LOOKING AFIELD

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12201, 28 July 1925, Page 7

LOOKING AFIELD

REFORM PARTY ORGANISES RALLY HELD AT NEWTOWN HALL QUOTA OF INTELLIGENCE They had not been . very active in that electorate, stated Mr J. W. Salmon,. chairman, at the Reform rally, held in St. Thomas’e Hall, Newtown, last evening, when stating the purpose of-the meeting, which was to organise -locally and “fight Communion and all the ‘isma’ which go with it-.” There were present the Hon. A. D. McLood (Minister for Lands), the Hon. -W. Earnshaw, M.L.C., and Mr v. Potter, M.P. , . . “On your invitation i am here tonight as chairman of pur party organising executive,” said the Hon. A. D. McLeod. “I am not here to choose a candidate for you. or even to make a suggestion in that direction. Our party does not force candidates upon electorates. The finding of a suitable candidate is your lob, not ours; and subject to certain pledges which our rules demand, the man or woman who will, satisfy the electors will satisfy • our party. NOT A SNAP OF FINGERS “When that dav arrives which .sees our party, or any other party, throw upon an electorate a candidate of' aw executive’s choosing the days of constitutional government are, gone. i

would not give a snap of the..lingers for such a patty. If you say that one or, other of the candidates already in the field is suitable to you, that'again, is your job, and it is not for us to interfere;.lf; on the other hand, you are strongly of opinion that ; there is in this electorate a sufficiency of support in evidence to justify the running of a cfoxlidate the -party is behind you, and will 'leave ,no stone unturned to secure the return of your choice.” : He believed that Mr Coates was' the right' man for the job, confessed the 'Hen- W,.Earnshaw. It was easy to re,turn for the district a loyal man who would" Uphold the traditions of the party. The present Government had carried more legislation during the 13 years ,of it* office than had ever, been carried'before. It was not a question of their doing,: anything else but returning a' man C who would he loyal to the traditions of the raoe. to which they belonged. The Prime-Minister had determined to folknv a policy of safety for the workers m .the Railway, and had done it. The present Government, in years of slump,- had found £12,000,000 fpr housing, a sum which would more titan cover/the advances of aM'previous Governments. IN THEIR HANDS They had their own destiny, said Mr V. Potter, M.P., and as New Zealand* ers he thought that they shmild look to the Empire. Men, not measures,; be' asked. It was the men who made the measures., Their late leader had been a man,' and they had got their measures. Give the Prime Minister a chance, he pleaded, and back the right type of man. .The Government would be condemned at tbe next election, for as the result of the housing legislation they Were; being asked for £45,000,000, and where were they ..to find the money P He bplieved that they were in a Labour electorate; but that at the last election intelligence had not . given its full quota to the vote. He believed that they should place Great Britain first ana New Zealand; second. If the Labour Party ever went back, heaven help New Zealand for in the Socialist prayer books tbe very name of God was omitted, and to him this was denouncing the Creator. ■ Mr E. A. James, secretary of the Reform League,, brought the meeting promises of support from headquarters, arid Mr J. J. Clark, chairman of the central executive, stated that they hoped to hold the Wellington North and capture the Wellington Central seat.' at the next election. They were f jetting behind their candidate for Welingto’n East, and here ho was Certain of victory. He also promised support, and , the' meeting formed -a; committee for the purpose of campaigning. A vote of confidence in the Reform Party under the leadership of Mr, Coates was carried.