THE REFORM PARTY

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 11 April 1912, Page 7

THE REFORM PARTY

MR. HARDY ENTERTAINED

(Per Press Association.)

METHVEN, April 10

Mr C. A. C. Hardy, ex-M.P. for Selwyn, was entertained at a complimentary banquet at Mcthven to-night, which was attended by about two hundred guests, many being ladies. Amongst those present were Messrs Massey (leader of the Opposition), Nosworthy, Lee and Smith, Ms.P., and many representative men of tho district. After the toast of "the Guests of the evening" had been honoured. Mr Massey, responding to that of "The Beform Party 1 " said that the day was an anniversary with him, as just 18 years ago he was elected member for Waitemata. It was just prior to the general election in 1906, when the party was in a, weak conditon, that he felt that it was part of his life's work to re-establish the party. Ho had worked to the end of making tho party one that would work for the good of the country and be a true Liberal party, not a, sham Liberal one, a democratic and progressive party. The positon of the party now was that there were 38 good men and true in the party who intended to do the best they could for the country to which they belonged and tho people they represented. They did not profess to be saints or angels, but he could say that the party's first thought was not for themselves, but for the people. He predicted that within the next few months there would not bo an electorate without a strong branch of the Reform Party established in it. Other toasts were honoured, and afterwards a tmblic meeting was held.