THE REFORM PARTY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10648, 1 June 1912, Page 5

THE REFORM PARTY

I MR MASSEY AGGRESSIVE. BE TAUNTS THE GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph—Fress Association-J AUCKLAND, Last Night, i The electors of Franklin eiiterta nod' the Leader of the Opposition (-Mr W F. Massey) at Wamkii at a. banquet to-night, a public .meeting being .subsequently held. I Mr Massey was accompani >d l y 'several of this supporters., .\Ses«<-i Burlek, iLta.ng, 'Guthrie, Bradney and Harris, M.P.'s. The proceedings were most' enthusiastic.

| In the course of a speech, Jlr.Mas.sey said that though the oe-ssion' of ■February had been a dr.isa'io.) iiuiient at 'the time, he now .realised that the best possible resu'lt bad be.-/i : cvra'ded, ifor instead of entering into ■at the mercy of fa- few unroa-sonaMs •miam, the Reform, P'arty was the dominant party in .politics, 'solid and united, while the so-called Liber < i Party had ibeen broken into fragments. Much intriguing was being earned on, ; and substantial (political inducements lhad been offered to members elf the Opposition to support the Ministry. B,ut they were all loyal to themselves, to the country, and to I their party, arid would not sell tliem- ' eelveis ifor place or power. Analysing ' dike ChbiiKiti, Mr 'out-and-out ledfeclioldc.rß-, three were ' nbminiali 1 !)' freeholders, 2iKl Oil"® was t doubtful <f,rom am agricultural pfliiit of , view. Only one c.f the ten M-misters , represented in any way the interests of the falrming community. The present position, was *T>ltot millions of public money were being expended, and important appointments made by a Government which had shirked a division that would have tested its strength. The caucus meeting which elected Mr Mackenzie to office pledged itself to -accept the pdlicy laid down ill the Governor's .Speerfi, -and lie Would like to know whether the Prime jfJjiniistteT bad accepted that policy. If wot, what was the policy of the Gov- •' ttrnment at the present t-iime ? The ' Fjpcocili" delivered by the Premier Had \conitained practically no indication of itlie policy, and he dismissed it' a-s the snost colourlieis.s'-he 'had ever heaird, and ' l tliat cf a- Brime Minister (who either liad no. policy, or was afraid to express his policy. | . A vote of thanks and' confidence in the Reform Party and its 'leaders •jnvas carried with applause and . Miee'rs.