AN OPPOSITION RALLY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15900, 11 April 1912, Page 7

AN OPPOSITION RALLY

MR MASSEY AT AIETHA'EN. ATTENDS A COMPLEMENTARY BANQUET. EX-MEMBER FOR SELAVYN HONOURED. A complimentary banquet tendored to Mr C. A. C. Hardy, ex-member for Selwyn, was the occasion for a Reform rally at Mctlivcn last evening, the piece do resistance being a speech by Mr \v. F. Massey, leader of the Opposition. Mr Peter Drummond presided, and there were present, besides Mr Massey and the guest of the evening, Messrs TV. Nosworthy, ALP., F. Smith, M.P.. and E. P. Leo, M.P., and others, including a fair number of ladies. Apologies for absence were received from Air TV. J. Dickie, member for the district, Mr James Allen, M.P., Air John Studholme and others. AIR HARDY’S HEALTH.

The chairman, after the .banqueting was completed, expressed his pleasure at the large attendance. Ho said that the Opposition had had a long fight, and it was well to do honour to a°man who had been so strong a champion of the Reform Party. Ho had pleasuro in proposing the toast, “ Air and Airs Hardy.’* The toast was received with a remarkable outburst of enthusiasm, with repeated cheers. Air Hardy had some difficulty in obtaining a hearing, hut when tlio cheering had subsided he voiced the pleasure that it gave him and Airs Hardy to be present. He .had been a member for twelve years, and ho had tried in that time to do his best for the district and the country as a whole. He was exceedingly pleased that his leader was able to bo present that evening. If they only knew half as much about Air Alassey as he did, they would say with him, “ Alassey is the man.” From the bottom of his heart ho could say “Trust Alassey.” He had been closely associated with Air Alassey for many years, and the numerous chats they had had together concerned not so much, the welfare of tho party as the welfare of the country. (Applause.) He felt honoured that in his parliamentary career lie had been thrown in contact with such able and honourable men as the leaders of the Reform Party. The . party had been accused of captious criticism, but its criticism was inspired by the conviction that the party was on the right lines and the Government on the wrong. Ho thanked tho gathering from the bottom of liis heart for coming together to do honour to himself and Airs Hardy. THE REFORAI PARTY. Afr F. Pawsou proposed tho toast of “ The Reform Party, and in doing so said tho attendance of tho leader and several members of the< party that evening spoke volumes for its solidarity. Ho denied that the Reform Party represented the old Conservatives. It stood for clean and upright administration. It was unfortunate that Selwyn electorate had seen fit to swap horses while crossing the stream, otherwise Afr Massey might now have been controlling the affairs of New Zealand. Tile toast was drunk with musical honours. Air TV. F. Alassey, who was received with loud and continued applause, thanked those present. for the hearty reception accorded to him and the manner in which the toast of the Reform Party had been received. He was gratified to see such a large and representative gathering in honour of his friend Air Hardy, who for twelve years had done valuable service for New Zealand in Parliament. Those services were so valuable that Air Hardy should not be allowed to retire into private life. So far as the Reform Party was concerned, ho thanked them for coupling his name with the toast. It was an anniversary with him, for it was exactly eighteen years ago that day since he had been elected member for AYaitemata. Ho was proud to say that for the whole of that time he had been associated with the cno party. (Applause.) He felt lit also to go on lor another eighteen years. Since ho had taken the leadership it had been his ideal to re-estab-lish tho party, which was democratic, truly Liberal and progressive. Sometimes they had suffered defeat, sometimes they had been successful; sometimes they had been attacked in the open, which he did not object to, and sometimes from behind the fence, which ho most strongly objected to. In that connection ho wished to say that the party in Opposition in New Zealand, owing to tho party jsystem, had a hard row to hoe, having to contend with the expenditure of public money, often for party purposes and often with party objects in view. Through it all the party had fought on, and the result had come in the middle of last December, when a majority of members had been returned pledged to oust the Government. The Reform Party to-day contained thirty-eight good men and true, not office-seekers, but men simply out for the good of the country, who were pledged to resist the drastic legislation' expected in certain quarters and the extravagant administration expected in others. It did not matter where they stood, they intended to do the best they could for the country to which they belonged and the people they represented. They did not profess to be saints or angels. . They admitted that they had made mistakes, but their .first thought was for tho people, not for themselves. They had arrived at a crisis in the political history of the country, and as leader of the patriotic, progressive party he appealed to the people for their support. ITe sincerely hoped that within the next few months there would not be an electorate without a strong branch of the Reform Party in it. He thanked them again for the cordial manner in which they had honoured the toast. Air James At’Lean proposed the toa-st of “ The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests.”

Tlio toast was respondc 1 1 o bv Mr ,T. C. N. Grigs:, who made ~ " trong plea for better farming and <••• • VuisiSd the necessity for business-li’ t.hods. Tn political affairs, he urged that the welfare of the country should be placed before party considerations. He made appreciative reference to Mr Hardy as a thorough good sportsman in politics, and one who would not take one knockdown as n final defeat. Hr .T. M'Millan proposed the toast of “ Public Bodies,” fn which Mr C. ,T. Harper (chairman of the Ashburton County Council) responded. AN AFTER MEETING. POLITICAL AND PERSONAL. OPPOSITION ADDRESSES.' When tho banquet ball had been cleared a public meeting was held for the purpose primarily of making a presentation to Mr Hardy, but secondly to give Opposition members an opportunity to speak. Mr E. P. Lee, member for Oair.aru, said that the gathering was paying honour to where it was due. MiHardy was respected throughout New Zealand ns a worthy man of high character whose only object was to do what was right. In the near future his sendees would he required in Parliament and he would be returned again. The Reform Party had gained ground because the people realised that the administration was in wrong bands, and ii members ot the present Parliament had acted up to their pledges, Mr Massey would have been m power .to-day (applause). There was nothing more obvious than that. The late Government hacl not the confidence of the country, tor otherwise

it would not have evaded a. general election or have resigned. The present Alinistry had the confidence of .only sorno tliirty-two members, and before attempting to carry on the affairs of the country, it should go before tlie House. He intended to support the Reform Party, because it had an honest, straightforward programme. Only that day he had heard of an applicant in his own district for a position in the postal department who had been told that Ins application had been passed by ior two years because he had no political iniluence. It was time that such corrupt practices ceased, and lie intended to get to the bottom of the case even if he had to discuss it ip Parliament. AIORE ALLEGATIONS.

Air F. H. Smith,, M.P., QVaitaki) expressed his pleasure at being picent to do honour to Air Hardy and expressed his gratitude to that gentleman for initiating himself and other political novices into the customs or parliamentary procedure. The speaker was of opinion that there was too much party and too little principle in politics in this country to-day. I arties promised anything in order to gain office, and Government members had been told to do anything, say anything or promise anything, so long as they got into Parliament. What . was wanted was men who would remain faitelul to their principles under all circumstances. He urged tlie establishment of free agricultural scuools m all country districts, schools in winch not only farmers’ sons, but working mens son's from the cities could be trained. He wanted sometmng _on altogether different lines from Lincoln College, which was restricted to a rew students. Ho advocated a reform of the land tax in the direction of making it eompulsorv for the Government to purchase land at a 10 per cent advance on the valuation for taxation purposes. PRESENTATION TO AIR HARDY. Air 0. J. Hamer, in presenting to Mr Hardy a handsomely illuminated address, said lie knew Mr Hardy would value it as a token of affection and respect from the electoral district or Selwyn. They all regretted Mi { Hardy’s defeat, but if be stood again ! and put his back into it a utt.e harder he would bo sure to succeed. The electors of Alethven and otuer parts of <~e - wyn would rally round lAr Ilaidy a next election and do their best to send hint back to Parliament again. Mr Hardy, in reply, thanked Ins late constituents for the testimonial. lucre than ever before be felt a silent member. Ho bad received a hearty welcome and unbounded hospitality wherever lie had gone. It was onlj fair to the people of Alethven and Selwvn that lie should inform them teat probably he would not have the pleasure of addressing them again. (Cries or " No.”) He had made up Ins mind that he would not contest the seav again, hut. his desire would be to further anything ter tho good of the district and the dominion, and lus sympatliies would remain with the Keiorm Party. He hoped that the district would send a man to Parliament to strengthen Mr Massey s hands. wP" plause.) So far as local matters were concerned, Air Dickie would serve the district, but until lie became a supporter of Air Alassey he lacked tne essential of an ideal member of Parliament. Airs Donald Ai’Lcan then presented Airs Hardy with a set of silver fishknives and forks. , . After Air Hardy lmd returned tnenks cheers were given for Air and Mrs Hardy, on the call of Air Alassey. AIR AV. NOSAVORTHY HOPEFUL. Air AV. Nosworthy, member for Ashburton, said that although lie believed in the British principle of giving the new Alinistrv a chance, he was compelled to endorse Air Lee’s views regarding tlie irregular formation ol tho Ministry. Air Alassey was ready to give battle in which there would be no surrender. Tlie party was in a bettei position than ever before, and would take office without the assistance of pledge-breakers. It was said that t-ie new Alinistry headed by tlie fion Thomas Alackenzie was a clean one. That was surelv a reflection on the last Alinistry. Ho' would not question the cleanness of the new Cabinet. He bolieved it was clean, but that would not be the important matter at issue. The people would have to pass judgment on the policy propounded by the new Alinistry, and if it came to another election every one of the thirty-eignt Reform Party adherents in the House would be prepared to take off nis coat •and' go into the battle determined, to win. The country was tired, oi poutics, but- when the Reform Party attained office it would b e strong enough to carry out a good Liberal programme and give political peace to the country. AIR- AIASSEY’S SPEECH. Air Alassey rose to speak at ten o’clock. He expressed regret at Mr Hardy’s retirement, but said that there was another branch of the Legislature which was not likely to lose his services. ■, (Applause.) In the Legislative Council he would bo able to do as good work j as ever he had done. He had known , Air Hardy intimately for many years, j and had never had a better colleague, j assistant or personal friend. ihe duty j of the electors ol Selwyn was to return j a member on the same side of politics as Air Hardy was on. He had hoped that Air Hardy would have been with him when he attained to the Treasury benches, but the best tiling had happened, because the present situation gave the country an opportunity to see the weaknesses and dissensions or the so-called Liberal Party. The dissensions were shown by the fact that in the selection of a leader men of twenty years’ service had been passed over in favour of a man who at one time had been one of the strongest Opposition members in Parliament. Tlie Reform Party had been taunted as the lineal descendants of the old Tory Patty. There were onlv three or four of that old party new in Parliament, and one of them was the so-called Liberal leader j of the House. Tlie combination of Conservatism, as represented by Air MacIcenzie, and Socialism as represented by Mr Ell, Air Laurenson and others, would not be received enthusiastically by the country. A Government without the confidence of the country should not be permitted to handle the enormous sums of money entailed in the administration, or to make the numerous important appointments that would be necessary in the next few months. A PIOUS HOPE.

The Ministry had found its way to the Treasury benches because pressure was brought' to bear on certain members to break honourable pledges. He was not a vindictive man, but all he asked was that tile history of the wire-pulling of last session would lie written and published. Many people were ashamed of the disgraceful tactics employed during the short session. Mr Massey remarked that at one time Canterbury bad received satisfactory representation in the Ministry by the Hon IX Buddo, and it must be gratifying to that gentleman to know that four- Ministers were now necessary to fill bis place. It was impossible for a Cabinet so divided as the present one was, to carry on the affairs of the Government. Regarded entomclogically it was a fearful and wonderful specimen. It had a Socialistic body, a Conservative bead, one wing freehold and the other leasehold, one leg free-trade, another protectionist’, others liquor and still others prohibitionist, and he could not sec how it conkl carry on for the next three months.

REFORM FARIT’S LAND POLICY. There was talk about misrepresentation. It had been said during last election that iho Reform Party was under the thumb of the large landholder. That was a slander. Tho party was under no mail's thumb. Its land policy was to open up Crown lands for the purpose ol settlement, to open up for settlement all

Native lands not required for the Native population, and to make every acre of unoccupied land in the country available for settlement. In taxation, discrimination should be shown between tho man who made the host use of liis land and tho man who did not. Now Zealand, with a huge and rapidly-in-creasing public debt, must extend its productive capabilities as far as possible. (Great and continued applause.) A DUNEDIN MEMBER.

Air G. AI. Thomson, member for Dunedin North, who had arrived from Dunedin jiiGt before ten o’clock, said that ho could not resist the opportunity to testify to the popularity of the late Senior Whip of Die Reform Party, Air Hardy. His defeat had tinged the Opposition victories .with more than a shade of regret, for it had been received with sorrow. Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Thomson added, would have gone down to posterity as a much grcatei man if he had faced the House in the recent crisis instead of snatching a victory which was worse than defeat. Tho Reform Party was bound to come to the front, a 3 it was a truly Liberal party, and the destinies of the country would be safe in Air Alassey’s hands. Tho position of the Government was untenable, and he regretted that the Governor had given Air Alackenzie three months instead of three weeks. At the first assault the Government would come down like a house of cards. A number of tho quondam friends of the Liberal Party were ready to turn and rend them. Air Alassey would bo in power inside three months, and there would bo no election, for there were too many members who dared not go back to their constituents. A veto of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.