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Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13420, 18 March 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

In conclusion Mr. Massey «aid thfc country had.* Gorcennnent which was' ready to. meet any,emergency, arid ,wot goinfe straight* ahead on sound Klines, for, the'vominion's'derelopment. If the op~ porlunity offered, the Govenrueftt would reduce the cost of living by^giFiiig attention to" the tariff. The method of making Parliamentary grants would he-dealt with next session. ' Belerriftg.to a" speech made lecently and published in a local paper, aim which he quoted from, Mr. Massey said the statement that he had recently opened -'\ railways was untrue. He had never opened one. railway, but r-ad recently turned the- first sod of ore line i ..ich had been survej^d 30 years ago. Referring to the rer>ark on the statesmanship of Sir Joseph SVard. Mr. Massey said he was glad to be' able to say that Sir Joseph Ward was "a very decent fellow." Touching on this question, he said that at aiecent meeting a member for a-1 district had been eulogising Sir Joseph \Vard, and one man had 'been interjecting- at the back, when the member asked what he-knew about the matter,- "Oh, nothing except what you told us* before last election, 1' wfts the reply. The gem of the whole thing was the assertion that Mr. Massey was the head, cf a family who had been left £165,000; This, no doubt, referred to his fatheri who passed away two years ago, and left £2000. He made no secret of the member who made these statements: it was the member for Nelson.

Mr Atmore: It is not true. (Cheers.) Mr Masaey said that he had quoted the paper correctly, and no correction had been made in it.

Mr Massey then resumed Ms seat amidst applause and cheers. "For .he's a jolly good fellow" was *.ung, to the accompaniment of a small volume of hooting.

It, had been noticeable that as the meeting wore on a ■ section of the audience had been becoming more and more demonstrative^ and questions were showered upon the Premier promiscuously during his remarks. These ho took good-h'urarniredly. Mr Massey fit iimes :<-bitk-~-d Ins interrupters, but wh^n h^ resume*] his bent the gathering could be described as fairly orderly. In the subsequent proceedings a condition of-affairs reigned which showed lack of restraint to a degree; almost unprecedented in Nelson.

Mr F. W. Fairey, carryinc a written motion in his hand, mounted the platform, and read in an atmosphere of comparative calm the opening phrases of the following motion, round which the factions in attendance contested in verbal strife till the end, and which was never submitted to the meeting for its approval or otherwise. The text was: "That this meeting of Nelson citizens expresses its hearty thanks to the Right Hon. W. F. Massey for his splendid address, and also expresses its utmost confidence in the Massey Administration." A storm of interjections arose, to be counterblasted by applause, which drowned the concluding words. Mr Fairey faced a restless audience, and commenced to speak to his motion. He progressed fer a space, which" he utilised m commending the Premier's ■speech for its straightforwardness. With that he had to be content.

Mr G. Bishop briefly seconded the motion.

Mr. A. Sheat next came on to the platform. As a farmer he congratulated the Premier on his utterances that evening, and on his action over the strike, and further, assured him of the support of the farming community at the coming general elections. Mr. Sheafs tenure of the platform then ceased to bo effective from a speaking point of view. The chairman intervened, and said that Mr. Sheat had every right to address the meeting in the -nay he did, a protest whifh enabled him to further congratulate the principal speaker of the evening. Mr. A. P. Allpprt ignored advice from the back of the hall, aod for as long as he could, supported the sentiments of Mr. Sheat. After some disturbance, in which there were appeals for Mr. Atmore to speak, Mr. Lock inquired if there was any amendment, and Mr. Harry Atmore, M.P. for Nelson, advanced to the front of the platform. He announced it was his intention to move as an amendment that all the words of the motion after "Mr. Massey," be deleted (leaving it one of thanks only). Mr. Atmore observed a lengthy silence while a large section of those present indicated strong disapproval of the proposal now put before them. On the chairman securing a modicum of silence, Mr. Atmore proceeded. He said, on their own showing that night, the Reformers were not justified in securing a vote of confidence. (Uproar.) As soon as he could be heard again Mr. Atmore denied that ho had said in a speech that Mr. Massey's father had left the sum of money referred to earlier in the meeting. It was a misstatement by the "Hastings Tribune." (Cries of: "Oh! Oh!" and "Apologise.") "Yes, the misstatement of one of the squatters' papers," shouted the member for Nelson in the teeth of the rising clamour, "I said it was Mr. Herries's father who left the money." This created a fresh outburst of noise, divided in its object. Mr. Atmore remained standing at the front of the platform; and the meeting was obviously getting out of hand. Mr. Lock, from the chair, uttered a warning note that the continuance of the disturbance would certainly result in his leaving the chair, and closing the meeting. Mr. W. W. Snodgrass, a member of the Reform League, stepped forward, and on a point of order, objected to Mr. Atmore making a speech. The audience in its divided self, vied in denunciation and approval of Mr. gnodgrass's view of the proceedings, and when the chairman ruled that Mr. Atmore was perfectly in. order, one section refused to become reconciled to his ruling. Mr. Lock uttered another warning that if the disturbance continued he would leave the chair, and close the meeting. Mr. Massey rose from the table with a smile, and met with a mixed reception. Mr.. Lock then rose, so at this stage Messrs. Atmore, Lock and Massey had the floor. ' , Air Atmore, in a period of semi-quiet said he was quite in order. He had only done the square thing, and had he not been attacked by the squatters paper— but further observations did not carry against the current of dissention. Proceeding, subsequently, Mr. Atmore said no Government was entitled to a vote of confidence which had done nothing to reduce the cost of living, attack monopolies, or land monopoly in Hawke's Bay. Mr. A.--T. Maginnity, president of the Reform League in Nelson, appeared on the platform, 'but was refused a hearing from the back, and greeted with cheers, and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" from the front. Mr Maginnity spoke to Mr. Atmore, but the latter waved him aside, and still remained on the front of the platform. After a great deal more uproar, tho amendment was seconded by somebody in the-audience.

Mr. Atmoro Began to refer to the personnel on the platform, and was hooted. The chairman refused to allow that matter to be discussed.

Mr Atmore asked if they were going to express confidence: Cries of "No, no." Mr. Atmoro then took the full count from the opponents of his amendment. : ;

The chairman said .he could ridt~declare any speaker out .oiS order- • ' ; Mr. Atmore was" again, counted out, this being followed by cheers for hitn* JETe 1 * mafeaged * to.»'sandwich ' in:-^ MDon*t forget that the Premier votedagainst the; old age pensions.*', , > , Hie chairman said thai, there appeared to be two strong parties* present, sncßhe would leave the cHair, if* the^ audience was not preparpisGfawi' accept] the -motion or the amendffißrtfc.*^ ' -r 1 The chairman then carrieQ&is threat info execution, declared theY meeting | closed, and left the chair. TEe motion i or amendment had not been- - put, sand i Mr. Atmore still faced the audience.. I The meeting' had terminated, but the crowd hung about, many of them shaking the Premier by the hand. When ] he was preparing to leave somebody indicated a side door, but Mr. Massey laughed heartily, and said that was not the way for him. He"left by the front door, and received many , congratulations on his way tof the front -exjt. -^ After the crowd had left the'building Mr. Atmore addressed a -portion, that remained in the roadway.