REFORM RALLY AT METHVEN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14326, 11 April 1912, Page 7

REFORM RALLY AT METHVEN.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

SPEECH BY AIR MASSKY

Y'.T Oil! SPECIAL ItEPOBTER.) AIETHVEN. April 10. The Alethven Town Hall was crowded to-night, when a public presentation of an illuminated address to Air C. A. C. Hardy. ex-.M.P. for Selwyn. was made. The audience was a representative one. and coi sisted of electors from different parts of the district, and included a large number of ladies. Mr P. Drummond, sen., presided, aud. with him on the platform were Alessrs W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition), E. P. Lee, ALP. for Oamaru, W. .Nosworthy, M.P. for Ashburton, F. H. Smith, ALP. for Waitaki, C. A. C. Hnrdy, C. J. Harper ai.d F. Pawson. The proceedings throughout were enthusiastic, tho different speakers receiving an attentive hearing, and being frequently and warmly applauded.

THE MEMBER- FOR OAMARU. The first speaker was Air E. P. Lee, the member for Oamaru. He said that it, gave him great pleasure to be at Alethven to pay honour'to Mr Hnrdy, who was known further afield than Methven. Men. on both sides of the House respected Air Hardy, and he was respected throughout, the length and breadth of the Dominion as a worthy and honest man. H l ** had been known a> tho silent member, but in tho House he had made excellent speeches, which he (the speaker") had had frequent occasion to quote from in his election campaign. He was sure that Mr Hardy would again at somo future time no returned to the House. He, as ouo'of the small guns of tho party, did not intent! to say nvuob about polit cs. The position of the Reform Party had improved during the past six years, and if all the members of tho House had ncted up to their election pledges Air Massey would be in power to-day. The Government claimed that they had the confidence of tho country, but if so*, why were they afraid to face a general election? The fact that Sir Joseph AVard was not on tho Treasury benches was sufficient to prove that the Government had not the confidence of the country; As to the pledge-breakers, he claimed that they should have carried out their pledges and turned tho Ward Administration out and put in tho Massey Adm:"_istration. That would have been tho effect oi the vote which the electors were entitled to expect from them. r J.'iey should have given their votes as pledged. The, new Ministry had the confidence of only twenty-two members, and itshould meet the House at once, instead of attempting to carry on tho affairs of the country. He supported tho Reform Party becausa it stood for an honest and straightforward programme, and honest and straightforward administration. He had received a, complaint from a person in his district that he had been passed over because he had no political influence. The matter was connected with the Postai Department, and he liad tho name of tho person concerned. Ho intended to ventilate the matter in the House, if necessary, and ho was not going to see any person passed over because he did not possess political influence. H© did not wish to sec that sort of corruption in tho future, as they had seen it in tho past. Ho hoped to see Mr 3L-ssey in the position to.which he was entitled— tho Leader of tho Administration which the country had asked for.

AIEAIBER FOR AVAITAKI. Air F. H. Smith, M.P. for Waitaki, said it gave him pleasure to bo present to do honour to Mr Hardy, who, prior to tho elections, liad taken Reform candidates, in baud and had introduced them to the routine of Parliament. He (the speaker) was off the opinion that thero had been far too much party and not enough principle in Sow Zealand politics. Referring to the pledge-breakers, ho said that recent experience showed the necessity for candidates giving in writing their undertakings to support this or that party or measure. Speaking of agricultural education, he said that Lincoln College was no good to many farmers; they wanted free agricultural schools, not only for farmers' sons, but also lor tho. sons of town dwellers who desired instruction in agriculture. PRESENTATIONS TO Alll AND AIRS HARDY. The Chairman then called in Air C. J. Harper to mako a presentation to Air Hardy. Air Harper said that an attempt had been made to break up their county, which he claimed was tho greatest in New Zealand. As long as ho lived ho would resist any attempt to smash up their grand county. He had very great pleasure in presenting an address to Air and Airs Hardy. They were all sorry that Air Hardy lost his election, but if he took his (the speaker's) advice, he would oomo out once more and put his hack into it a little bit harder. No matter how long or how hard a man worked for his district, he must still go on -working and bringing himself before the public. Mr Hardy must remember that there were young people growing up who "knew "not Joseph." Ho (tho speaker) was sure that the electors of Selwyn would rally round Mr Hardy and onco more .-etum him to the House. (Applause). The following is the text of the dress"To C. A. C. Hardy, Esq.—Dear Sir, —On behalf of your friends and supporters in the Selwyn electorate, we desiro to express our grateful appreciation of your services as our representative in Parliament. For the past

i-velve years you have been the member ior our district, and throughout tho whole of thai, time your best energies have been dcvoti.il to furthering the interest- of your constituents in every possible way. A- Chief Whip of tho .I'florin Party you have shared in the councils of its leaders, and you are cn-titk-O to a full share of the credit for the Reform victory which made the year 1911 a notable one in the political j'istory ef New Zealand. We confidently hope that jour present retirement trom active political life is only temporary, and that you will ere long !•< returned to your seat in the House* io continue the grxvi and useful work yon have done in the past. We offer yoii"*SilT cordial good wishes, and trust that you and Air- Hardy will enjoy .many years of haj.pini-ss and prosperity.

■Sigiif.il on behalf of the subscribers: Janet Henderson (Alethven), 11. J. H.irri.sf.n ("Diayton." Alolhvein. D. J. Aloi row ("Aloiitalto," Ruapunai, Geo. Harrison (Anama). John Stewart (Springfield). John llaker (Alethven). Ja**. .McLean (.Methven.. Airs David <iordon Holmes (.''Holmi-ska," Rakaia), Jehu Hood (.Mount Somers). Geo. Alurdock (Mayiic'd), Donald .McDonald i.Alethven). Andrew AlcFarlane (Alford Forest, ami Peter Drummond ('C-or-war." Aleiiiven.)." Air Hardy said that he liad great pleasure in accepting the address from his friends. He thanked them for their expressions of goodwill. It had given him a. great deal of pleasure to mtvo the electors; it. had been a labour ol love. Everywhere be went be had received a hearty welcome. When he ■, hot .stood I or Parliament it was against ■' iiis on-ii wishes, ami he knew very little ' - •) New Zealand-politic*, at that time, hut lie had funned friendship.*, which be would carry about with him a> Jong as he could. ('Applause.) Air J lardy then caused some suiprise and regret ■by saying that this would probably be the J.'ist time that he would address .',< .f'opie- of Alethven. Ho said he had made up his mind that he would not contest the scat again. Ho knew that Air .Massey would not like to hear that, but, he had thought it was only fair that he should tell the electors of his decision. They must remember that ho bail come vi-ry near to the allotted (space f.f time. He (Air Hardy) -felt that he wa.s out in the .•old. but his desire would be to help in anything for the good of New Zealand and its people. "His sympathies were with the Reform Party. He was now a back number (Air Massey: No!) but he hoped that Selwyn would send a man to strengthen Air Alassey and the Reform Party. He would nob speak disparagingly of Mr Dickie; if he would-only support Air Alassey, he would support him in his election. As far as local matters were concerned. Air Dickie would serve them faithfully and well. In conclusion, Mr Hardy again heartily thanked his friends for their great kindness. He resumed his pent amid loud applause. j Airs Donald McLean then presented ■ Mrs Hardy with a case of .silver. Air Hardy, iv accepting the gift, on 'Airs Hardy's behalf, said that he accepted it with even greater pleasure than the present to himself. He spoke -eulogistically of the assistance Airs iHar.lv had given him in his Parlia--montary career, aud said that she bad given him ideals and had taught him tho right thing to do. •Air Massey at this juncture said : As •a, stranger 1 know I am taking a great ( liberty, but 1 am going to ask you to • give Airs Hardy three of the heartiest • cheers you havo ever givenTho cheers were very enthusiastically (given, as were also cheers for Air Hardy. THE■ MEMBER FOR, ASHBURTON. Mr AY. Nosworthy. ALP. for Ashburr*lon, paid a tribute to the social quali- *» ties of Airs Hardy. Thero was a new Alinistry, ho went on to say, and, like : every Britisher, he was always pre•parctr* to give the other fellow a show, nut the sentiments expressed by Air Lei- regarding them were also 'those' .held by himself. When -Mr Alassey , took chnrgo of the party he had only ■ a following of eleven, but now it stood marshalled in battle array against tho political forces they were elected to oppose. His followers were prepared to follow him to political death; they were prepared to appeal to the country for reinforcements to enable the party to carry out the programme they b.'lioved was in the best interests of "the Dominion. Ho did not know! whether Air Massey intended to make a. policy speech, but he believed that tho policy of the Opposition ought to bo that of the silent sentinel on tho hill, prepared to fire when the time came, but until that timo came it would uot be wiso for them to disclose the policy of the party. Although tho Reform ~; Party was'not at present the Ministerial Party, he believed it was in a .better position than if it held office by 'tho voto of pledge-breakers (continued applause). He was not a strong party man, as ho would support the interests of tho country before those of party. Tho Hon. T. Alackenzie had stated ' that his Ministry was a clean one- - That was a reflection on the Ministry that had passed away. He believed that tho Ministry was clean, but it . .was its policy that would come under review. The people had not 'signified their approval of the new Government's policy. He and other members looked forward to tho time when tho contest would come, and they, would give a. good account of themselves. Tho country could not stand long in its present position. He hoped that in tho country or iv the House tho Reform Party would havo the opportunity to bring down a solid liberal prograuimo, and bring peace and political rest to tho country. The Alao ken-io Government which was pledged to carry out the measures in the Governor's speech, could only bring political unrest and turmoil to the country if it proceeded with thoso proposals. Mr Nosworthy concluded a spirited 1-peoch by stating that he despised the men iv Parliament who had voted merely to replace the Ward Government by its present successors. He believed that when the time came for the Reform Party to charge, the Government would fly helter-skelter down the hill and not be heard of for sonic considerable time afterwards. (Applause).