POLITICAL.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 4 December 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

PRIME MINISTER AT TAUMARANUI,

A. Magnificent Reception. Cheered to the Echo,

Largest Crowd ever seen in Taumaranui, '"' (From Our Own Correspondent). Taumaranui December 3 The Hon W P Massey, Prime Minister, arrived in Taumaranui on Wednesday and was accorded ail official welcome by the Mayor and Borough Councillors, the Town Band - playing him to hia hotel. >-• In the evening Mr Massey delivered an" address in the Theatre k Boyal to one of the largest audiences * ' ever seen in Taumaranui. On entering the hall Mr Massey was greeted with cheer upon cheer, the -audience joining in singing •• For he's Good Fellow." ■<?■■ the address the Prime Minister's remarks were greeted again and again with outbursts of applause, At the conclusion of the speech a v resolution was carried thanking Mr Massey for his address and expressing the utmost confidence in the Reform Government. This was practically carried unanimously, the audience ' rising and cheering the Prime Minister to the echo. >; The nweting was an important one ',u showing the feeling of the district' towards the present Government to-day, At the last election the Enfornvoandidate was in a minority of 61 at Taumaranui, the figures being Jennings 227, Wilson 166.

Mr Morrison at Whenuakura

Mr Morrison spoke in the Whenua- <- fcura Sohool-room on Monday night, Mr A Symes presiding. la the course of his speech Mr Morrison challenged anyone to disprovohis statement that the present t GoTernment had increased the area of first class lands. He.dealt at length --* ;*kh the Reform's last hope, the Red "* l fed bogey, remarking that it was only .' an ' electioneering dodge, ( but the ' "" farmers, he went-on to say, wanted something more .stable than this „" clap-trap ,to induce them to vote to present party .to power. 'He' instanced t Otaki where the Reformers themselves "were going to * support Mr Robertson, in spite of what * Mr Masßeyeaid at Waverley—" That Mr "Robertson would never see the -,' inside of Parliament again." Mr Morrison was accorded a vote of v thanks and confidence. - ' Mr Morrison speaks at Waverley ' in the" Town Hall on Monday next - vhere he will' reply to statements ",, made by Mr Massey, MRPEABCE AT MAXWELLTOWN v A Significant Meeting. ' Mr Pearce met with a- very flatter-'-".fag reception When he spoke in the *' enemy's stronghold" at Maxwelltotrn Vn'Monday r the hall being packed to overflowing, several having s to be content with standiog room The speaker delivered a vigorous and convincing address, dealing trench. > antly with, the misstatements of the members of the Flying Squadron who -recently visited the distriot. , That bis remarks met with the approval of his * audience was shown by the loud and frequent-applause. ', M .At theconclusion of the address a conveying the thanks of-the to Mr Pearce for his address 1 and renewed confidence in him as their representative' in Parliament, and confidence in the Reform Ministry and its administration was proposed by W' Hughes and seconded by Mr - Moore and 'carried with acclamation. - A hearty vote of thanks to Mr 0 Russell for presiding concluded what must be legarded as a highly successful and significant meeting for ' Mr Pearce. »• '

MB PEARCE AT ARAMOHO.

An Excellent Meeting,

There 'were over thr/e hundred -preselt at .the Atamobo Boatshed on Wednesday " night, /when Mr G V Peafoe, Reform oandidate for the Patea seat, delivered an election Address. . Major Lomax was voted to the chair and briefly introduced the (speaker. ' . Mr Pearce in the t>r bis speech remaiked that New; Zmland was as prosperous in spite of the war, as ever, and certainly a's much as any part of Australasia. Thousands of people in Australia were being put on half-time; The New Z3alaqd Government had been successful in keeping business stable. The poei'ion ■ was" very satisfactory, thanks to the steps taken by the Government. With regard to Ihe wheat supply, the candidate said that before the out. break of the war, Mr Buxton, in the Houso, a large miller, stated that there was an ample supply in the country. This proved to be incorrect. M* Massey advisad the farmers to plant plenty of wheat. There was a shortage, Mr Massey secured a v supply from Australia: Australia was now short* A quantity of 250,000 bushels bad been purchased in Canada. While at Hawera last week ' Mr Massey received a telegram'stat. ing that there was only, a week's supply of wheat in Dunedin. He at once called, directing the ships with cargoes of wheat to discharge at ' Dunedin. There bad been a cry that there was a want of refrigerated boa'o 'to oonvey' the Dominion's produce -Home. The Government at once took the matte* in hand, with the result that satisfactory arrangements. were come to by which the export of produce would be pursued without inconvenience The Government had done everything a good Government _v.could do to meet the extraordinary that had arisen as an outcome of the war. Mr Pearce went on to deal with the statements made by the members of ' .; the _-'lyi<" g Squadron who had visited bis electorate; He spent a considerable time in replying to tho assertions ''made anent finance and other questions r raised by Messrs Russell and Wiifurd. .i-l'he remainder was on the lines '■7 previously delivered and reported. Cf ?"'Mi Pearce received a patient %' shearing,** though the Bed Fed fejffleirient was "preeent at question time,

\ but by dint of forcible repartee by I the speaker they were made the laughing Btook of ail concerned At the conclusion of the address on the motion of Mr Williamson, seoonded by Mr Preston a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr I Pearce for his vigorous end straightforward address.

The " Baby Bonus." "What about Sir'Joseph Ward's baby bonu° ? " asked someone at Mr Massey's Lower BLutt meeting. " I should be ashamed to support a thing like that," replied the Prime Minister. . .. " The slimmest thing about it is that it would be payable in fourteen years, and the man who introduced it would be out of offlje by then, aad some other unfortunate man would have to arrange to pay the 'whole of tbe bonuses. It is the elimmeßt thing I oyer heard of."

Red Fed Management

In the event of a victory for the combine, the Reds would insist on hiving some influence in the management of the country's business. This is no time for this country to have a Red tail attached to the body of any Government. In ordinary f'mes of peace it would be exceedingly injurious to the whole country's .welfare to have a Government under an obligation to Red Federals, add such a contingency during a great war is a matter for grave meditation by open* minded Liberals.—Evening Post.

ST GEORGE'S churc a.

Sale of Work.

\ The ladies of St George's Church hare been busy for some time preparing for the sale of work in aid of the Church i Restoration Fund: There was a very Mr attendance at the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon when the fuaction was opened by his Worship the Mayor, Mr 0 ALaroomba. In his opening remarks Mr Larcombe said the way the ladies had worked for some time past was most,praiseworthy and the fine display before them gave ample proof of what they bad done. The Bazaar was held as they all knew to wipe off the debt of £125 still owing. on the jGhuroh and he had sufficient faith to feel that the.ladies would doit. Tnere was just one thing he would like to mention and tbat wis the departure of. fie Rer A W Payne, It seemed to be Patea's misfortune tbat when they got a good man they could not keep %im. It was only about twelve mouths ago he presided at a social to welcome Mr Payne to the district and now he bad to sxpress his regret at'hi* deputure. His Worship then declared the Bazaar open and the stallholders started work iu a really, businetsliker manner, The various stalls were beautifully arranged and . were a great credit to ail concerned. Following . } are the stallholders S—. ...'•■ Produce Stall: Mesdames Honeyfield, J Death, Derrett and Wills. Plain ; Wbrk ; Stall: Mesdames Robbie, W White and Powell. Fancy Stall - Mesdames W Hampton and A Powdrell, Micses Gibson and Turner. ' 'V Sweet Stall: Misses K Wybourne, H Death, Kennedy and H Gibson. Fish Pond: Mrs Powdrell. Bran Tubs: Miss Beamish. Sunday School Stall; Mesdames Oooner and White. , Upstairs a tea room was managed by Mesdames Larcouibe,- Hemingway and Kenwortby and a bevy of willing assjstantfi. There were ' some fifteen" tables laden with the most dainty eatables and the many workers appeared to be having a very busy time.

The following were the _ results of the various stalls, etc. : £ a a Plain Worfc Stall '.. 21 1 10/ Door -. 8 2 6 Pish Ponds, etc., .. 4 2 8 Fancy Stall , , .. 19 8 0 Sweet Stall .. 7 4 5 Produce Stall ' .. 19 7 8 .Sunday School Stall ~ 12 5 8 Tea Rooms " . .. 515 9 ; Total (' 92 7 8 , 'The thanks of the Vestry are due to the large band of willing workers who assisted at the various stalls and tojhose who very kindly took part in the "working bea " at the Hall on Wednesday morning. The girls who "aoted as flower sellers during the day and the boys who .aoted, as messengers r and "assisted in various way, are wjbrthy of special mention as are the large number of contributors from all parts of the district wber gave of their best and assisted materially in making the function a suooess. Speoial thanks are also due to Miss Homer, who arranged the musical programme and to those who contributed items to the evenings enjoyment.. The brunt of ihe work especially the organising portion of it fell on the shouldera of the Seoretary Mrs E Bobbie, who worked indefatigably and who deserves the thanks of all for the services rendered, not only throughout the day, but for many weeks past. Thank sto her businesslike management things went like olockwork and there was nothing approaohing a hitch of any kind from first to last. Altogether the parishioners have every reason to be more than satisfied with the results aohievod.