LIBERAL PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1920, Page 5

LIBERAL PARTY.

THE STRATFORD VICTORY. MR. R. MASTERS HONORED. LIBERAL LEADER AT STRATFORD. (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) Stratford, Last Night. The victory of the Liberal Pitrty m winning the Stratford seat by returning Mr. Robert Masters at the recent byelection was celebrated in striking fashion by a complimentary social and dance 1.0 Mr. and Mrs. Masters at the Town Hall, Stratford, to-night. The hall was packed to its utmost capacity with supporters of Mr. Masters from all parts of the electorate, and great enthusiasm was displayed throughout the evening. The hall had been tastefully decorated with flowers, shrubs and bunting, anil presented a very pleasing appearance. Among those seated on the platform were the Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. W. McMillan), Mrs. McMillan, the Hon. W. D. S. McDonald (Leader of the Liberal Tarty), and Mrs MacDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Masters, Mr. W.T. Jennings, M.P. (Waitomo), Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. (Taranaki) and Mrs. Smith, Mr. W. Morrison (Patea), Mr. J. Sutherland "'(Mayor of Inglewood), Mr. G. Young (ex-Mayor of Inglewood), and Mr. and Mrs. J. McAlister (Stratford). The first part of the evening was taken up with a splendid musical programme, arranged by Mr. A. D. Mills. Excellent orchestral selections were provided by Pox's augmented orchestra. TRIBUTE TO NEW MEMBER. The Mayor, who presided, apologised with regret for the absence of Mr. J. McCluggage owing to illness, and asked the secretary of the function to convey to Mr. McCluggage their best wishes for his speedy recovery. The gathering, added Mr. McMillan, was being held to celebrate the victory of the Liberal-Labor League in returning their candidate (Mr. Masters)' at the by-election. It was a splendid win, and oven the opponents of Mr. Masters must admit that Mr. Masters had done well. The Mayor also' paid 11 tribute to Mrs. Masters, who hud been a groat factor in helping to win the scat, and would worthily a-sist her husband in liis Parliamentary duties.

Mr. (i. Young said Mr. Masters had had a very hard tight to win the Stratford scat, which he had done on two occasions, the last occasion being a better victory than the first. Mr. Masters' committee had wbrked hard, but the main factor xas Mr. Masters himself, and by his untiring energy and his good work in various capacities, particularly in educational matters, he had made himself well worthy- of being their member. Already Mr, Masters had commenced his duties as a member of Parliament. He had done good work in connection with the calling of <i conference of members to discuss provincial affairs, and everything Mr. Masters had taken -up had culminated in success. Mr. Young then presented Mr. Masters with a handsome gold watch anil chain, the watch being inscribed as follows: "Presented to Bob. Mas!ers by his supporters on the occns-iuii of his election to the Stratford scat." As Mr. Masters rose to receive the presentation ho was greeted with enthusiasm, and the whole audience rose and sang "For He's a Jolly Good Follow." GIFT FOR MRS. MASTERS. Mrs. McAlister, on behalf of the lady supporters of Mr. Masters, then presented Mrs. Masters with a gold wristlet watch, the presentation being enthusiastically accompanied with the singing of "For She's 'a Jolly Good Fellow." Mr. J. McAlister, on behalf of the local Liberal-Labor League, also paid a tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Masters. Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., expressed pleasure at being present to share with them the great victory they had secured by the return of Mr. Masters.

Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., also added his hearty congratulations to Mr. Masters on having again secured the confidence of Strafford electors. The Taranaki members had already combined, irrfcspective of party, for the furtherance of Tarnnnki's requirements, and good results could be expected. The Government at present was not to his liking, I and he firmly believed that before many years had passed the country would bo governed by young New Zealanders, who would be imbued with the highest ideals for the welfare of the country. i Mr. Mac Donald, who was received with applause, said that when the final verdict was announced he was delighted at Mr. Masters' return, because he had fought a clean, honest, straight-forward fight—(applause)—and would be a credit to Parliament. Mr. Macdonald said that from, the beginning the prosperity and development of New Zealand in 18110, when the Liberal Party came into power, until 1012 at least, the Liberal Party brought the country to the great state'of prosperity it was enjoying to-day. (Applause). LIBERAL PARTY'S RECORD. The Liberal Party, under Mr. Ballance, had come into power when the country was practically bankrupt from the North Cape to the Bluff. Thcr« was unemployment and distress throughout the country. The Liberal Party then came into being, and immediately saw that every man got work if he wanted it. Then, by means of the closer settlement of land, and needed reforms, a period of general prosperity followed. Mr. Mac Donald said that the greatest need of New Zealand at present was strong, virile men to help to reconstruct and rebuild the country after the war. They had got such men in Mr. Masters, who was a man who ought to attain the highest Parliamentary rank. (Applause). The great British Empire and their Allies had won the war at a tremendous cost, and it was now their duty to try and make good the ravages of the war, and, during the coming session of Parliament, there would be great work to be done.

The Liberals would not go to Parliament with the idea of smashing or embarrassing the Government, but would act and do what they thought beat not for one section of the people, but for every section of the people. (Applause). They had to realise that the war ■ had brought a heavy burden of deb.t on the country, and it was the producers whom the Government looked to to do their part, and so enaible the country to gef the money with which to ma»t Jt» liai hill tin.

WORK FOR BETTER DAttS. <■ ij "I think," added Mt. Mac Donald, "Hili? the members arc going to ParliMsMt; t.ext month with the desire of nafcfag;! things better for the country and /tfc* people, and I know that Mr. Malta* i* going to do his best to bring tkb-abqaro (Applause). , 3 The aftermath of the war could be«es in other countries, where the bank* frtQJj pulling in, prices were falling, and gps«; eral depression was setting in, and k f$ great country like New Zealand, WMojii produced more per head than ftliy ottnit; country, they must be on their £M&£ that such things did not happen. . ■,| Mr. MacDoiiald paid a striking tritutfi, to Sir Joseph Ward aB Minister of Rtoi| anoe for twenty-five years, and whftj;' hj% Raid, had never made a promise in Tel gard to providing finance without ing the goods, and who, after fourlfcnjj 11 half years as Finance Minißtw, JuiiJ left the Reform Government oyer <WM 000,000 surplus to go to the electyoai with. (Applause). What the position was to-day in retard to finance they did not know. The fls,i 000,000 was the great big Christina* Joke' for the Reform Party, but they had ettoi it, and it looked now aa if there WMIjL M more loans and increased taxatidtt. JH| would not say that the 'members of jthjl Reform Party were not as loyal •&&*> gealous as the members of the ojjjMrt parties, but there was a great d|fferi|iej in the methods adopted. The wfttM position was clear that the first OHM any Government should do wag to bflM about reasonable prosperity, contenlMH and happiness to the whole of tie pMMJ not just a few of them. ■ ,-^g "DRIFT, DRIFT, DRIFT."' $ >'* ' "'I The greatest'hope for the people UNjj with the Liberal Party. The speaker,'«j plored Mr. Massey's lack of pottey,jtoj ticularly in regard to the land qutsma He wanted to see the Government 9JiMjJ the big estates and open up the ( «in lands of the country and make thems§| dnctive. Mr. Guthrie was doing his mH but he had no policy, and it was dnfj drift, drift, all the time, with the rswj that now the soldiers were '-told <jjmH could not get farms. The EtoVerWtM| had been worried about the presinl'trflfi ble, but they had ignored the WVsjf>&| and caused great disappointment W tffl soldiers, who were the country's <]fa|j consideration.. . «.,3 In conclusion, Mr. Mac Donald sMjtiSj was glad to see that the election Ml been fought on the Liberal-Labor pill form. Some men were careless of irihfc they said, and had stated that the US ovals should not have, anything to d with Labor. "I believe the great majoi ity of the people of this country are I*l or," added Mr. Mac Donald, amidst ap] plause, "but labor is unfotunate in sonj of its leaders. As far as disloyal labor it concerned, the Liberal Party doesn't wan to have any tiling to do with them, bUj loyal labor are our friends." (Ap plause). ',: MR. MASTERS' REPLY.' \ Mr. Masters was received with an ou| burst of applause on rising to reply. I! thanked them all very sincerely, on'bj half of Mrs. Masters aa well aJf himsßJ for the handsome presents made to thei that night. He regretted very raWi tjj absence of his old friend, Mr.' McOttfj gage, to whom was largely due his elei lion. He was pleased Mr. Mac Dona' had referred to a combination of 141 orals and Lahnr, and he expressed his coi fidenee that if there was a good combil ation of these forces they could awes the country, provided there was a decet form of representation. It win his intention .to prove to thei that the confidence reposed in him wotil not he in vain, and he was going to strft hard to do his best for them, ii Masters appealed to his hearers to forgi the difference of the election campalf and combine with their opponents «1 show a united front. Canterbury - Wt doing it, Auckland was doing it, and"! Taranaki would do it they would ma) great progress. The conference of T*BJ naki members, held last week, was I indication of what unity could do. Mr. Masters stressed the need for S creased production, and deplored the t* denoy on the part of some of the W«( ers' leaders in encouraging the meaj decrease production. The countayj great liabilities to meet, and It was bti by greatly increasing production, th they could save themselves. In tfcankti his supporters for the manner in wM they had assisted him, Mr. Masters M that no candidate had a more noble K earnest pride in the workers than he h had at the last election/and he was T9 proud of them. He was particular proud of what the ladies had done 1 him. 7