MR A. C. HARDY HONOURED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 8

MR A. C. HARDY HONOURED.

SPEECHES BY OPPOSITION MEMBER SI. METHVEN, April 10. Mr C. A. C. Hardy, ex-M.P. for Selwyn, was entertained at a complimentary banquet at Methven to-night. The function was attended by about 200 guests, many being ladies. Amongst those present were Mr Massey, Mr Nosworthy, Mr Lee, and Mr Smith, M.P.'s, and many representative men of the district. After the toast of the guest of the evening had been honoured, Mr Massey, in respemding to that of the Reform party, said that the day was an anniversary with him, as just 18 years ago lie was elected as member far Waitemata. Just prior to the general election in 1906, when the parts; was in a weak condition, he felt that_ it was part of his life's work to re-establish the party, and he had worked to the end of making the party one that would work for the good of the country —a true Liberal party, not a sham Liberal one, and a. Democratio and Progressive party. The position of the party now was that there were 38 good men and true in it, who intended to do the best they could for the! country and the people. They did not profess to be saints or angels, but he could! say that the party's first thought waß not for themselves but for the *-eople. Ho predicted that within tho next few months there would not be an electorate without a strong branch of the Reform party established in it. Other toasts were honoured, and afterwards a public meeting was held. Mr E. P. Loc said the fact that the Ward Ministry had resigned was proof that it felt that it did not possess the confidence of the country, and the new Ministry similarly did not possess the country's confidence, and ought to meet tho House at the earliest possible moment. Mr F. H. Smith urged the necessity for free agricultural schools. Referring to the taxation of land, he said that land taxation must be on a fair basis. Mr Hardy, in accepting an illuminated address, stated that he had made up his mind not to contest the Selwyn seat agasi. Mr Nosworthy remarked that though the Reform party was not In power, it waa in a " better position than if it were in power and relying on votes of pledgebreakers. Mr Massey paid a high tribute to Mr Hardy, and said that though his services were lost to tho House there was another branch of the Legislature unlikely to lose his services.—(Continued applause.) He dealt at considerable length with the present political situation, holding that the present Government did not possess tho confidence of the country. It was, he said 1 , speaking politically, a political Inimbkig-. lie defined the Reform party's land policy as being in the direction of making avail* able for settlement all the available Crown and Native lands. Ho was opposed to unfair taxation of land, but was in favour of any taxation necessary to ensure the closer: settlement of large estates. He hoped thafc the history of the short session would be written, and that publicity would be giver* to all the wire-pulling that took place. Mr G. M. Thomson also spoke, criticising l tho present Government.