MR MASSEY'S DEPARTURE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14988, 8 June 1914, Page 7

MR MASSEY'S DEPARTURE.

A CORDIAL SEND-OFF

DEMONSTRATION AT THE RAILWAY STATION.

On Saturday tho Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, epent a verj busy day in town. A number of deputations fully occupied his morning, anil in the afternoon he addressed a largo gathering of ladies in tho King's Theatre, under the auspices of tho Canterbury branch of tho Women's ReformLeague.

Air Massey was entertaiued at luncheon by tho Canterbury Park Trotting Club at one o'clock.

Throughout tho uay the Prime Minister received a great many expressions or.regret troni repiesentative citizens at tho conduct of a portion of tho crowd at nis meeting on l'nciay oveuing in Victoria square. Not only were verbal apologies made, but a somewhat surprising number ot letters of apology on beuaii ot tno city w«ro also received. A conquerable percentage of these wore from lauiC6, wno unauiuiously expressed aibgaai. at tho tactics followed by tho opposition eienieiit. Assurances were aiso offered that this conduct would only havo tno eftect of strengthening tiio sentiment lor Reform. lucre was a gieat ueuioiistraiion at the Railway Station on Saturday night, wheu tho Prime Minister" km- by tho 7.40 train to join tuo Wauino lor Wellington. Wiieu i»ir . Massey arrived at tho station he was mot by about fifty stalwart young men,._ many* of them well-known in commercial houses in Christchurch. The spokesman congratulated Mr Massey on his vigorous speech of Friday night, and tho fact that ho had won out in the face of the interruptions and unseemly behaviour of the small gang comprising tho organised opposition. The speaker said that those preseuo strongly resented the disgraceful, tactics employed in tho vain attempt to drown the speech of tho Prime Minister, f Those present then gave three roiH-" ing cheers for Mr Massey, who bowed his acknowledgment, and who was esr corted on to tho platform by a rapid jy-. growing crowd singing lustily "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Tho platform was crowded with passengers, who had just arrived i>y tho express, or were going through to Lyttelton and apppared to greatly appreciate tho demonstration. A number of - them joined tho crowd round the » Prime Minister, and until his carriage ~ was shunted on to tho train, the platform was almost impassable. Mr Massey who was greatly pleased •with 'his reception, addressed tho crowd from the platform of his carriage. Mil MASSEY'S THANKS. f I thank you one and all," ho said, "for this rcmarkaEly cordial demonstration. It is a very pleasant change from tho disgraceful behaviour of tho small" organised opposition which attempted _ to break up my meeting last night. It was a deliberate attempt to block fren speech and to proveut mc from getting. a bearing. I feel sure, however, that." tho despicable tactics resorted to by the small gangs o! - ---rowdies \voro strongly resented by tho vast majority of the audi- ' encu, which was mainly composed of the right-thinking citizens of Christchurch. Many of them were doubtless political opponents, hut all of them,- T believe, wished to hear what I had to say. I said all <t wanted to say, and although J regret very much that the noisy opposition prevented tho<o who wished to" from" hearing my speech, --I can assure you I enjoyed the experience very mnch. Some of the rowdy olemenf. were out to give mc -a rough time after my speech, but tfianks to the effortsof my friends, mnny of whom I did nofc know, ancj of you stalwart younß fellows, the scheme.failed.'' I have also to thank very hoartily. tho police; of whoin.ibm! wem only a small number present—l only saw six—for their gsllaat efforts in dealing with tho hooligans. ("Loud cijoers.) COMING BACK AGAIN*. "I znuy say that" I ."have so muclien joyed myself hero that I intend -to come ba-ci tmxl spmk &g*ia. in Ghristciiurch. (Loud cii««e and applause,) It will probably be between the end o; the cocilsg bosejoh. and tho general clostion. My frianda. id Christchurch lire arraogcnr.aats to secure tio Oolonvseuii} for' the meotiag, and as thai i> ~ builaiag has s. large Mating capacity, it wiJl be smiusniiy suitable, and \:ill giv«i, the people n 'better cMac© of bearing ma'tiiau Victoria-ssquaro. I-hope ai! ,yc'.i young follows will be present tha •'nif;ht I speak—(loud cheers and cries j of. ' "\%'<2 will, Eir"); —and I can assure you we ■ will have a groat nis'"»t out; (Cheers, laughter, and applausr.) Ones re-ore I thiiiik you for your warm- - hearted dciaonstrstion to-night." At this moment the train moved oG, and the crowd present "gavo three roue-

ins cheers for the Prime Minister, na?i again sanar "For ITe's a Jolly Gooc Fellow," Mr Massoy smilingly waving Bcknowledgment.