POLITICAL FUTURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 December 1922, Page 3

POLITICAL FUTURE

STATE 1 (5# TilF, PARTIES MR, MASSEY’S ATTITUDE EXPENSE OF AN ELECTION It had become, known at Feilding on Saturday that the Prime Minister was on the Main Trunk train going northwards during the afternoon, and a crowd assembled to see him as ho passed through. Mr Massey was called upon for a speed), and addressed those present. from the step of the carriage on whirl) Ire was travelling. He said it would not be correct to say he was satisfied with the result of the recent elections, but. ho was proud of the fact that though he had lost several [rood supporters —he hoped only temporarily—the number of votes for the Reform I arty had greatly increased, as compared with previous elections. He was also proud of the fact that so far as electioneer mg methods were concerned tire nem mrs of his party had nothing to regret. They had put up a hard, dean fight, without any attempted slander or misreprese Palion, and (hey took the results as imod ..-■svifts. feeling that they had done (heir duty in the country, rather than that ihey had worked for parly or indivilual in I crests.

li was quite impossible to -.y et what, the final result, would he. out if his party were unable to carry on ‘here was no dianee for either of (ho nth vs, or even for a combination of the p; ir of thorn. Ho was not wishing for another election, though, personally, ac 1 fd not the slightest objection to it, and was willing and : able to take the platform next day if it became necessary to do so. But again the interests of the country came first ,and be knew perfectly will that elections meant very heavy expenditure of public money, and were, also unsettling to finance, and commerce, and cverv variety of industry throughout the Dominion. Any important step that might bo taken would only he. agreed to after very serious. consideration, hut. they could take, it. from him that his services now, as *in the past, and for the future, would always be at the disposal of his fellow eiifzCns. Hearty cheers were given for the Prime Minister as the train moved off.

GOOD GOVERNMENT

TRIBUTE TO MR MASSEY

A PLACE IN HISTORY

Speaking at the citizens' banquet tendered to Sir Francis Bell in Wellington last week, Sir John Findlay said lie was assured that the success of the country was due to a long succession of good Governments and a record of good actions in the Statute Book. Tragedies of life grew less with effluxion of time, but reputations of Governments grew more. Fifty years hence, people would look back with -pride on the record of Mr Massey, a Prime Minister, who, by grit and determination, won a great name. All sides of politics would agree that then* should be a recognition of-the devotion shown by Air Massey and his Government to the welfare of the com* inanity. The present .Prime Minister,, who with tireless effort had overcome all difficulties would occupy a place >(;<*• nul to none in the scroll of the country's fame. -