THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1922, Page 5

THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

ARRIVAL AT CHBISTCHUBCIL A CROWDED MEETING. By Telegraph.—Press Association Christchurch, Last Night. Mr. Massey arrived from the Welt Coast this evening. On tha way across he addressed a large meeting of residents at Otira. He made the journey in an open truck through rain to the tunnel mouth and made a short speech to the workers assembled there. Mr. Massey wae then taken on his first trip through the Otira tunnel, arriving at 2 p.m. at Arthur’s Pass. He gave a short speech at Darficld. | So keen was the interest taken locally in the visit of Mr. Massey that the Theatre Royal was crowded out before 6.30 p.m., and the doors wore closed. * A vast crowd gathered outside tne building, and when Mr. Massey and his party appeared they were surrounded by so large a circle of admirers that it was only with difficulty he could make i his way to the gate. Mr. Massey, all smiles and affibility, responded to thia j great tribute of admiration by lifting ; his hat and bowing, and am.’J the plaudi its of the multitude he passed through the gate and out of sight into the i Theatre Royal. On the whole Mr. Massey’s meeting was a fairly orderly one, but there wfta j a continual stream of interjections. Mr.* Massey’s speech was entirely on the lines of previous utterances. At the conclusion a, hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Massey and continued confidence in the Government was moved, and the motion was declared carried by a vary large majority. The gathering ro«e > and cheered Mr. Massey lustily.