REFORM RALLY

Evening Star, Issue 19004, 28 July 1925, Page 10

REFORM RALLY

“ TO FIGHT COMMUNISM M CONFIDENCE IK M COATES [Pee United Press Association.] AYELLINGTON, July 27. At a Reform rally at Newtown tonight the chairman (Air Salmon) said that the purpose of the meeting was to organise locally to fight Communism and all other “ isms ” going with it. Tho Hon. A. D. AULeod said ho was not there to choose a candidate or even to make' a suggestion in that direction. “Our party, he declared,does not force candidates upon the electorates. The finding of suitable candidates is your job, not ours, and only to a certain pledge which our raids demand), the man or woman who will satisfy electors, will satisfy our party,” There was, he was satisfied, a sufficiency of support in the electorate to justify them running a candidate. “The party is behind you, and will leave no stone unturned to secure the return of your choice.” Though the Reform Party had come back from last election with some 70,000 more votes than its opponents, as a party it was short of seven or eight scats, continued Mr Al'Lood. This went as much as anything towards the breaking up of its old chief. Mr Alassey was faced at a. difficult time with a slump in tho party which could just hold on and no more. The Reformers wore determined that this should not happen again. Tho failure of the negotiations for the fusion ot two principal parties had thrown upon them the responsibility- of organising. He had confidence in saying that the party was better organised than it over had been in its political history. He. would not say it was better organised than the Labor Party, because everyone in tliat party _ was an unpaid organiser, and ho said more power to them for it.

The Hon. W. Earnshaw, M.L.C., said he believed that Mr Coalcs was the right man for (be job. It should he easy to return for that district a loyal man, one who would uphold the traditions of tho party. The present. Government had carried more legislation during its thirteen years in office than had ever been carried before.* They were that night speaking in a Labor electorate, hut at last election intelligence had not given its full quota to the vote. Speaking of .Imperial Affiairs. he said that they should place Groat Britain first and Now Zealand second. If the Labor Party ever got into power, heaven help New Zealand, for in the Socialist prayer hook the very name of God was omitted, and to ’ him that was denouncing the Creator. Air E. A. James (secretary of the Reform League) and Air J. J. Clark (chairman of tho Central Executive) also spoke. The latter said the party hoped to return candidates for Wellington North and Wellington Central, and it was almost sure to win Wellington East. A vote of confidence in the Rclorm Party under Air Conies was carried. CANTERBURY CANDIDATES. [Pun Unite® Pkkss Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, July,27. Air E. H. Andrews and Air J. A. Floshor will he candidates for the Reform nomination for tho Christchurch North seat. Air C. 11. Agar, a resident of Lyttelton for forty years, announces that he will contest the Lyttelton electorate in the Reform interest.