SOCIAL AT STRATFORD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 67

SOCIAL AT STRATFORD.

GATHERING OF LIBERALS. SPEECHES BY MINISTERS. STRATFORD, April 8. There was a very large gathering m the Town Hall to-night at a social given by the supporters of Mr Joseph M'Cluggage, who contested the seat in the Government interest at the last election. The Prime Minister (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) and the Hon. Messrs Russell and Laurenson were present. During the evening a purse of over 100 sovereigns was presented to Mr M'Uluggage. All the Ministers received a heartv welcome. The Hon. Mr Laurenson said the present was one of the youngest and one of the most distinctly New Zealand Ministries the country had ever had. They were able to govern the country in the interests of the men and women in the country. He hoped to again visit Stratford at no distant date, and he would deal with the Opposition party's charges seriatim, and would invite Mr Hine, or the best man they had, to come along, and he would defy him to refute a single statement which he (Mr Laurenson) would make. The Opposition had caught them napping, and had captured a few seats at the last election, but he guaranteed it would not do so again. He decried the campaign of calumny to which the Government had been subjected.

The Hon. Mr Russell paid he was not a stranger to Taranaki, having resided in New Plymouth 36 years ago. He referred to the remarkable progress of the province as evidenced by the exports and brought about largely by the policy of cutting up lands into "small holdings. Taranaki had done itself honour in electing the Hon. Mr Mackenzie as one of its members. Referring to the political situation, he said that when the next election came round, whether it be in three months or three years, there would be better organisation on the Liberal side. The speaker paid a high tribute to Sir Joseph Ward, who, he said, the country couid not afford to allow permanently to stand aside from the highest offices of State. There was a revulsion of feeling, and it was already evident on every hand that the tide of calumny and 6 lander was being beaten back and that the people recognised that the men to be trusted with the administration were the leaders of the Liberal party. Mr Maesey had spoken slightingly of the Liberal Ministry, but what public'position had Mr Massey ever held to qualify him for administrative work'.' No member of the present Cabinet was a Single-Taxer or a Land Nationalist as had been asserted. Mr Massey had attempted to unfairly place the position with regard to leasehold and freehold. He was sure that at the next election the people would say that the Liberal Ministry had done its work well, and he hoped that Stratford would join in by sending a Liberal member to represent the seat again. The Prime Minister, who was received with musical honours, said they had been termed a "stop-gap" Ministry, but they were at any rate a party against whom nothing could be honestly said. They were a clean party, and the statements made of corruption and Tammanyism against him were false and unfounded. Mr Mackenzie went on to deal scathingly with the Reform party's recent platform utterances at Stratford. Surely it should be the Reform party's merits and not the Government's merits which would be that party's recommendation, if any, to the people. With regard to land, the Government wanted to deal with territory rather than tenures at these times. The present Government was going into this question whole-heartedly. Referring to the Hine charges, Mr - Mackenzie maintained that Mr Hine had proved nothing. Speaking of the session just ended, the Prime Minister referred to the failure of Mr Massey to give a pair for Mr Wilford, and said it was not playing the game. If Mr Herries, who was now absent owing to ill-health, was not in his place next session he would himself pair with him if no other member did so. It was not true, as Mr Msasey had said, that one member of the Cabinet wanted to flood the country with labour, nor was it true that the last loans had been a, failure. A campaign of blander had been directed against one man to drive him out. It had succeeded but it did not follow that .Mr Massey could take his place. He did not believe the country wanted Mr Massey, though it had been misled. Thev wanted to get rid of all the slander and abuse and to be judged fairly on their merits and for what they did. Statements were being cunningly concocted bycertain Conservative newspapers to put the financial position falsely and damp the country's credit. At the recent Reform party's rally in Stratford Mr Massey had said, " Was the country to be dominated bv half a dozen men''" But had not Mr Massey brought. the Labour members into Parliament himself, and did he not claim their vote. The present Government recognised the responsibility on its shoulders, and it would use every effort to do the right thing for the people and the country. The following resolution was carried unanimously and amidst continued applause :—" That this meeting of Liberals heartily congratulates the Hon. Mr Mackenzie on his appointment as Prime Minister and on his choice of Ministers and trusts that they will have a fair and impartial trial in administering the affairs of the Dominion, and it considers that the best interests of the country will be fully safeguarded by them." The Prime Minister said they would never regret passing that resolution.