THE REFORM LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 142, 14 June 1912, Page 2

THE REFORM LEAGUE.

COSrEEjENCB OF DELEGATES. ". '" THE paDSR EULOGISED. Tig first annnal conference. Ql the •Aafdkland provincial tranches of the New geajind Political Reform League was' , commenced in the Chamber of Commerce this r morning. There -were forty delegates and members of Parliament present. The teaSer of the Opposition (Mr W. F. Mas, sey) presided,. "and. extended a cordial ■welcome to the delegates. He remarked that so large ah attendance w&a evidence of the keen interest-that was widespread throughout the Auckland province in the Reform party, and of the enthusiasm for its welfare. The provincial executive had formulated a scheme of organisation, I of which the present conference was an important feature. Thr iM.cvf in Auckland had now an official organ, and it had recently undertaken the establishment of a Ciub in the city. The purpose of that club would be to provide a gathering place for members of the league, and it would, he was sure, be ■beneficial to the interests of the party and prove so successful that other centres would recognise the advisability of following the example of Auckland. Mr Massey announced that a general conference of delegates from the branches of the New Zealand Political Reform League -would be held in Wellington on June 27. A report upon its work of the past year was presented by the provinciaJ executive. It expressed satisfaction at the greatly improved political outlook from ~the standpoint of the Reform party, and recorded its sense of the very valuable services rendered to the cause by the party leaders, and expressed more particularly its appreciation of the patriqtic and self-denying labours e>f the Leader of the Opposition. The executive tgok advantage" of the opportunity to enter its protest against the very unjustifiable statements, made by certain Ministers of the Grown and by a sestion of the Government Press, that the Reform party has lost confidence in its leader, and that if the party is to succeed politically, it must find a new leader. Statements of this character were obviously inspired with the idea of belittling the Reform movement, and the man. who has fought so long, so eouxageonsly, aad at such tremendous odds for the great principles of the party; but the executive desired to place pn record its deliberate opinion, which was also held by the sister leagues and branches throughout the Dominion, that there was n.ever a period in the history of the Reform party in New ..Zealand . when its members were standing together with greater solidarity in sup* port of the principles it advocates, and with greater confidence in their leader, than -was the case at the present day. The success of the Reform party at the December polls, the report continued, had had a quickening influence upon its supporters, and a lead having been given by the provincial executive with a plan of organisation, appreciable activity was boing shown in almost every electorate. A strong league had been formed in the Bay of Islands, and.it was opening branches throughout the electorate. There was much life and movement in Raglan, where branches had been formed with Ngaruawahia as the headquarters, and in Waikato the old Reform league was being re-established into a stronger and better organisation. The ball had also been set rolling in Thames, OhineffliHJi" TairmaTTinui," Bay of Plenty, and Gisborne, and in th& city and electorates good work was also heinij done, having been foriped in- Auckland ""West, : Waitema,ta", and Manukau. Satisfaction ■was expressed at the amalgamation pf three political organisations in Canterbury, which had been.workipjf separately and *part from the Jfew Zealand . Political Reform League, but which have now united with the League. . After a brief discussion the report was adoptedThe conference unanimously resolved "That the time has arrived when, in view of the influences working in the opposite direction, all ei.ti?ens of the Dominion having its interests at heart should op.erafca %Q secure dean constitutional government of the Dominion's affairs." The references in the executive's report to Mr. Maesey were heartily endorsed by the conference; several fljteakers., include ing members of Parliament, expressed the confidence and admiration with wbicfc the party and , its suppqrters regarded Mt. Massey, and the conference unanimously recorded its deep sense of obligation aad its appreciation of the valuahle services rendered to the conunwity by the members of the Reform party under the leadership of Mr. Massey, congratulated hjm and hje colleagues upon the great accession of strength to and the greatly improved prospects of t&e Reform party, and confidently the. hop© that Mr- Massey would soon be called upon to take charge of the general government of the country. The second ballot system was discussed, and the conference expressed its opinion that the present electoral law is not satisfactory in its operation, and that its amendment should be considered by the Dominion "conference of the Reform League and. by the members of the party.