OPPOSITION REVIVAL IN SHRIST CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 30

OPPOSITION REVIVAL IN SHRIST CHURCH.

(l'Ron Oun Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, October 4. There is a remarkable revival of interest in the Opposition in this province, which is very significant in view of the approach of the eieet.ons. The Canterbury branch Oi the Poltical Reform League, a vigorous organisation composed of young and progressive men, with Mr Massey as their pie^ident, has boon largely responsible for this. It decided last week to hold a general meeting of its members next Monday, and to invite Messrs Jas Allen, A. L. Herdman, and F. Pirani to address them. With this object it secured the Choral Hall, holding about 1000 people, and notified th? member. The response was extraordinary. The executive found itsoif inundated wiHi requests for tickers notwithstanding the fact that there was to ba a huge mas« prohibition demonstration and a local entertainment at the theatre on the same mghr. Then a second hall was secured for an overflow meeting. In the meantime the Temperance party and tho theatre people decided to postpone their functions, and it became evident that the arrangements of the league would be quite inadequate. Now the executive proposes to take the Canterbury Hall, holding 3500 people,, and to u:e the Choral Hall for the purposes of an overflow tuc-cting if one is required. Tlie previous meetings of the league have been as succe=«f'ul as this function bids fair to bs, and I understand that .its roll of active members eoiiside^bly exceeds a thousand. The result has been to encourage several Opposition candidates to stand for Canterbury seats, and it is probable that others will be shortly announced.