THE REFORM PARTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1075, 23 July 1924, Page 9

THE REFORM PARTY.

GATHERING AT WANGANUI

“GOOD CAUSE TO FIGHT FOR.” Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wanganui branch of the Political Reform League, at which Mr J. Coull was selected as the party’s candidate for the seat at the next election, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., said the supporters of Reform had a good cause to fight for. He was glad they had nominated Mr Coull as his worth was recognised. At the present time the Reform Party had a majority of threo in the House and could carry on. The best feature at the last election was the large increase in the Reform vote. The real trouble was the splitting of votes in some of the electorates. There was also a certain amount of apathy and indifference, to combat. In England there was the spectacle of the Labour Party kept in power by the Liberals. If Mr Massey was defeated, the Liberals would be in power and dictated to by Labour. The Reform Party would carry on to the next election, but if Mr Massey had gone to the country after the railway strike he would have been returned by a huge majority. (Applause.) Mr Massey, however, considered the country first. At the present time Labour was the best organised party in New Zealand, and that fact should be remembered. The Reform Party was now being organised, and the movement was meeting with great success. The Reform Party supporters should he able to have sufficient organisers to spread all over the country. The prospects for the Reform Party at the next election were very birght, and they hoped to be in a position to semi an organiser to any electorate where his services would ho of use. It was necessary to get the support of the young people of the country. It was the women’s vote that counted at every election. Proceeding, Mr Nash said that in Parliament to-day was a revolutionary Labour Party which preached the doctrine of Karl Marx, a man who hated God, man and the devil. It was a doctrine that was being preached to our young people. The Labour Party’s aim was a levy on capital wealth, and if they got into power it would be a case of “God help the country.” The sooner the people realised the position tiie better it would be for all concerned. The Labour Party was for the time being adopting a more moderate attitude in an endeavour to get into power. The revolutionary party continually showed its disloyalty. TV hat good was the Liberal Party doing to help New Zealand? The good old days of Ballance and Seddon had gone never to return. To-day there was a feeling of bitterness between the Liberals and Labour. There was not room for more than two parties in New Zealand to-day, and when the next election came round there was no doubt tiiat the Labour Party would hold the position that the Liberals did to-day. Their aim was to be the official opposition. There was no such thing as a middle course in Parliament, a party had to be on ono side of the road or the other. Mr Massey had proved himI self a strong man, and was the only Prime Minister in power to-day who occupied that position when the war broke out. Mr Massey had proved his courage, and was an Imperialist of the highest order. At the present time there could not be an amalgamation of parties, and there could never he one unless the present leader of the Liberals and some of his henchmen went out first. Air A\ ilford talked about America, but did they want American methods in a God-given country like New Zealand? (Applause.) The Reform Party had a magnificent record. In the past year New Zealand exported 52 millions worth of produce, and that showed how well the country had been governed. The Reform Party s record was one of continued success, and they were very proud that they still had Mr Massey to lead them. Mr Massey steered a straight course, lie was honest, and his word was his bond. ]t would be a triumph for him if they could win the Wanganui seat for him at the next election. Mr J. Link later, M.P., said it was a pleasure to meet such ardent Reform supporters. Ho endorsed all that Mr Nash had said about Mr Massey and the Reform Party. He hoped that he would have the pleasure of meeting Mr Coull iu Parliament. Organisation was the main tiling in any contest, and if they returned Mr Coull AVanganui would have a worthy representative.