"A WAVE OF DISSATISFACTION."

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14521, 17 August 1911, Page 3

"A WAVE OF DISSATISFACTION."

OAMARU reform league. SELECT OPPOSITION CANDIDATE. In Oamaru there exists'a very useful institution in the. shape of a branch of the Political Reform League. On Tuesday night the League held a meeting for the purpose of selecting an Opposition candidate at next election. The Chairman. Sir Win. Waddell, iu asking Air E. P. Lee, of Oamaru, to stand against the Government candidate, said that a change in the Dominion's affairs was very desirable. There was a wave of growing dissatisfaction spreading over the whole country. Mere dissatisfaction, however, was not enough—they must do something to bring about a change. A few of them had recently invited Mr Massey to come down and address the Oamaru electors. The splendid recaption which the Leader of the Opposition met with down theiv, and the evident approval his denunciation of the methods of the present Government met with was an evidence of that dissatisfaction. The excessive borrowing and extravagant expenditure indulged in by the Ward Government incurred the" strong disapproval of thoughtful men. Sir Joseph "Ward had been well named the "Coronation Plunger.'' He (the Premier) had said that if they did not continue to borrow the'bottom would fall out of the country. That was an exceedingly sorry condition of affairs. What the country wanted was men in power, who would stand "For the cause that needs assistance 'Gainst tha wrong that -needs resistance, For the future in the distance And the good that they could do." —(Applause). Dr M'Adam, Mayor of Oamaru, presented a petition", signed br 800 electors, ashing Mr Lee to stand, and -

spoke warnily in support of tho proposal. Mr Leo agreed to stand, and cordially -thanked the electors of Oamaru i'or the compliment they had paid liim. In a- brief speech ho roundly condemned the. Government, and promised to expound his views in detail, at an early date.