POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 177, 25 January 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL.

THE REFORM PARTY. 810 AUCKLAND DEMONSTRATION. SIXTEEN REFORM SPEECHES. By Tek«w.pfc—P"*« Association. Auckland, Last Night. A huge demonstration was held by the Reform Party in the Town Hall tonight. The attendance was over 3000, . the accommodation of the hall being fully taxed. Mr. Lemuel G. Bagnall occupied the chair. A long programme of speeches was delivered 'by members of the Reform' l Party, of whom eighteen were present. The audience gave the speakers a very hearty reception, Mr. Massey being the subject of a remarkable display of enthusiasm. When Mr. Massey rose to speak, he was received with a great demonstration, the audience cheering and singing "For he's a jolly good 1 fellow." He pressed) thanks for the support given the > Reform Party at the general elections. The old standing reproach to the party that it was unable to secure support in the greatest centre of the district to which, he belonged was now removed. Auckland would never regret this, and what Auckland said to-day the rest of New Zealand would l say to-morrow. Wellington had already stated its disapproval of the administration, and demanded a Government more energetic and enthusiastic to do right. He was delighted at the opportunity to introduce members of the Reform Party, and let- 1 ting 'people mefet faifse. to face representatives of the party which was in a majority in jPaijiftment at the present , time and which possessed l the confidence of the majority in the country and from which the people expected an up to date policy and economical and effective* administration.

The people, continued Mr. Massey, would not regret having placed their confidence in the party. Hp referred to the staunchness ami incorruptibility of members of his party, who had grown old in their service, and extended a compliment to the new members ( of his party. The people, said Mr. Massey, were looking forward with'great interest to the, session next month. For the first time for 21 years they were going to have ths change of government which they had demanded. He and his party were proud at securing the confidence and 1 affection of the bulik of the people in New Zealand. Their responsibilities would be_ heavy, but they .never'shirked responsibilities, and would do their duty as sincerely on the Treasury benches as on the Opposition benches, their first thought being the welfare of the country. In either circumstance New Zea» land needed many feroms such as his party had advocated in the past. They wanted unoccupied' lands opened up for every energetic' settler who desired 16 go upon it. The finances must be placed upon a sound and proper footing, so that everyone could see whether tho money was spent properly or the reverse, \ The party hoped to be able to promote an economical and efficient administration. .The State must be. prepared to pay for brains: and ability, but they wanted) to keep at a distance everything like "graft or political, patronage." Legislators shouldlie tlie?|tirect representatives 'of .the people themselves. They wanted also to see country .do its duty as not the leaat £f the nation# which make up the great Empire.. Altogether 16 members addressed the meeting. At its conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence in the Reform Party Was carried fry an overwhelminir majority. OPPOSITION RALLy. Hamilton, Wednesday. A big Opposition rally was held in Hamilton last night. Nine members were present, but Mr. Massey was 'unable to attend. Messrs. Herries, Newman and Malcolm ; expressed faith in Mr. Massey as a leader, but said that, while believing hfr 1 would be Premier, the position of the Refohn Party in Parliament would at. first be precarious and progress would of necessity be slow. N s. They urged the party and its follow-, ers to stick together and, in View of the fact that there might soon be an-, other election, to organise, which should ■ be their motto. >•

LABOR PARTY AT VARIANCE. Wanganui, Wednesday. Some rumors have been going the , rounds lately of some disturbance in the' ■] minds of the local Labor Party, and of the possibility of interesting develop? ■■■s ments, particularly in regard to its rela-' ( tion to the New Zealand Labor 'Party. j From statements made to a pressman by, „ • leading Laborites in Wanganui ,it ap: .» pears that Btrong exception has been taken :to the hostile attitude adopted, oW the executive of the New, Zealand 1 p%|fty and its official organ in Wellington towards the members for Wangan- . ntti.Otakiand Grey Lynn. These memtfets did not sign the New Zealand -Labor Partes written nor were they As&ed to do so, their supporters, it is said, preferring trust J.heir personal '•> Jjqnor. The . fact thiat the members named are also opposed to the,-Premier is stated to be another of the executive's . grievances. It-transpires that an tiiir tempt wa!s made by the executive ia*' 'is Wellington, prior to the elections, to N force the pledge on Mr. Veiteli but failed, and this, as well as the attitude of* the New Zealand Party's official, organ have caused so much resentment that already ' ; the»e is talk of starting a new political labor movement whose constitution shall leave out all mention of a pledge apd give local branches a free hand in the selection of candidates ■ and the conduct », of elections. , The local Labor opinion is that the ■'"? constitution of the New. Zealand Labor ■ i '.\ Party tends to the creation of a politioaj machine with a select few in Wellington exercising the right of dictation to the* 1 whole pary throughout the Dominion, and . this tiiev. are determined to resist. It is stated that communications already . received from other parts of the Dominion express similar opinions and indicate readiness to join in the suggested new movement, which, while putting forward the Labor platform, shall ensure ■ freedom from the dominance of a narrow coterie of extremists. Further developments are being awaited with interest. Masterton, Last Night, ilnterviewed by a representative of the Wairarapa Age this evening, Mr. W. A. VeitclCM.P. for Wanganui. said he was r , i not aware that a movement was afoot in Wanpanui to form a separate Labor Partv. He admitted, however, that there was a strong feeling against the criticism of Robertson, Pnvne and himself bv the Labor paper in Wellington. Mr. D. McLaren, who was also interviewed; ■stated that the Labor puper in Welling- \i ton did not represent the views of the Labor Party. ;'