REFORM ENTHUSIASM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 770, 17 September 1929, Page 7

REFORM ENTHUSIASM

PARTY READY FOR ELECTION KEEN ORGANISATION Keen enthusiasm for a complete resuscitation of the Reform political movement in preparation for the next General Election contest was shown by a big meeting of supporters at the official opening of the party's new offices and rooms at Chancery Street, Auckland, yesterday. /ORGANISATION was the keystone of all the speeches, the Leader, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, asking simply that the party stand upon its merits in the people’s esteem. The accommodation at the new rooms was taxed to Us utmost, and the party leader was cheered enthusiastically as he entered the committee room to open the offices officially. Mr. Coates expressed quiet confidence that if the organisation which had been accomplished in various places in New Zealand lately were followed up effectively, the next appeal to the people would see Reform again carrying all before it. He was introduced by Mr. G. H. Wilson, who assured him that there was a new spirit shown in the movement—a spirit which was supple- | mented by the solid support of hardthinking men and women. Steps had been taken also to institute on a sound basis, the Junior Reform movement, and here again a group of wellselected workers was laying the foundation of the future organisation. Mr. Coates, in a short address, said he hoped that the new rooms would be regarded by party supporters as a home in which to lay the ground work which was eventually to lead the Dominion back to sound and sensible j government under the Reform Party. Auckland was not alone in its organisation. Five districts south of j W aitomo had been reorganised, l Hawke’s Bay had been recalled to life, while Wairarapa. Pahiatua and Master ton were already scheduled for meetings of revival. Definite shape had been taken by the Otago branches, and other districts in the South were shown to be eager to re-establish the solid support which was recognised as being due to the party. “When an election comes—l cannot | say exactly when that will be—we will : be ready l’or them,” Mr. Coates con- ! eluded: “we will be ready at any time I we are called upon.” j At afternoon tea, at which Mr. J. A. I C. Allum presided, Mr. A. M. Samuel, j M.P. for Thames, delivered a typical j lighting .speech as an appeal for | thorough and whole-hearted support. ] Honest and truthful propaganda was i the method by which he proposed to | re-establish the Reform Party. The ; people now realised that a terrible mis- ! take had been made at the 1928 General Election, when the real intention |of the electors was to reduce the overwhelming majority of the Government and, incidentally, reduce their pride. “But,” Mr. Samuel said, “like the mother who wishes to chide her own son with a tap, the people did not realise that there was more punch behind the tap than they intended.” £ 70,000,000 MIRAGE The United Party’s election promise of £70,000,000 had shimmered in the distance like a beautiful mirage, Mr. Samuel said, and then had disappeared altogether. And with it went the hopes of those who had counted upon financial assistance from the new administration. I Mr. A. Harris, Reform member for ; Waitemata, also urged complete organisation henceforward, and said if the people had displayed as much enthusiasm at the last election as was . shown yesterday, he would not have l been the only Reform member to re- • present a city constituency at the • present time. “When we first went to the House ‘ after last election,” Mr. Harris went on, “we were told if we did not behave ’ ourselves Sir Joseph Ward would I force another election. But we hear nothing about that today, because the L Government is anxious to avoid an : election at all cost. Reference was made by Mr. Coates to the retirement from the secretary- ! ship of the party of Mr. A. E. James, t who for 22 years had given his energies in the cause of Reform. He had 1 seen the party in success and adver- ’ sity, and it could be assumed that Mr. James had never received sufficient recognition for the manner in which he had worked for the organisation. 5 He moved a hearty vote of apprecia--1 tion to Mr. James, wishing him also \ health and prosperity. This was carried unanimously, and ’ Mr. James briefly replied, recalling [ the sweep into office of the party in , 1912, when the influence of the Auckland executive had been largely responsible for turning the people’s political thoughts from Liberalism to support of the Reform Party. Cheers were given for Mr. James 5 and Mr. Coates, and also for the host- • esses.