AN OPPOSITION BANQUET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13096, 8 February 1906, Page 5

AN OPPOSITION BANQUET.

MINISTERIAL METHODS CRITICISED.

[by TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Asiiburton, Wednesday. Last night a complimentary banquet was tendered to Mr. John Studholme, who unsuccessfully contested the Ashburton seat in the Opposition interests at the general election. There was a large attendance, among those present being Messrs. Heaton Rhodes, C. Lewis, and C. A. C. Hardy, M's H.R., and Mr. C. J. Harper, chairman of the County Council. The Chairman (Mr. C. W. Purnell), referring to the address given by the Premier at Ashburton on the eve of the election, said that if Mr. Seddon did not break the letter he certainly broke the spirit of the recent Act dealing with interference with voters, and the matter deserved the attention of the police. Replying to the toast of " The Opposition," Mr. Lewis, M.H.R., said Mr. Seddon had won a universal victory at the last, election, the cause of the Government's victory being the sea of corruption which had overwhelmed the country. The Premier had adopted the attitude of "the giver of all good," and the colony had bowed its neck to him. The people were offered the alternative of being neglected or bribed, and most of them seemed to prefer to bo bribed. It was lamentable to see the people humbly chawling to tho feet of the Minister and subordinating principle for the main chance. Instead of true democracy the country was governed by the Ministry for their own ends.