REFORMERS IN CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3593, 5 August 1912, Page 6

REFORMERS IN CONFERENCE.

MR MASSEY ENTHUSIASTICALLY HONORED. VARIOUS COMMITTEES SET UP. • (COMPREHENSIVE ELECTIONCAMPAIGN SCHEME TO BE CONSIDERED. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Any. 4. The first National conference cf the Now Zealand Political Reform League was opened in "Wellington ycsteidaj morning. , , There were over 150 delegates present. representative of every electorate in the. Dominion, -a. number of ladies .being present as delegates from women’s organisations. The pro'codings- wore opened by the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), whose appearance was greeted with hearty cheering, followed by the singing of ‘'Rule Britannia.’’ In extending a welcome to the delegates Mr Massey said that it gave him great pleasure to meet the representatives of the men and the women who had stood to the party and maintained its principles during the 21 years it had been in Opposition—(applause)— ■representatives of every electorate from the Bay of Islands to the Bluff. ■'l'lie gathering was the very strongest indication that ‘■he people of New Zealand had definitely decided mat the public business should be conducted on clean, straight. Democratic lines, -and in those terms too policy of the Reform League was summarised.— (Applause). It showed that the people of New Zealand had shaken off their lethargy and had determined to take an active interest in the conduct of their affairs and there was’no better guarantee of the proper conduct of political business than a strong and healthy public opinion. The First Duty. Regarding ‘•he conference Mr Massey said the most important business would bo arranging a scheme for the election whenever it might come, though during the last few weeks the pivspoct of a general election had faded into the d m and distant future. The first du L v of the delegates was to arrange a full and complete organisation by whi h, when the necessity a roes, there would be a strong and popular candidate for every electorate with a, strong and complete organisation to snap-art him. He was sure that the conference would be productive cf good for 'he party and that its result would b° productive of good for the country.—('.plans-?.) Mr F TP Hc-cklev was unanimously elected chairman of the Conference. The first remit was moved by Mr G-. ■T. Garland (ViHdniul Provincial district). who proposed a motion recording high appreciation of the valuable service-- rendered to the country by the Reform members of Parliament under the able leadership of Mr Massey and congratulating him and them on the success that had crowned their long and arduous struggle. Tim motion was seconded by Mr 0. A. C. Hardy (Sbhvyn) and supported hv manv delegates, who concurred in their expressions of gratification at the rneoess of the party and in congratulating Mr Massey and his party upon the manner in whi'll thev had con due bed the fight for the party. Tbere were many sincere expre-s----ion.-i of esteem and admiration for Mr Massey. Tlie motion was carried with vigorous applause, followed bv cheers for Mr Ma ssev. the singing of “For He’s a Jollv Good Fellow’’ and a cheer for Mrs Massey.

Acknowledging the compliment the Prime Minister said that lie and his colleagims deenly «, K ]>reeiatcd the cbn•eTo.iulntion* of the conference. One thine they had to be proud -of tv as that the party had stood the test of adversity and he believed it would stand with equal credit the test of prosperity.—(Applause.) He was confident that with sirii help and assistance as had been given in past years t,b e representatives of the party in Parliament would control the destinies of the country' for many yearn to come.—(Applause.) During the morning all the members of the Ministry visited the.conference and were given an enthusiastic welcome.

The chairman expressed the pleasure of the delegates that the leaders of the Party had accepted their invitation to join in the proceedings. A report was presented bv the official organiser (Mr C. P. Lendegrcen) recounting the career of the party in OppositionThs Spirit of Patriotism.

Referring to the selection of Mr Masse Leader, the report stated that from the very first it was recognised that in the new Leader they had a man who was imbued with a spirit of true patriotism. They saw latent power in their new chief and every man stood by him and they felt proud to have the honor to-day of seeing him take his rightful position in Parliament and the conntrv.

Credit was given Mr R. R. Martin for his services as organiser, and the report states that since Mr Lindegreen’s appointment active steps have been taken in thoroughly organising the party by the formation of branches of the' League. Tin's has met with somo measure of success, and it was considered that a. meeting should; be convened for the •purpose of adopting a constitution having a definite scheme of organisation which shall have for its object the embracing of every electorate in New Zealand; that the party may' he so consolidated that it will secure at the polls a sufficient majority for the candidates offering themselves lor election to the people’s Parliament. The report concluded with an acknowledgement of the party’s .debt of gratitude to all those men and women throughout New Zealand who, by their zoa.l and loyal efforts, are responsible for placing the Reform Party and its organisation in tbo position it is today.

The report was adopted. A committee, comprising ten delegates from each Island, was appointed to report upon the various organ n sation schemes submitted by tho branches.

A second committee of seven members was appointed to report upon the advisability of establishing* or appointing an -official organ of the League. They will report- to the conference on Monday. The greater nart of the afternoon sitting was occupied with tho

consideration of various proposals intended to assist in consolidating the supporters of the Party. With this object the conference resolved that provision should be made in the constitution of the League for the enrolment as honorary members of branches of young people' under 21 years of age. ‘Hie idea was that young people should be encouraged to take an active interest in the Government of the Dominion. The desirability of establishing branches of the Women’s Political Reform. League in every electorate was unanimously affirmed. The conference will resume on Monday, when the principal'business will he' the consideration of recommendations from the committees appointed

A JOYOUS “ AT HOME.”

THE PREMIER SATISFIED

PROPOUNDERS OF THE MOST PROG RESSIVE PLATFORM.

‘Hie delegates to tlie Reform League conference now sitting in Wellington were entertained at an at-home on Saturday evening, when the supporters of the party gathered in great forceMr C. B. Morrison (chairman of the Wellington branch of the Reform League) presided and on the platform were the Premier, Mrs Massey, and several other Ministers and their wives.

Mr Massey was received with prolonged applause. He said he was delighted .at meeting so many friends and supporters of the Reform Party. He had also been delighted to be present at the huge and representative gathering which had started that morning and to meet delegates from every part of New Zealand assembled for the purpose of formulating a plnn of campsi<rn and a scheme of organisation applicable to every electorate, designed to have the''effect of returning a majority of members pledged to the principles of the Reform Party.—Applause. At past elections they had had generally any amount of enthusiasm. just a little in the way of organisation, and perhaps less in the way of funds. —(Lau (Alter). In future, however, he believed they would have all three, but if they had to do without any one of them he would say give him enthusiasm and organisation and lie would be quite satisfied to do without ' funds.—(Applause.) There had been a lot of whining about misrepresentation , but it was the Reform Party which had suffered by misrepresentation and very seriously too. One favorite form was to assert that they were a party of wealthy men and large landowners. When he had looked at the conference delegates that morning he could not help thinking that capitalists- and large landowners were conspicuous by their absence. Tlie people there were just an average set of citizens, progressive and patriotic. Their progress:veness was shown by their support of the Reform Party’s platform—the most progressive platform ever placed before the public of New Zealand by any political party.—=(Hear, hear ) It was a policy wh ’h would have the effect of making the conditions cf life easier and happiness more easily obtainable for every individual in the community. He had no desire to crow over the pnrtv lately on the Government benches, but he could not he’o th liking of the description aPPIi-'d to idiom by the man who said they rem : .jd<d him of a drum and fife band—-every-one wanted to be boss!—(Laughter. Intense joy had been felt in every part of New Zealand at the result of the No-confidence division. He thought too much was oxnorted ; f them and he onlv hoped thev would be able to live up to it and give effect to <wen one-half of the anticipations formed. If they failed it would not be for lack of trying.—(Applause.) He was confident that when it came to he their turn to walk out the people would see that they had done their best to leave the country better off than they found it.—(Renewed applause and cheers.) Air A. Harris (ALP. for Waitemaca) said that a few days ago Sir Joseph Ward 1 declared in Auckland that the Party now in power represented onto a minority of tlie electors, but this was incorrect. He had since looked into the figures of the actual votes east for each of the? SO members now in the House. He found that the polling was as follows:

! Votes. J Ward Administration ... 102 350 IMr Massey’s Supporters ... 128.251 Labor Members 13,700 Independents ... 16,838 Thus the successful Reform Partypolled within about 4.000 votes of the total votes boiled by the Liberals, the Labor people and Independent supporters. Other sneaker-, were Mrs A. K. i Newman (President of the Wellington I Women’s branch of the Reform LeaI gue), Mr F. Hockley (President of the I Reform Conference), Mr Cf. M. Thom- ; son (M.P. for Dunedin North), and IMr J. Hamilton (who contested the Awarua seat against Sir Joseph Ward at the last election.) Mr Hamilton said that during his ! term of office Sir Joseph "Ward had been granting public money for expenditure all over the A mania electorate, not only on roads and bridges, but nlso on private property. —(“Oh ! oh!’’ and “Shame!”) However at the next election ho thought there was every probability that he would he able to , oust Sir josoiVh Ward. —(Applause.) Hon. Mr Herd man spoke, as also did Hon. Mr Fisher.

Mr W. €. Buchanan (member for Wairarapa) was called on, but merely bowed.

Hon. J. Allen excused himself from making a long speech because it had been a busy day at the conference.