REFORM LEAGUE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12527, 17 August 1926, Page 3

REFORM LEAGUE

WOMEN’S AUXILIARY ADDRESSED BY PRIME MINISTER “JUDGE PARTY BY RESULTS” Mrs J. Darling presided at a meeting of the reorganised Women’s Reform League held in the Dominion Farmers’ Hall last night, at which a large number of women were present. Mrs Darling explained that the auxiliary had gone out of existence when the National Government was formed, and had been revived, the league’s secretary, Mr James, having called a small meeting when a provisional committee was set up. It was then decided to call a meeting by advertisement, and it was hoped that many people would join up, and a later meeting would he called h.v name, and at that a committee would be set up. It was hoped to have a representative from each electorate. Mrs C. Earle, who had been president when the auxiliary went out of action, had been re-elected president temporarily, and Mrs Darling vice-president. The meeting was called so that the Prime Minister could speak to members and friends, hut first she asked Mrs Coates to say a few words. Mrs Coates expressed great pleasure at "being present, and in seeing so many women present who wish to become conversant with political matters. Women had equal right with men at the ballot box, and must learn to cast their votes right. She congratulated those present on a desire to attain good Government and loyal citizenship, and on forming an agency for this purpose whose goodwill extend not only to Wellington but throughout the country. (Applause.) PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS The Prime Minister, who was warmly applauded on rising, expressed pleasure at having been asked to speak. He congratulated Mrs Darling and her committee on having organised such a good meeting with the object of forming- an auxiliary force which could be called into operation when needed. It was a wise move to organise early and to get men and women to discuss matters, so that all might get a clear conception of the principles of the, party. He asked everyone not to let themselves be side-tracked by unimportant issues, but to judge the party by result*. For himself his only desire was to do his duty; he had no love of office, and his thought would always he first for the party. The reason women in New Zealand should take any active interest in political influences was to see that these coincided with the views of the men and women who had helped and were helping to build up this country. They wished to uphold those principles which would make the country go in the direction which everyone wants to see. He especially hoped they would encourage the young people to join, for these were the builders of the future, though untried at present. Referring to those who had helped the party in the past, Mr Coates mentioned the late Mrs Newman, one of those who had lifted politics to a very high standard. He was glad also that the auxiliary had again chosen Mrs Earle as their president. They wanted to show every person who became a member. that they had something worth fighting for. It was a good thing to get together and talk things out, it was not enough to leave it to the candidates at election time.

»"NOT A TORY PARTY" Mr Coates went on to speak of the Reform Party from early days, saying that the idea it was a Tory party was disproved by its acts. He referred to the late Major Atkinson, whose ideas were so advanced that even to-day politicians would hesitate to carry them out. Captain Russell was perhaps more conservative, but the late Mr Massey was truly democratic, a great Imperialist, and one on whom it was recognised one could lean in times of stress. His work would be valued more as time went on. We must continue if we wanted the country to be a strong, virile, happy land, to stand by the British Empire, and he thought it was only right we should show gratitude to the Mother Country for her help during our years of infancy. New Zealand depended on Great Britain as a market for her produce, and only by selling her produce can she live, and yet we paid very little towards our naval defence. While it was the hope that by means of the League of Nations and other treaties to reach the stage when all nations would honour their contracts and come to a mutual understanding it was meanwhile our duty to assist the Mother Country to maintain an adequate defence. We should assist also by buying British goods as much as possible, and also by encouraging British migrants. We wanted to keep our country British, and it was necessary to people it, to give people the opportunity of coming here and flaking good. This was a means of showing practical support to the Empire. There might be times when it was necessary to curtail emigration, but these would pass. HUMANITARIAN LEGISLATION Mr Coates maintained that the Reform Government had from the first maintained a platform of the truest form of democracy, ensuring equal rights to all and equal rights between men and women. They were against any form of class legislation, and their legislation showed their desire was to get the greatest good for the greatest number of the people. Mr Coates traced the humanitarian legislation of the Reform Government. They had increased old ago pensions materially, and reduced the age when a woman can claim one from (35 to 60, also placed no limit* on house and fut' niture. They had increased widows’ pensions very materially, also children’s to the age of 15, and since 19X2 they had given pensions to miners, Maori War veterans and police pensions, and tho blind. An increase without war pensions of a million a year. A heavy responsibility rested upon a Government, for the basis of a country’s prosperity was sound finance, and Mr Coates assured his hearers their finances were sound. Of course, if you give conveniences to people you must have the money, he said, and he also showed the necessitv there had been for helping farmers to meet their loans. But he assured his hearers that the Government intended to go farther and see that every child had an opportunity to make good, even if it* parents were unable to give it that opportunity by their exertions. It was not fair that the young people should suffer for their parents’ faults or misfortune. Later they had a contributing scheme dealing with skkness, old age, etc., and it was hoped to make much progress in housing. The Town Planning Bill sought to give families

an opportunity for getting out of congested areas. Many people had a postponement microbe, but ho could assure his hearers they meant to push on and keep their election pledges. He concluded by asking everyone to study the principles of the Reform Party and to make tip their minds if it was worthy of support. During the evening the Hon. Shailer Weston outlined the new oonstetution of the Reform League, and explained how it worked, and Mr Clark wished Mr and Mrs Coates bon voyage on their approaching visit to England. A verv hearty vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Coates was passed with acclamation.