A BITTER SPEECH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 287, 31 May 1912, Page 5

A BITTER SPEECH.

MR. MILLAR BITES BACK. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The Hon. J. A. Millar was entertained at a social by his supporters and friends to-night, the Early Settlers' Hall being A number of other members and prominent citizens were present, and the Mayor, Mr. John Wilson, presided. Tn the course of his address, Mr. Millar said that the Liberal Party had recently received a reverse, and to-dav was in the unhappy position of being broken up by men who had not been five minutes in public life. He did not care if he never held office again, so Ion? as be saw a Government in office that would carry on the country's affairs on the same progressive lines as in the past. The party to-day was at the beck an- 1 call of five or six men, who would drag it through the mud at their own sweet will. It was an undesirable position, and he did not intend to help it; more especially when they had one of those gentlemen on the floor of the House saying that it was his mission in life to suck the Liberal Party dry. and then throw it over. He intended to try to send that member back to his constituents and show that his vaunted powers of suction were not there. Thev found three royal commissions sitting to-day for the gradual absorption of men who wc-re doubtful. It would be a thousand times better for the party to go into honorable opposition. His principles were the same as they had alwnvs been, and at the close of his public life he was not going to change them. He was not going over to the Reform Party. One of two things must happen. Either a new party must be formed within the House from men on Soiß sHes, Icavir the extremists out, a party with a broad forward policy, without any rash experiments, or, if they could not form a on those lines, his vote would go everv tune, for' a dissolution. Possibly there would be a Minister in Dunedin shortlv. and after noting what he said he would probably address a meeting of reply to what might be said in regard to himself, or the aetion of those endeavoring to put the affair? of the country on a sounder basis, "iwl •<]nr> explain more fully what took place on the last occasion the party met. Other members of Parliament also spoke in terms of appreciation of Mr. Millar's work as a Minister and niember.