REFORM PARTY BANQUET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 79, 30 March 1912, Page 5

REFORM PARTY BANQUET.

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AT KOHURATAHI. , MR. MASSEY GIVES HIS VIEWS OF THE NEW CABINET. /“A HOUSE DIVIDED.” (By Our Special Reporter.) v|A banquet was tendered to Mr. Massey and the Reform Party members at Koburatahi last night. A large number of settlers welcomed the party to the settlement. A sumptuous banquet was laid in the hall, and, altogether, some one hundred and fifty were seated at the tables, which were quite inadequate to provide sittingroom for all those who desiredto be present. Mr. A. Coxhead was in the chair, with the visitors and prominent settlers seated near. The first toast to be honoured was that of “The King,” proposed by the Chairman. Mr. W. L. Kennedy then proposed the toast of “The Parliament of New Zealand.” He said to him had fallen an important duty, and one for which he was somewhat unprepared. The Parliament of New Zealand was a dignified one, and second only to the Mother of Parliaments. The members were a credit to the Dominion, and he was sure their own local member was no exception. (Applause.) He would not detain them longer, as he knew they were waiting for a speech from the members, whom he was glad to see there that evening. He coupled the toast With the names of •’Mr. H. H.

Okey and K. Wilson. Mr Okey thanked them for the hearty manner in which they had drunk /the toast of the Parliament of New Zealand. He intended to come along to the district before going to Parment and see what was being done with regard to the expenditure of such large sums of money. He referred to the splendid sajnples of eoal that had come from the district. He wanted to , see whether that coal would pay. Anybody but the Government would endeavour to make their railways interestbearing by tapping the coal. Everybody would benefit by it. If they did not hurry, however, they would bring in oil fuel, and the Government would lose their chance of making some money. The New Plymouth Harbour Board had been making improvements. Ho wanted to come and see what produce they could supply to fill_ those big Home boats that were going to come into their'harbour. The only way to do all this was. to make a personal visit. He could assure them that in the House they did not use their constituents in the back-blocks as a “stalking horse.” If they wanted the back-blocks looked after, they must

look to the Reform Party to dc it. (Applause.) They had gone through the same trials in their time, as his audi-

ence were during now. He was very pleased to be among them, and assured them that he was ready at all times to assist their member, who looked after their interests in a praiseworthy manner., .(Applause.), Mr, 0. K. Wilson ;j said he, didn’t come for the same purppse at all ,as Mr. Okey. He had long.heard, of. the marvellous beauty of the'ladies of this district. (Loud and prolonged applause). % Though seriously, he .said, i,t. .was the roads and not the coaljheHvas going to bring them. “When I bring you the roads you will get your"’coal cheap.” He questioned Mr. Okey’s claim to the leadership (<jt{ Taranaldi Mr. Massey should be their but if it came to having a leader, Mr. J. B. Hine should be that man. He

was a rattling good politician and man. 'Let them, see tha,t ; they, s,tupktq him,, (Applause.) He pajid a tribute to the ladies of New Zealand, who had materially assisted in removing from office one of the most corrupt governments that the country had ever seen. (Applause.)iV. iMr. Massey had been cheated of-Ehe! position he by rights should nqwh occupy/ Why, did not‘these men in-office.; get 'out, instead! of clinging to office dike .whipped curs 'i Before he had finished his career he was going to see !the ladies, in their places. (Applause.). They had one of the finest countries in the world. They did not want' assistance—they wanted fair play. They were going to give the roads in front of settlement; they were, going to give them . the right to acquire their freehold. They should sink their private differences and work in their own interests, per medium of such a'body as the Farmers’ Union. The settlers were building up the towns, and they were not getting fair play. The only party which would give them that was the Reform Party. He felt sure that when their worthy chief got up they would be proud of him. (Applause.) Mr. R. G. Faulkner then gave a very finely rendered song accompanied by Miss Wilson (piaho) and Mr. Cottier (violin). Mr. W. Aylward proposed the toast of “The Local Bodies.” He did not know why he had been selected to propose this toast. With regard to the local bodies, “the least said the sooner mended.” (Laughter.) Mr. W. Bacon responded. The local bodies had been badly treated by the present Government. He was sure that when Mr Massey came into power they would receive fair consideration. The toast had been sprung upon him, and he regretted that he could not reply at greater length. Mr. R. G. Kennedy then sang “Anchored,” Miss Wilson again accompanying. To Mr. E. Roberton fell the duty of proposing one of the most important toasts ot the evening—“ The Reform Party.” He said they would have to work hard till they obtained a strong working majority, to get the Reform Party in power, and further the interests of the settlers of the country. (Applause.) On rising, Mr. Massey was greeted by loud applause and hearty cheers. He referred to his great responsibilities, not the least of which was looking after the member for Taumarunui. (Laughter.) Mr. Okey was another responsibility. He referred to the sterling qualities of Mr. Hine, the member they had come to do honour to that night. He was worthy of all the honour they could do him. (Applause.) In his capacity as Leader of the Opposition he had a hard row to hoe. They did not mind hard work, because ■ ;Jhey were fighting for their country > and not for their personal interests, Lately he had felt the “serpent sting of, ingratitude.” He did not want to talk about that, except to say that he would never have such an experience again. The Government said they had suffered from misrepresentation, but it was the Reform Party who had suffered from this. The Government had not been misrepresented at all. They were not Tories—they were not Conservatives—they were true democrats. He wanted their assistance to govern this country in the interests of all classes. They stood for closer settlement and secured tenure. They wanted to open up the Crown lands, and to utilise the native lands that were not needed by the Maoris. They wanted to see the large estates subdivided, and they were not out only in the interests of the land owners. They made a difference between the man who made good and full use of his land and the man who did not. Their land

, policy was a truly liberal one, and they hoped to put it some day into effect. (Applause.) Another tiling was the charge that was laid against them on the 'grounds that they were out follow 'Wages. They were not. They wanted to see every man paid in proportio'n to the work he did, and the responsibility of his position. (Applause.) He referred in scathing terms to one of the men who had now assumed, the reins of office in the new Ministry. That gentleman was in fav'our 91 reducing the poll tax on Chinamen and Hooding the country with vol- . low labour. Their greatest trouble had been' the matter of roads. The members i of the Government party would tell them in the House, just when c hell on time was approaching, that tiinr hearts!bled for the poor settlers in the backblocks, and Parliament put the money on the Estimates. It never refused! money for such a purpose. But that .'money was never expended. Another . matter that needed attention was the Civil Service, which was corrupt With political influence. The members of the Civil Serv'ce should not bo appointed by political influence, which?. Was one of a lie biggest euises they had to deal with.,Tlie’r appointments And promotions should ir-st with the judgment of independent men—a Civil Service Board. Mr. -Mfttssoy then read, put the list'of mom hors ulio had been .chosen in the new Cabinet, many of thpSe present havng not yet heard who (had been selected. He then proceeded! to analyse that Executive. Take them .on the land question: Mr. MackenziF was a nominal freeholder; ho was at .one time an out-and-out freeholder, but he had changed with the timecl 1 ' Mr. Myers was a nominal freeholder. Mr. Russell was a leaseholder; So were all the other rr embers save (MV.. Buxton, who va# a nominal freeholder. He then referred to the locality of the Ministry, not that ho attached great importance to locality. There were four out of the eipjht men in the Cabinet who represented Canterbury, province. It amounted to this, that /.they required four Canterbury membqrs to do the work that has been done by Mr. Buddo, Canterburv s cue sole (Minister. He might mention the views: pf. the Ministry on 1 recti ado and protection. But he.w.mli leave it alonq.,,>He would say, however, that oh cVqry- conceivable question the Government was divided. The old maxim, stjll,held: “A house divided against itself cpnnot stand.” “From the party point of- view this present Government suits H me admirably. From a patriotic pointj.of. view it does not suit me. It is not 'a Government likely to do the right 1 Arid proper thing for the country.” H !He was speaking entirely free from ‘prejudice. However, it was not likely .to continue long in office. Ho thanked Them very heartily for the suppoW'they had accorded his party in t-iifi past, the party which he hail had the''honour to lead for some U.ijfdozeiFyears. (Applause.) “Tlfe.Guests ot the Evening” was proposed by Mr. A. Coxhead, who expressed'(his pleasure at seeing Mrs. Hine. among them for the first time. Mr. pox be ad said they knew it was the of Mr. Hine to bring Mrs. Hine into the district to see them. (Applause.) Now that he had accomplished’'this, he assured Mrs. Hine that iljey would be always pleased to see her-, .whenever she could favour them with a visit. When Mr. Hine, first camerinto the district he was to them almost a stranger. However, after he i 'had made his first: speech he made a good impression,. He answered ques•tions straight-out* and:when they went home they felt they - had a man to ire- ! .tljeni', who. hddi the; courage of 'lhsconvici’ons. (Applause.) His election had been a turning'point with many of them,-j. When Mr. Hine came back again He‘ gave them a lucid explanation pi jWlmt. Parliament had done, and ■how it did it. He did not think they had qny.tjhiug to regret that they had elected him. He hoped he would live long |pp.'represent them, and that Mr. Hine pould live long in their district. ,He'.cqjjpled, this toast, with the names ; qf’i Mr’'and Mrs. .Hine.’, ; , j j; Mr Efipe was greeted with a tremendpus ..pptburst of cheering. On behalf ,olf Mrs; Hjnq and, himself he thanked :them,.'from ■ the bottom of . his heart. He. thanked,them for the generous letoff ypu gave me at election time, in allowing me to address you at Whanga “lou supported me at Whangamomona, and; you knew well I wanted it there.,]”;, (Laughter.) With regard to politics) .the road in question was the essential one. Political stability at the present time was not evident;’ and affairs (jivere quivering in the balance. If they.’could not get a stable Government,they could not get the money to carry on their affairs. The money bags woultjUfie closed to, them, if this So-cialistic-party got into power. It was for them to say whether they would support such a Government. They stopfiHor stability, they did not attempt,'tp catch votes with claptrap. The first essential was security of tenure. (Applause.) If they could not accomplish ifilis. they had better give up the country altogether. With regard to the development of industries, he considered .they should be more encouraging than they were at present. The Governmqnt party was not entitled to the term;,j‘Liberal,” for they were guided by j expediency rather than the solid welfai;ft(pf the country. With regard to the expenditure of public moneys, Parliament could only vote the money; the Ministers had the rest in their hands. (,>He referred to the delay they experienced at the hands of those Ministers. They had sounded the death,finell of the party which had been in pqwer for the last -twenty years. (Applause.) Koburatahi had helped in tins. (Applause.) They had a new Government now. He would nob condemn them..; he would give them a fair trial. Theyf however, had a hard row to hoe, and misbelieved in the next few months that Mr. Massey and his party would occupy , the Treasury (Benches. There might be another election. If there was, pie.looked to them again for their loyal' support. (Applause.) He was not a funny man; he had been told that he tfiplv,' .politics too seriously. Mr. Okey had said he “brought him out.” It was not true. “You people brought me out and you put me in.” (Loud applause,) Mr. ( Faulkner then sang another song* ... Mi;., W. R. Cleland, in proposing the toast of “The Pioneers,” said that if anyone, should be honoured, it was I theso,!men, when they fully understood 'the hardships they had undergone).;, (Applause.) Mi;. C. Hallett, in responding to the toastjtfsaid that if there was any toast that should be honoured it was the toast,of the pioneers. If there had not heempioneers then New Zealand would not have existed to-day. The Government of the day bad not done their duty -by the pioneers. They were promised a macadamised road within five yaarsf; .They had not done it in seventeen! years' If the Government had fulfilled their promises their lot would have been much easier that day. He blamed the Government for the present nigh cost of living. They paid taxes for education, and did not receive the benefits that other people received. They,'iiad only half time schools. It was,hot doing justice to the pioneers of the. Dominion. The pioneers should have (,i|o taxation for the first six or seven years, to enable them to got dear,: Tbev bad gone fifty or sixty < miloslinto the backblocks. Mr. T. StockwcU said lie had not

very much to say after the previous speakers. They had been given a fair idea of the lot of the settler on the main road. What about the settler on the by-road P “Criminal neglect” was the terra which could lie applied to the Government’s attitude towards such settlers. Mr. R. G. Kennedy again favoured the audience with a song, Miss Wilson playing the accompaniment very sympathetically. The toast of “The Ladies” was proposed by Mr. C. K. Wilson, in the absence of Mr. Hugh McLeod, and very neatly indeed. Mr. George Murray replied. The toast of “The Press” was also proposed and duly responded to. in responding to the toast of “The Chairman,” proposed by Mr. Massey, Mr. Coxhead made the announcement that ho was leaving .the district for some five or six years. He took that opportunity of thanking them for all their past kindness to nim. (Applause) Mr. Hallett, on behalf of the settlers, replied that they would miss Mr Coxhead, and were very sorry indeed that he was leaving them. Dancing was then indulged in, many of the party remaininv at the hall till it was time to leave for the tunnel, where the engine and van was waitiuo*. , The journey back was completed before 9 a.m., Mr. Massey peing desirous of catching the mail train for Wellington.