LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13970, 28 January 1909, Page 5

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

A NATIONAL TESTIMONIAL. The suggestion made some time ago that Mr. \\\ F. Massey. M.P.. Leader of the Opposition, should be made the recipient of a national testimonial is assuming concrete form. A numerously-attended and fully representative meeting, presided over by Mr. F. W. Lang, M.P.. and held in the Auckland Chamber of Commerce rooms last evening, decided to take steps to piesent Mr. Massey with a national testimonial, to be raised by subscriptions of one shilling and upwards, and to form a committee to canvass the Auckland province, and invite the co-operation of all interested in the movement throughout the Dominion. The resolution to that effect, which was proposed by Mr. Richard Monk, formerly member lor YVaitemata, was seconded by Dr. Bamford, and supported by Mr. James Allen, M.P. (who &£sured the meeting that the movement would be heartily supported in the South)*, Mr. E. W. Alison, Mr. L. R. Phillipps, M.P., Mr. C. J. Parr, Mr. John Bollard, MP., and others, and was carried unanimously. Those present resolved themselves into an organising committee, a small executive committee, with Mr. F. VV. Lang, M.P. as permanent chairman, Mr. G. J. Garland as secretary, and Mr. Stanley Chambers as treasurer, being appointed to undertake all preliminary arrangements, and to supervise the work of the general committee The meeting, which was of an exceptionally enthusiastic character, closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman.

The several speakers spoke in the highest possible terms of the character anil ■worth of Mr. Mas&ey, as also of his valuable and self-sacrificing work in the inter<sts of the country at large, a general lope being expressed that the testimonial ■would be widely supported by ail sections of the community.