AN OPPOSITION RALLY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

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

AN OPPOSITION RALLY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCE, October 9. A mass meeting of members and others interested in the recently-fomned Canterbury branch of th© Political Reform Loa«ue was held in the Canterbury Hall to-night, when %he hail was filled, air W. J. Poison, vioe-preaident of the branch, was in the chair. The Chairman explained that the league was a new party, composed almost entirely of young electors. The league demanded honest, efficient, and liberal administration. Its members supported Mr Massey because they believed him to be a Liberal with a progressive policy. A telegram was road from the Leader of tho Opposition stating his intention of addressing- the Christchurch eleetois before the elections. ,

Mr James AHen, H.H.R., who was the first speaker, stated that the time had come when the present Government should be cast aside, for fhe Ministry of the day was without a policy, and was not leading the country. The Premier was prepared to sacrifice his own political opinions in the face of public opinion. There was no opinion from the Government on tho land question, on the question of trusts and combines, and the question of the Legislative Council. Political morality degenerated year by year, and the political fibre of the people was becoming weakened. He was present that night to try and stiffen up that fibre. The speaker, after referring to several acts of the Premier and otner Ministers, complained of the failure of members of the Government to observe the law themselves, particularly in regard to illegal delay in furnishing parliamentary returns, and in the neglect to enforce the Shops and Offices Act. Members at the present time, he declared, were impotent to put such things right, he protested against the autocratic rule of the Premier. With one or "two exceptions, not one department was administered satisfactorily. Out of £51.000 provided during the last four years for schools in country districts £18,000 had never been expended. The same thing had happened re technical and ordinary schools. The speaker referred to the decline in" New Zealand 3 per cent, stock, which he attributed to the fact of experimental legislation, the maturing of short-dated debentures, and to the action of the executive in misleading the "English public by investing public moneys in New Zealand loan stocks. In conclusion, Mr Allen outlined the policy of the Opposition. Mr A. L. Herdman, who followed, claimed that the present Government no longer possessed capacity, no longer ruled the country, and no longer had pluck, or courage, or backbone to face the position in the country. He concluded by complaining of the policy of concealment hy the Government.

Mr F. A. Pirani also spoke at some length, detailing a number of questions which should be taken in hand, including prison reform, industrial schools, treatment of insane, native lands, and education.

The "following motion v. as adopted unanimously: — "That thia meeting expresses its thanks to Messrs Allen, Herdman, and Pirani for their instructive addresses, and views with satisfaction and approval tho political principles enunciated by the New Zealand Political Reform League."