THE PARNELL SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 6

THE PARNELL SEAT.

SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY. AN ENTHUSIASTIC REFORM DEMONSTRATION. (By Teloeraph-Press Association.) Auckland, December 5. An oration immoderate in its enthusiasm was tendered to the Leader o£ the Reform party and to its candidate for Pnrnell V a huge meeting of ParuclL electors this evening. The meeting was one of the most demonstratively enthusiastic uraong political gatherings in Now Zealand. Long before the meeting commenced, the Oddfellows' Hall, in which Mr. -Massey • spoke, was crowded, but many other people forced their way into the 'building, packing every part of the hall. The- hostile element was small and scattered among the audience. It found no favour with the great bulk of the meeting, and one man, who incurred the indignation of those around him by. interjections, was ejected from the hall by them. Cheers were given for Mr. Massey at every opportunity, and the meeting closed with a scene of the wildest enthusiasm. Discussing the letter addressed to Mr. M'Nab by the Hawke's Bay shareholders of the Mbkau Company, Mr. Massey said the letter was cunningly drafted, and it was almost impossible to found a libel action upon it. He asked that tho men who had signed that letter should make a definite charge, and say straight out in which direction he had been guilty of telling falsehoods. Kilhcr they must prove him wrong or take their chance in the Supremo Court. • (Applause.) Mr. Massey's explanation of the enso was interrupted by a question from 0110 ol the intwjectors." Naming the man, Mr. Mas?c.v warned him that if he was not enr'lii'l ho would get seven years, in tho Legislative Council. (Laughter and applause.) Mr. Massey said tb?ro was not a supporter of the Government who could say what its policy was; he had first looked for it with a telescope, and lately lie had tried in vain to discover it with the aid of a microscope. (Laughter.) Tho Government was similar to a set ot wind mills, turning and twisting to whichever directiou the wind was blowing from. It had no policy, and no more principle than a barrel organ, ready to play any tune that was called upon', but the electors had to pay every time. In explanation of the party s attitude towards borrowing, Mr. Massey said that he was in favour of borrowing as much money as the country could stand for the purposes of development, but that money must, bo expended ill such a. manner that not a! shilling of it wasted. During the year ended March 31, l!Wb, when the present Ministry csmo into office tho cost of government was £7 731931. During the last financial year it 'was JC9.343.105, an increase in five years of £1.608.131, and that increase was out of all proportion to the increase in population. , „, A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded Mr. Massey on a show of hands, against which only a dojen voted. Cheers were given for Mr. Massey and Mr. Dickson, the Reform candidate for i'arnell.