REFORM PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 252, 14 March 1913, Page 3

REFORM PARTY.

I JUNIOR WHIP HONORED. - j THE CinilSTClll'liCfl SPEECH. By Telegraph. —Per Press Association. Ashburton, Wednesday. The member for Ashburton (Mr. W. Xosworthy) was tendered a compliment- | ai-.v social l>v his constituents this eveni ing. There was a representative attendance of close on 000. The chairman of the County Council presided, and the Prime Minister. Postmaster-Qencral and seven members of Parliament were on the platform. All delivered eulogistic speeches, and Mr. Massev paid a particularly flattering tribute to Mr. Xosworthy in his dual capacity as private, member and junior Government Whip. The Prime .Minister also seized the occasion to refer to his reception in i Christ-church the previous night, and to the press reports of and comments on the km me. He. dwelt specially on the statement made by the Lyttelton Times that the police officers were so numerous at the Christchnrch meeting that a pebble could not be dropped without hitting one of them, and that the glimmer of their uniforms was all over the building, Mr. Massey said he bad telegraphed to Mr. Herdman asking him how manv policemen were at the meeting, and 'the Minister of Justice bad replied that the provision for the protection of property and of people attending the meeting bad been entirely in the hands of the local police authorities, and that not more than seven officers had been fold oil' to preserve order in the theatre during the evening. There might have been a dozen officers in the building, but not more. lie believed that the Christchurch meeting would do the Government an immense amount of good. Mr. Nosworthv was presented with a handsome escrctoire. and Mrs. Xosworthy with a manicure set. Both the Prime Minister and the guest of the evening were, enthusiastically received, and the function generally was of a very hearty nature.