HONESTY AND PROGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 4

HONESTY AND PROGRESS.

— ♦ EEFOEM PARTY'S WATCHWORD. Telecranh.—ifreei Aa»oolatlon.l Auckland, January 12. Speaking at a sooial tendered by Mr. Lang, member for Manukau, to his election committees, Mr. Massey (Leader of tho Opposition) said he was convinced that the Keform Party would gain- larger individual and aggregate majorities if it was forced to appeal to thp country again within twelve months. The election had involved much hard work, but the fight had-, been a good one, and though well-tried soldiers had fallen in tho battle, he hoped their absenoe from Parliament was only temporary. (Hear, hear.) When tlio people had heard tho truth thoy knew it, as was shown by tho largo number of Reform candidates elected. However dead tho Opposition might be, there was no doubt that tho Reform party was very much alive.. With increased numbers, tho' party mußt assume greater responsibility. It must give effect to reforms whioh it had advocated for many yoars, and which were urgently noedod. A favourite slander against the party was that if the Opposition was allowed to become tho Government, it would immediately reduce tho wages of tho workors, espooially of those in the State employ. No vilor slander had ever been uttered, but very soon tho party would have an opportunity of showing that tlie workers and the wage-earners had no better friends than the men who had sat in Opposition' for so many yoars. He hoped that in the near future tlie.v would be ablo to take , measures that would reduce t.ho cost of living, and give the workers access to happiness, which had never l>een givoli to tlio people by those who e-illed themselves tho Liberal party. (Applause.) "The Reform party is ready for anything that' may como along," said Mr. Massey, amidst applause. "Wo aro ready to do our duty, even if wo are called upon to face 1 another general election. Tho majority of the people believe that the watchword of tho Eoform party is 'Honesty and progress.' Within the next few months all the jwoplo will have subscribed to that opinion." (Applause.)