FIGHTING FOR REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1186, 22 July 1911, Page 5

FIGHTING FOR REFORM.

MR. MASSEY'S AUCKLAND SPEECH. "A PROGRESSIVE AND DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM." Mr. W. F. Mnssey, Leader of tho Oppo sition, enlivened his speech at Auckland on .Wednesday night with many bright and humorous allusions. Tho Hon. James Carroll eays I know nothing'about Xative lands. Thank God, I do not know as much about Nativo lands as ho docs. A member of tho Legislative Council who maintains an independent position till tho end of his term, is gone. He is passed out. If ho wants to retain hia position ho simply becomes u. servile supporter of tho (.lovwnmoiit. You cannot point U> u single labour law on the Statute-book that 1 have not supported. That is u big cluiin, but it ia true. The Reform parly wiinls to encourage energy and industry to give tho man possessing those qualities opportunity to get to tho top, socially, politically, financially, and in every other way. Those members of the Cabinet who have recently accepted titles remind mo of iEsop's fable of tho jackdaw in borrowed plumes. They were anxious to join the "upper 10," mid 1 (juito o.\pect that their fate will bo that of the jackdaw. • Just before the last election, salaries Merc raised and hundreds of men taken on in the Department of Railways. I do not know how those men voted. That is a matter between them and the ballotboxes. Before the Christmas holidays scores of them were tinned off again. It was another iiistaliuo - of the policy of humbug, and it was successful then. I cannot say whether it will be successful this time or not. If there is one man who has done harm to tho Nativo more than jr.othor it is Sir James Carroll. If it had not been for him they would have been "jscful citizens.

True Liberalism will never die; but a' Liberalism that is founded upon a policy of spoils to the victors and political oxLn\vngnuco should not l>e permitted to live, and I hope that it will soon come to si sudden und painless death. Sir Joseph Ward will Ix; known to history as the indiarubber Prime Minister. I am going to stay in the country. I am not going to pack my carpet bag and t'o off at Iho first opportunity. After explaining in detail the policy of the Reform party, Mr. Massey said: "Thcro's our platform. I want to commend it to you, and 1 know that the majority of the people at this meeting will agree that it is the most Liberal, progressive, and democratic platform ever put forward by any political party in this country." (Loud applause.) A Voice: "Will you carry it out if you get into power!'" Mr. Massey: "If wo did not intend to carry it out, it would not be. any uso bringing it forward now. I pledge myself to support every proposal in it, even if the other side brings them down." (Renowcd applause.) Conwncntini; on the speech, the Auckland "Herald' says: "Although Mr. Massey has not repeated in Auckland his extraordinary experience in Christchurch— where his meeting was eo amazingly crowded that tho audience had to bo turned away ungratih'ed for fear of what might happen in an unsafely packed mid congested hall—ho must bn more than, pleased at his reception last night. For in Auckland, as in Wellington, tho large and rcspoiiHvo audience greeted his exposition of Reform party policy with hearty goodwill, and showed by their sympathetic altitude how tho public temper is beginning to turn against an overconfident Administration," MR. GUTHRIE, M.P., AT HALCOMBE. WELL RECEIVED. (Bj Telegraph.—Sijecinl Correspondent.} Fcllding July 21. Tho Foresters , Hall at Halcombc wai filled by an attentive and appreciative audience last night, when Mr. D. H. Guthric, M.1 , , for Oroua, gavo a political address along lines similar to thoso followed in his jircvious addresses. Mr. Burcham occupied the chair, nnd> at the end of a lengthy speech, in which the member for tho district reviewed tho political position, Mr. Guthrie was given, a very hearty vote of thanks, which waa carried by acclamation. No questions wcro asked.

Halcombo was tbo only placo at which Mr. Guthrie was beaten at the last general elections, but ho had the meeting with him last night.

ON THE WEST COAST. ELECTION POSSIBILITIES. IBy Telenrajph.-SDecial Correspondent! Hokitika, July 21. Considerable surprise is being expressed here at tho statement reported to have beeu made in Christohurch by tho Hon. R. M'Kcnzie that "there does not eecm to be any likelihood of an alteration on tho Wct-t Coast." This remark referred to tho political position in connection with the forthcoming election. Considering that tho Minister for Mines was only in Greyinouth for one night, and did not come further south than that town, his statement is- regarded as remarkable. If the Minister had journeyed into the heart of the WcsHand -electorate it is more than likely that ho would never have expressed himself as ho has been reported. __________