THE REFORM PARTY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10605, 11 April 1912, Page 5

THE REFORM PARTY

MR HA~RDY ENTERTAINED.

(By rdegraph—Press Association.) "' METHVEX, Last Night, At Methven to-night,' Mr 0. A. C. Hardy, ex-M.P. for Selwyn, was entertained at la eomplimentairy banquet at which, amongst others present, was Mr W. i<. -Massey, Leader of t'iie Opposition. In responding to. the toast of the Reform Party, Mr Mhssey said it was- eighteen - years ago that day .since, he was returned for .Waitemata. J.ust prior,-.'to the election- cf 1906, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition, and he had worked towards making the party a. true democratic and progressive i party. The Reform party did not profess to be saints-, but their first! -thought was jiot for themselves, but for the people of the Dominion. ' j Mr Hardy, in accepting an ilLumanated address, «&aid it,' wats. his intention Jiot to contest"the Selwyn' seat again. Mi" Massey, in the course of a- lengthy speech, said tnat Mr Hardy though lost to the House, would not he lost to the other branch of the Legislature.- He dealt at some length with the political situation, and defined the Reform.party's Mud I policy, which, he said, was .to mia-ke j-available for ''settlement all land posI 'Silble. The party was also in favour tof the taxation necessary, to ensure the closer settlement of large esI tates.