SPEECHES BY CANDIDATES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 72, 18 December 1919, Page 10

SPEECHES BY CANDIDATES

THE REFORM CHIEIT

TASKS OP RECONSTRUCTION

Tho Prune Minister (Mr. Massev) sjioko to the crowd assembled in front off the Dominion results board.. As lie 'drove through Hie crowd before asa-ndim* the plnHwni bo was recognised by hundreds of 'iple, and cheered loudly. lie ap. l)r (1 just as Hie result had hlccn announced that Mr. Massey bad Jbeen returned for Franklin with a majority of upwards of three thousand votes/ and this announcement was received \;'-ith loud cheers. It was ihen shortly j after it o'clock, and although the lesul'ts were by no means complete at that ),mie, a majority for the Government, meaning thereby a majority of the House, was assured, i . Mr. Massey was leceived t.ith prolonged ariplauso and cheers. /"Ladies and gentlemen," eaid Mr. Massey, "the election returns are not yet r.li'ite complete, but you_ will bo interested 10 know that n majority for the Gnverii'nent is assur-, I'd, (Applause.) And I want to tako' this opportunity of thanking you. A voice: You don't need to, Bill. It's all right. Mr. Massey: And of thanking the electors throughout the Omnia inn for their expression of confidence recorded at tho polls to-day. (Apnlouse.) Many experienced politicians have fallen oiit of the ranks, and their places have been taken by others. I feel certain, ho«'c-er, that tile verdict of the electors will be taken in a proper spirit by all ' f them, and I want to cxnress ihis (pinion, apart from party oolitics, that the service of tho men who have not been successful to-day will not, be lost to (he public of the country, but. that again they will be found doins their best in die"interests of tho Dominion.. Ton will have heard that <mm Minister has been defeated, and that three. ex-Ministers, end several mm who have taken a very active rarf in days gone by in the, councils of the Dominion he-" not been returned. "It is quite evident that a majority of members have Veen returned to sunport law and order, and a substantial majority of members have been returned to support the nolicv of development for the coming period of vccmistnietinn that has been put forward by the Government. Now. that the election Vover. I hone that we shall forget the incidents of the fiitht. forget a"y bitterness that may have b?en raised. 'Whatever our politics mav be, I bone that all "f. ns who a'ro members of the House.of "Representatives will work together, forgetting nnrtv polities and lmrty dilfer"iices. .ill dninqr our best for the country to which we belong. Someone interjected 60mct]iing about trins to England. Mr. Massey renlisd:. I am not thinking of trips to England at the present moment. ■Another, voice: Joey is. Mr. Massey: lam thinking of doing all T »)in for the countrv while T am here, and I am swing in stay. (Anpl.insp.) A voice: You \v ; ll lie able to d"al with the coal miners aiul the waterside workers now. Mr. Massey: We shell be able to settle, all those little difficulties. I bone, and also we shall be able to give attention.' to otlvr little matters ili.it we have not be-"!! able to deal with lately. Mr. Massey added a word or two about tin unsuccessful candidates of his party. All the candidates, unsuccessful. as well ns successful, bad nut. Un a snlendid fishf He boned that those defeated candidates would vet como forward and take their places in the councils of tho , country. ; Mr. Massey thanked Hie electors of the country for their confidence in tho Reform Partv, and he wished the peoplo a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous N T ew Year,