North), W. Buchanan (Wairarapa), W. Nosworthy (Ashburton), W. Fraser (Wakatipu), G. M. Thomson (.Dunedin North), C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central), James Allen (Bruce), A. S. Malcolm (Clutha), E. P. Lee (Oamaru) land R. Scott (Otago Central). Apologies for absence were read from IS members of the Reform Party. Mr B. Sutherland, chairman of Wyudham Town Board, occupied the chair. The Leader of the Opposition was loudly cheered on his entry into the hall, and on his rising to speak was greeted with cheers that lasted for some minutes. Mr Massey gave a very forcible address, in which he said that the prospects of the Reform Party were very bright. Where in some places during the last election the party had not been able to find candidates the best type of men had offered themselves to tight for the party in the event of another election. Mr Massey said that the Prime Minister, at the Government Party gathering at Stratford last week, had said that certain members of the Opposition bad cast a shir upon the credit of the country by making certain statements concerning loans. He challenged Mr Mackenzie to publish those statements and to state the names of the Reform Party members who had allegedly been so unpatriotic. Speeches wore also delivered bv other members of the Opposition Party, and each in turn had an excellent reception.