THE MINISTER OF LAVOR AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 9278, 31 October 1893, Page 2

THE MINISTER OF LAVOR AT CHRISTCHURCH.

The Hon. W. P. Reeves addressed the Christchurch electors last evening in the Tuam street Hall; which was densely crowded in every part. The Minister, who iwas ; Cordially * received, expressed himself surprised as well as pleased at his reception, seeing that so appreciable a portion of his aonatituents were themselves candidates! Looking over the coloiiyj he thought that the Liberal electors were threatened with an ehibarrasshieiit d£ riches; and must take) pare not to waste their votes. There, nlight be wisdom in a multitude of counsellers, but certainly not in a multiplicity of candidates. He regretted that ill-health had prevented him .addressing the eleetofs soorief; arid .'tfefti oil to gpeafc hi ihe , probable .work of next year. He criticised at great length the proposals, to modify or abolish government by party, and defended party government as needful, usual, inevitable, and far more righteous than political individualism. It was true that the Cabinet system was a thing of yesterday, but it was also true.that as the Cabinet and party system had developed so had the capacity of Parliament to pass liberal reforms increased. He. could not conceive of an elective Executive working harmoniously, or of priya'te membeM taking eharge of iegklation satisfactorily! An elective MMstry" ignored" the great Brihcifile q|. idyalky, withdut wJfiieh Cabinets would be a, mockery. On the other, hand the whole procedure of Parliament wanted radical reform. Under the present rules legitimate and or-1 derly debate was becoming a thing of the past, and the dominating qualities of the House bade fair soon to.js..<a thick skin and a loud voice. They must imitate the English Labor ddtigfegs; impose a time limit en speeches, increase the functions of the Local Bills Committee, restrict the much-abused power of moving' the adjournment and moving the Chairman out of the chair, and, possibly arm the House with some power to close an unreasonably long debate. He defended the Alcoholio Liquors Bill as a reform that in almost any other pari of the Empire would have been joyfully welcomed by the Temperance p&rtjrj inasmuch as it gave the people powers which, if they really oared to use feheni) would reduce and restrict the liquor traffic. (Prolonged cheers.) It would lie With the geople to make good use of the Aot. Speaking of the Legislative Council, he said He would still hope against hope that a second Chamber might po made useful,' But hot a second Chamber that would, take charge of the. Government, the Lower House, and ths country. What between obstruction in the House and destruction in the Counoil the Labor Bills had been ground between the upper and nether millstone, and the work of the Labor section of the Liberal party had been thrown back at least a year. They were, however, duly delayed, not defeated; and the same was true of the Lands for Settlement Bill, which was perhaps the | most important measure now before the ; country.—(Cheers.) The principle of better- ! ment in taxation and rating was as necessary and valuable as graduation. The reform of the charitable aid system depended on a fair basis of arrangement being arrived at between town and country. Judging from Mr Rolleston's latest speech, the Opposition had yet to learn that scolding was not a ', policy, and lamentation not statesmanship. Speaking of the numerous platforms displayed by associations and others before the country, he recognised the necessity of ideals, but the Liberal electors must remember the hard limitations surrounding ! the working politician, who had to do one thing at a time. He claimed that in three years the Government had carried a series of remarkable reforms quite unprecedented in number and value, and had done so without disturbance to industry or injury to public confidence. To have done so much so safely had needed real caution and prudence, and that formed the truest ground for congratulation on the part of the Liberal party when it looked back on the work of thelate Parliament.

The meeting was one of the largest ever seen in Christchurch', both the Prohibitionists and the friends of the candidate having mustered in full force expecting an encounter. There was a good deal of interruption and cheering and counter-oheering, especially during bhc questions. The Rev. IT. Isitt, appearing on the platform to ask a question, was saluted by prolonged hooting, whereupon his friends retaliated by groaning at Mr Reeves when he answered. A vote of thanks and confidence, moved by Mr J. L. Scott, was met by an amendment condemning the Government Liquor Bill, moved by Mr T. E. Taylor, amid great howling and cheering. Finally the amendment was negatived by a heavy majority, and the motion of thanks and confidence carried amid a big demonstration by the Minister's friends, who .were jubilant at their triumph in a fight which has been looked forward to for some little time. The meeting was on the whole one of the liveliest held here.