MR. MASSEY HAWKE'S BAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 71, 17 December 1919, Page 8

MR. MASSEY HAWKE'S BAY

ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TO PAHIATUA HASTINGS EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN GOVERENMNT

By Tolcsraph—Special OorreflDondenti Hastings, December IG. The Prime Minister's rapid and successful tour of vhfe electorates in both islands was brought to n close at Hastinss to-nisrht. The closing stages were marked bv unprecedented enthusiasm on the Dart of the electors of Pnhiatua ana' district.

In response to a special invitation, Mr. Massov motored from Xapier to Pahiatua in the morning, a distance of over one hundred miles, for the purpose of i delivering an appeal on behalf of the Government. Pnlii.xt.ua was en fete for I lie occasion. Hundreds of settlers crowded in from the surrounding country and neighbouring towns, and as tho I'rinio Minister hovo in sight he was cheered to the ccho i Many broke through the crowd, ana' effusively shook hands with Mr. Massey, who w-as manifestly impressed with the warmth of 1 his welcome. As many as'could be accommodated, somo seven 'hundred persons, attended in the public hnll, where Mr. Massey spoke, and hundreds of others wore unable to gain admission. After Mr. Massey had managed to break away from his admirers, somebody in tliß audience called out "Three cheers for the Kraiid old man." Tho response, was electrifying, the cheers fairly shaking the building. Mr. J. D. C. Crewe, Mavor of Pahintun, presided. Rising to fuea.it. Mr. Massey was for the third time treated to three refusing cheers. He snoke fo~ nearly nn hour, and was accorded ;i splendid hearing, the only interjectic.H being frequent outbursts of applause. Mr. Massey urged _ a strong nolicv of reconstruction, involving above all things', increased production. Ho instanced the number of progressive measure* passed and in contemplation. The settlers must have better means of transportation in the shape of, first, railways, and then roads Closer set-' Moment was now the order of the' day. The Prime Mini-ler concluded amid another round' of cheers, and unanimously, not one voice being raised in pjofest, (lie big audience accorded him a very lieartv vote nf thanks. .At Tnkniwu. where Mr. Massey found Imiio dnrimr the day to deliver an,address from the past office steps, a surprisingly large crowd congregated, and lie was cheered both on arriving and cm departing. The audience, which included a number of station hands and returned soldier settlers who drove specially in from the country to be present, gave Mr. Massey an excellent hearing and accorded him n vote of thanks. ' On arrival at TTastintrs Mr. Massey was met by the Mavor and (onncillora and proceeded to inspect the railway yards in view of the request for a new station and move accommodation. ..... , In the evening the Prime Minister addressed an enthusiastic audience of 2000 people in the Municipal Theatre, over which the Mayor presided. As Mr. Mascev took the shso ho was greeted with spontaneous and spirited annlanse. There was nn entire absence rf disorder, and lh» hum audience accorded him. a magnificent hearing, repeatedly m.ncti'iatinß Ins speech with 'anplause Mr Massey, in pointing out the fallacy of the Libera Party's' scheme of nationalisation and their M<s and fancies, urged that the onlv policy which would tide the country successfully over the next three years was one which lonfined their energies to building railways, makimr roads and ln-'n'-'im' the Wro-electrical scheme into operation, with' a view to increasing production bv r,O '"-r cent. Mr. Massey. who spoke for (wn hours, communicated to the audience the results of the three Maori elections, commenting: "The. men elected aro all Reformers. This is .nn indication of what will happen to-mor-row night." Mr. Massey was accorded a vote of" thanks and emili''encc in the Reform Government, coupled with best wishes for their success at the polls. Jew; than '20 persons raised their voices in dissent, and tho niretiiur broke np with cheers for the Prime Minister. This eveniiur Mr. Ma??"y ivas inundated with tcicrams from all over New Zealand, wishing Hcform every success to- : morrow.

Colonel Mitchell was greeted with deafening apphuise and cheers as lie ascended tho plaform at his meeting at Newtown last nHif. The nudieiiee sang the National Anthem The candidate was presented at the oui.-et with a horseshoe "for luck." The emblem was decorated with miniature Hags of the Allies, and bore tho following inscription, which wan read to the audience:—"To Lieut-Colonel Mi-i-he!!. "-'lll Im-'l wi-hrs for to-mnrrow. may you top the ;>o!l with a thumping maionly.-" The .•"•niiment was applauded to the echo. The •■.ledid.ite was not allowed to 'pea!; til! h-> had received a fresh -alvo ui ap'ibui.-c. The (u.di"aee I sang "for He's a .ioi!y .Goad Fellow" be-1 foro Mm efced.