THE REFORM PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 66, 5 August 1912, Page 4

THE REFORM PARTY.

A CONGRATULATORY CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the Political Reform League OonI'erenci) yesterday. Mr. Massey said that it gave Jiijii great pleasure to meet the representatives of men and women who had stood to the party and maintained its principles during tin: twenty-one years it had been in Opposition. (Applause.) llepiTneiita tives of every electorate from the Bay of l«kmk lo the Liull' were present, and the gathering was the very strongest indication that tlie people c>f New Zealand had' definitely decided that the public business should be conducted on clear, straight and democratic lines, ami in those terms the policy of the Reform League was summarised. (Applause.) It showed that the people of New Zealand had .shaken oti their lethargy, aiKi had determined to take an actire iivrest ill the conduct of their aliairs. and there was no better guarantee of tl;;: proper conduct of poiit.ea! -bus-in--ss a .strong and healthy public opinion. Etgarding the work of th.' conferenc;, .Mr. Alassey said that the most important woud be. to arrange a seiism? cf organisation, to prepare for 'the general elections whenever they might com', though during the Inst tew weeks tha ju.';sj>iets of a general election hiu faded ii t, tihe d'im and distant mure 'lb-.' Mi 'j duty of the delegates was 'O a :yng<! <, nill and complete oriiMiisatici. ».v w! when the necessity arose, there would be .strong and popular candidates lor every electorate, with strong and complete organisation to support them. He was- sure tihat tie conference would be productive of good for the party, and if that was its result it would lie productive of good for -the country. (Applause.) Mt. F. B. H'ockly was unanimously chosen chairman of the conference.

Mr. G. J. Garland (Auckland 1 provincial district) proposed a motion racokrding his high appreciation ->f ihi; va'iia'.-ie services rendered to Uie couat:y bv tie Reform members o f Parliament, uailer the able leadership of Air. M.issev, and congratulated him and II: 'in on tli> success that had crov;-n.d ilijt Ijng aid arduous struggle for right.

The motion was n 1 ,«vi id liy Mr. C. A. C. Hardy (Solwvn), ami supported by many delegates who concurred' in expressions of gratification at the success of the party, and in congratulating Mr. Matssey ami his party upon the manner in which they had conducted the fight for the party. There were many sincere expressions of esteem and admiration for Mr. M«sscy personally. The motion was carried with vigorous a pplau-se, followed by cheers for Mr. Masscy, and t'ho singing of "For 'he's a jolly good fellow," and cheers for Mrs. Masscy.

Acknowledging the compliment, tfie Prime Minister said that he and his colleagues deeply appreciated the congratulations of the conference. One tiling to !m' proud of was that .the party had stood the test of adversity, and: lie believed that it would stand, with equal credit, the test' of prosperity. (Applause.). He was. confident 'with rucli help and' assistance lis had been given in past years that the representatives of the party in. Parliament would control the destinies of the country for many years to come. (Applause.) A committee of, twenty- delegates—ten from eacih island —was set up to go inito the details of an organisation scheme. A second committee of ten. members wa* appointed to report upon' tihe advisability of appointing an official organ of the League. The greater part of the afternoon sitting was occupied with eons«lera<tion of various proposals intended to assist in consolidating the supporters of the party. With this object the conference resolved that provision should be made in the constitution for the enrolment as honorary members of branches of young people under 21 year# of age. The idea was that the young people should' be encouraged to take an active interest in the government of the Dominion. The desirability of establishing branches of the Women's Political Reform League in every electorate was unaiwmouisly affirmed. The conference will resume on Monday morning, when the principal husimeee will be consideration of recommendations from the committees appointed on Saturday.

SOCIAL AT SIGHT. SPEECH P.Y MR. MASSKY. Wellington, La.st Night. The delegates to th<' Reform League Conference now sitting in Wellington were entertained at an "at home" on Saturday evening, when the supporttw of the party gathered in great force. Mr. C. I>. Morrison, chairman oi tie Wellington, branch of the Reform League, presided, and on the platform were the Prime Minister, Mrs. Massev, and eeveral other Ministers and their vv.ive^. Mr. Massey was received with prolonged applause, lie said that he was delighted at meeting so many friends and" supporters of the Reform Party. He had adso been delighted to be present a't the huge rcpsescnitative gathering which had started that morning, and "to me«t the delegates from every part of New Zealand assembled 1 -for tin; purpose of formulating a phui of campaign and a suheme of organisation applicable to every electorate, designed to have the office t of returning a majority of members pledgied to the principles of the Re--form Party. (Applause.) At past ejections they' -had generaily any amount of enthusiasm, just as little in the way of organisation. and: perhaps Jess in the way of funds. ' (Laugfrter.) In future, however, he Irelieved that would have ail tln-ee, but if they had to do without any one of them he would say: give liirn enthusiasm and organisation, and he would be quite satisfied .to dp without, funds. (Applause.) There had been a. ioit of whining- about iwi«Tc.preneidation, and very .seriously, teo. One fa write form was to a.sso»t thai they were the party of wealthy mw and Ja.rgo land-owner*. When he had looked lit "the conference delegates that morning he could not help thinking that the capitalists and large land-owners were oomspicuous bv their absence. The people there were just- an average set of citizens, progressive and pa.fcri&tie. Tfoeir progressivemess was shown by their support of the Reform Party's platform—the most progressive platform ever placed before the public of X«w Zealand bv any political party. (Hear, hear.) Li was a policy which would have the effect of making the conditions- of life easier, and happim>*< more easily obtainable for every individual in the community. He had no desire to crow over the. party lately on the Govwimient benches, but lie 'c-ouh! not lielp thinking of the. description ajipliesl to them by a. man who said tlut they reminded him of "a drum and frfe band wanted to be boss." (Laughter.) Intense joy had' been felt in every -part of New Zealand at the result- of the n'oeonlidcnec division. lie thoughi 100 much was expected o.f them. and he only hoped, that. tln'y would he able to live up to ii, and give -effect i» even one hail' of lisi> antifiptitioiv* formm!. If Un\v failed, ii- would no-t be for lack of trying. (Applause.) Il'c wa.-, confident that when it fame to be their turn to walk oirt, p:"ople would see that they had doiM' their best to leave the country better ofT than 'they found it. (Renewed applause and cheers.) Mr. A. Harris, member for Waite-lrait-ii. said that a few day* ago Sir Joseph Ward dwlared in Auckland that the partv now in power only rep'-eswited a- minority of tire electors, but this was incorrect. He lmd since looked into tftc

l figtu'es of the actual votes cast for each? J of the eighty members now in tine Hou.se.. { e found that the supporters of Sir Wanl ' s administration polled. ; "votes, and Mr. Massey's supporters 128,251. The Labor member* ?« «« and Independents 16,838 votes. Thus the successful ReformI arty polled within about 4000 votes of * v °tes polled by the Liberal Goveminent and Labor ami independent sunporters. . " 1 Other .speakers were Mrs. A. K New man, president of the Wellington Women's branch of tlio Reform League Mr F. Hocktey, president of the Reform'con" fertiit'c, Sir. G. 11. Thomson', M.P for Dunedin North, and .Air. ,T. Hamilton Who contested tin; Avrairua seat against Sir Joseph X\ ar<[ at 'the Jasi election Mr. Hamilton said that during his term of office Sir Joseph Ward bad been granting public money for expenditure all over the Awarua electorate, not onlv on Toads and bridges, but also on private property. ("Oh, oh!" and '•.Shaimo.") However, at next election l lie thought there was every probability that he would bo able to oust Sir Joseph' Ward (Applause.) r l!ie Hon. A. L. Herdman spoke, and also the Hon. F. M. I(. Fisher. Mr. W. C. Buchanan. member for Wairaawpa, was called 1 on,, but merely bowed. .1 Tlue Hon. J. Ailen excused" himself ] from making a ]<>„„ ,spt'ocli, because it. I u busy day at t'ho conference.