COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7958, 8 February 1906, Page 5

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET.

MR LEWIS SPEAKS PLAINLY. ASHBURTON, February 7. Last night a complimentary banquet was tendered to Mr Johu Studholme, who unsuccessfully contested the Aahburton seat in the Opposition interest at the general election. There was a large attendance, amwng those present being Messrs Heaton Rhodes, C. Lewis, and C. A. Hardy, M.'stl.R., and C. Y. Harper, Chairman of the County Council. The Chairman, Mr C. W. Purnell, referring to an address by the Premier at Aahburton on the eve of the election, contended that if Mr Seddon difl not break the letter lie certainly broke the spirit of the recent Act dealing with interference with voters, and, in the speaker's opinion, the matter deserved atten tion. Replying to the toast of "The Opposition," Mr Lewis, M.H.R., said Mr fcjeddon had won,'a universal victory at the Jasfi election, the cause of the Government's victory being the sea of corruption which had overwhelmed the country. The Premier had adopted the attitude of Giver of All Good, and the colony had bowed its neck to him. It was lamentable to .see the people humbly crawling to the feet of the Minister and' subordinating the principle for the main chance. Instead of being a true democracy, the country was governed by Ministers for their own ends.