THE POLITICAL POSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15025, 21 June 1912, Page 8

THE POLITICAL POSITION.

IF THE OPPOSITION WINS. GOVERNMENT WILL CLAIM AN ELECTION. ME. . LAtJRENSON'S STATEMENT. . [BY TELEGRAPH.PItEfiS ASSOCIATION".] Honorno, Thursday. The Hon. G., Laurenson visited Horopito to-day, opened a new silver pino mill, and attended a banquet in the evening. At the banquet Mr. R. W. Smith (member for Waimarino) proposed the to net of the Ministry. Mr. Laurenson, in reply, spoke of attacks made on Sir Joseph Ward on account of his religion. Speaking of borrowing he said if the Government retained ofiice, which ho expected they would do, he would favour even double the present expenditure on education. Ho advocated educai tion more in the direction of doing than of > knowing tilings. The Ministry intended to make education,in New Zealand successful. He twitted Mr. Mastsey with having proclaimed that his hands > were clean, and eaid the mere neces- . sity for so doing created a . doubt. ■ The Opposition had changed names so ; often, and had so many aliases, that if it ' wore the case of an individual the police . would consider the circumstances suspicil ous. He compared the Opposition rallies \ to Kuropatkin'e rallies during the Russo--1 Japanese' war, for each rally was a rc- » treat. He favoured an appeal to the peo- : pie at the first chance, and said if the I Opposition won :in Parliament it would j not win, for an appeal to the country would bo claimed. / , A STRONG YOUNG- PARTY. MR. WILFORD WAITING HIS CHANCE. [BT telegraph.— correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday ' Mi'. Wilford, M.P. for Hutt, touched ' somewhat guardedly on the political position at an entertainment tendered to him by his constituents last night. There is going to rise up in thifl country," he said, " a strong young party, whose watchword wilt be ' For New Zealand.' From the far North to the farthest South I have been communicated with as you would little be--9 lieve. It has been said "that I hJive lost my 3 chance by being away. I believe I have 5 lost a chance, but whether I have lost my t chance is another matter." Later Mr. Wilford said he had been asked repeatedly what line he was going to take in politics. " I ask you," he added, " to trust me when I say that the psychological moment for stating what that line is has not yet come." The Dominion suggests that Air. Wilford is waiting to head a new party. WAIKATO REFORM LEAGUE. a PERFECTING THE ORGANISATION. [BY TELEGRAPH.— COIUtESrONDENT.] V ' ' 0 Hamilton-. Thursday. ■ At a meeting to-day, for the purpose of forming a branch of the Political Reform League, there was a large and representative attendance. Mr. Herbert Smith presided. and in his opening remarks referred to the efficient and capable manner in which Mr. J. A. Young was discharging his duties as their representativee. He said Mr. Young's entire sympathies were '• with Mr. Massey, and his patty and that lie would stand and work with Mr, Massey shoulder to shoulder. The purpose of the meeting was to consider how best to co-ordinate the supporters of Mr. Young and the Reform party, and in this connection the chairman introduced Mr. Lindegreen, the Reform party's [i organiser. e Mr. Lindegreen urged upon those pre--1 sent the importance of organisation. f He said the Reform party to-day was in $ a stronger position than ever before, and - that the feeling was growing was exlf pressed by the large attendance at that i meeting. There was need for organisa--1 tion on systematic lines. He appealed , to those present to use every effort to have £• sub-branches formed as quickly as post sible, not that there was anv fear or pros--1 pect of a general election, but there was - nothing like preparedness for war in times of peace. 5 Mr. Northcroft emphasised the absolute ; need for the establishment of a substantial 3 fighting fund. He referred briefly to the attitude taken up by the Waikato League 7 on Mr. Young's behalf, and congratulated o the Waikato people on its selection of so capable a man as Mr. Young as their : representative in Parliament. ; The following officers were elected . President. Mr. Herbert Smith; vice-pre , dents, Messrs. H. S. Hawkins, J. S. ; Fisher, Geo. Edgecnmhe, W. Taylor, C. J. o W. Barton, R. Reynolds, W. Messana. S - ;c fcufds. A. Whyte, Stewart Reid, and '- A. 1. Gifford; treasurer, Mr. F. J. Sasby- ; secretary, Mr. J. L. Macgregor.