MR. MASSEY'S CHRISTCHURCH MEETING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1177, 12 July 1911, Page 6

MR. MASSEY'S CHRISTCHURCH MEETING.

The meeting at Christchurch last evening at which Mit. Massey was to have placed the platform of the Reform party before the electors of the southern city is unique in one respect in New Zeaiand politics. It is the first occasion, \yc believe, on which a political meeting has had to bo abandoned owing to the overcrowded state of the hall in which it was being held. In the same hall a few evenings ago the Acting-Prime Minister addressed a meeting, and the building was described as "well rilled." Last evening when Mu. Massey was to sper.k it was packed in every part—aisles and corridors included—and many hundreds who could not squeeze inside congregated on the street outside the building. No doubt this exceptional gathering was partly duo to the unusual and improper attitude taken up by the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. T. E. Taylor, who, wheu invited to preside, attempted to drag in his personal quarrel with Mr. Massey and obscure the largo political issues set down for the occasion by his own petty wrangle. Mr. Taylor unfortunately can see very little outside of Mr." Taylor that is of any real interest to the public—or rather, he likes to appear as the central figure on all possible occasions—and this weakness is largely accountable for the many unpleasant situations in which he , has found himself during his public life. Mr. Massey's visit to Christchurch was seized on as an opportunity for thrusting himself into prominence—he no doubt pictured himself cutting a very fine figure bearding the Leader of the Opposition, and throwing challenges about. In his rash disregard for any other consideration than his own personal affairs, he ignored what was very obvious to everyone else, that is, that as Mayor of the city it was his plain duty'to represent the citizens and sink his own political animosities in extending a courteous welcome to the official head of an important political body representing nearly one-half of the electors of the country. It is characteristic of the man, and affords fresh evidence, if such were needed, of his inability to appreciate the responsibilities of ofiice and his unfortunate penchant for mischief-making. The outcome of the meeting will probably be wholly advantageous to Me. Massey and the Reform party. As has so often happened before with those attacked by Mr. Taylor, the only sufferers will probably be Mr. Taylor_ himself and those with him.

Mr. Massey was not able to deliver his speech, but the treatment that he, a visitor to Christchurch, has received at the hands of Mr. Taylor in his dual capacity of Mayor of Christchurch and a member of Parliament, representing Christchurch City, will win him the sympathy and support of all fair-minded people throughout the Dominion. That, a very large proportion of the huge meeting was entirely of this view is evidenced by the reports of the proceedings which we publish this morning from the Press Association agent and our own correspondent at Christehurch. J