REFORM PARTY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10687, 6 August 1912, Page 5

REFORM PARTY

CONGRATULATORY RALLY AT WELLINGTON.

AN' ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING

I jui I r.Ut/i't ah —;'/tM ,1 <,itirnil ion.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Town Hall was fillocl to overflowing last -night- on. the occasion of a -congratulatory rally by (Reform Party supporters. Over iJOOO pooplo wero present. Mr O. B. L- rrison, Wellington, presided. All members of "the Ministry wero present, and had :i great .reception. Many membery of Parliament and. prominent citizens were on the iplatform. Mr Morrison said that tho Rieforn party had come to stay. Mr Mcssey had already departed from the policy of "spoils to the victor," by appointing an opnoncnit to the High UomWiissionership. Civil servants could now speak openly without fear of tho consequences l . Dealing with the recant Reform Comfcrenee Mr Morrison a!aid that there were no political adventurers there. They were all men with the interest of the Dominion, at heart.

The Hon.. J. Allen said that the Reform party -would give every man freedom of ypeech. As to Mr Massey, ho flVlr Alien, could Mpeak as cin'e who Knew him .well, and he assured them they were isate in the hands of Mr Ma&sey. Tho Reform Government -would try to put the country's -finances on a sound fle-vel, amd settle the land to the advantage- of the people generally. He advised them to value their •enthusiasm, wluich went far• towards siucces'sful government. The Hon. W. H. Herrie® siid that when they were but a small band tififceon years ago, they could mot have half filled the lnll. Mr Msa-sey's Go-verum-en'V he said, had a hard task ■before it to rectify tho mistakes ■ t ■the Government. Their time it! advo-ffty had been a gramcT experience .for them, having taught them the value of organisation amd co-operation. Although they were now on the top, they .nwusi not cer.s? organism^.

Mr W. H. D. 'Bell, member if or Wellington suburbs, antl the youngest tmerrtber cf the party, said in a short speech' that ho felt sure that the fincial- .statement to-morrow would reveal that Mr ;MaR?-ey\s policy was no f a reactionary one.

At this stage the .Hon. K. M. BFisher was presented by his election committee with an illuminated address to mark Iji v. elevation to Cabinet .rank. Tt wa.r.' stated that 'Mr Fisher was the first Wellington born ina;n to attain Ca'Hn.et rank. A handsome bouquet was presented to .Mrs .Fisher. Mr Filler, after returning thanks for the presrrfcati-'m.s, contrasted the position now with tint rf 1905. When he held his firph meeting five .people up, and out of those five he could not get a chairman. It was a ■source at" pride to him that he held 'to-day tho snrne pout-folio as hi? la to father did twen'ty-three years ago. 11°, the speaker, had had some unpleasant tables, hut hns constituents had at polls expressed their approval t P his netiens'. The people of the Dominion would see to-morrow -night in the 'Budget no pronounced falling n.way .from the platform enunciated last November.

When 'the Hon. W. F. Maosey row to speak the vast, assemblage rose, a««l cheered for some minutes, this bein;; fallowed by a lusty rendering of "He j a. jolly good fellow." Mr Massey ha ' ling-returned tbankft said that he only" expected such a recoption, as Wellington had stuck to the Reform party : n adversity, and they would not desert it in their triumph. The recent Reform Conference, ho said, li t 1 'been epoch making, being attended j it was by delegates from the Bay oi Islands to the Bluff. Even the A'ative race had sent their delegates. Ihe country would now he governed J< r tlie-people bv the people, for the benefit of the people. Th'ey would folio v a straightforward 'course. Mr said that the financial statement to-morrow night would not embrace the whole Government policy, but what wa.s enunciated to-momw •would 'be adhered to. They propoivd financial reform, reform of the Leg'-*-iative Council, reform of the Pub'.v Service, 'land reform to provide i'r the pioni??rr. of the backblocks, f.iid reform of the legislative methods There would be economy of administration, but no parsimony. No oivil f-tr vant would : be worse off, but man..• would 'be better off. To-morrow's I'nancial statement, he said, would be the nnst important for 21 years. Lately the <circd.it of the country had not 'been a,s good as it might have boon, ■but the Reform Government would oi'deaveur to restore their good •name by a policy of energetic development. Tii* inflow of outside capital wouikl bo encouraged by this, course. New Z.oaland would join with the other nations of the Empire in strengthen:ng the iboncts of Imperial orgaasair-on. especially a,s regards the lmp a r!<')! navy aintl land defence. "The time will yet come," lie said, "when Fn:<;iland will calil the representatives < f the tDomimoints to hor councils." Jn conclusion, ho sa:d that the Government trusted the people, and ho a-9l»oc! them to trust the Government. (L-.-ud and prolonged applause).

The Hon. A. L. Herdman said that tlie member/s of the Ministry wer* ■serious men, who would not neglect' their duties, and New Zealand w ■liave a strong 'bncked instead of n vaici I'lat.inrr Government. "I lioir r ,! >- fsponeibiJitics wore heavy ones. b'it they would root halt in their on do a :. , .i to work far the good of the count,\\ Dr. Newman, 'member for Wellir.,;ton East, after a humorous speecli, proposed tlia'fc "tin's meeting has <'on fideinee in the Government led by Mr OJlassey." This was carried ummmaously by acclamations and am : ;it>'. much enthusiasm.

Mr Ma&sey briefly return p. I thu l '*®. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated what was a most enthusiastic .meeting. All speakers we;o most cordially received, Messrs Mas©ey, Alleim, Herries and Fisher o«~ fteciafly eo.