REFORM PARTY

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1922, Page 5

REFORM PARTY

CONTROL BY NINE MEN. CRITICISM BY MR. WILFORD. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Dunedin, Last Night. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) addressed a fairly-large meeting at His Majesty’s Theatre this evening. He spoke for over two hours, and received an attentive hearing. He devoted considerable time to criticism of what he termed the Massey Press. He considered that the control of this country was in the hands of nine persons—Sir Walter Buchanan, Sir Geo. Hunter, Sir Edwin Mitchelson, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Sir James Wilson, Sir Geo. Clifford, Sir Francis Bell, Sir William Herries, and Sirj Geo. Fenwick. These were the men, he said, who controlled the Reform Party in Parliament to-day. If they believed that the interests of these men were the interests of the people in this country—well, he did not. He severely criticised the administration of the Hon. C. J. Parr, and quoted the Auditor-General’s report in support of his contention that the affairs of the Education Department were not properly administered. He condemned the Government with regard to the Board of Trade’s administration. They brought charges for trivial offences and let the trusts severely alone. With regard to immigration, he contended there was room for more people in this country, but this was not the time to introduce them.

He said the feeling had changed in the North Island, and he prophesied that the Reform Party would lose at least 16 seats at the general election. He received a Vote of thanks at the conclusion.