GREAT LIBERAL RALLY.

West Coast Times, 10 April 1912, Page 4

GREAT LIBERAL RALLY.

N. Z. TELEGRAMS.

MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY

STRATFORD. April 0,

There was s very large gathering in the Town hall last night at a social g: •on by the supporters of 31 r Joseph MrClaggage, who contested tho seat in the Government interest at last election. The Premier (3lr T. Mackenzie) and Hons- G. W. Russell and G. Lautenson w- re prosent. During the evening a purse of ovtv one hundred sovereigns was presented i., Mr McCluggage. All the 31iniste;s i csived a heartv welcome. THE MINISTER OF LABOR. Hon. G. Laun-nson said that the present was one of the youngest and of the most diitinctly New Zealand Ministries the country ever had. They were able to govern the country in the interests'of the men and wegnan in the Smutty. He hoped to again visit f-Oat-f«*d *t no distant date and would mil With th» Opposition Party’s charge* seriatim and would invite Mr Hino or the best man they had to come along and he would defy him to refute a single statement he (.Mr Laurenson) would make. The Opposition had caught them napping and captured a few seats at last election. He guaranty J that they would not do so again. He decried the campaign of calumny to which the Government had been subjected. MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

Hon G. W. Russell said that he was not s stranger to Taranaki having resided in New Plymouth tmreyeix years ago. He referred i,i the remarkable progress of ths province as evidenced 1 y thr exports and brought about largely by a policy of catting up land into Rorall holdings. Taranaki had done itself honour in electing the Hon Thus. Mackenzie as one of its members.

Referring to the political situation, Mr Russell said that when the noil eWtion earae round, whether it be in three months or three years, there would bo better organisation on the l iberal side. The speaker paid*a high tribute to Sir Joseph Ward whom he said the country could not afford to allow permanently to stand aside from tho highest offices of the State. There was a revulsion of feeling already. It was evident on every hand that the tide of calumny and slander was being beaten back and that the people recognised that the men to be trusted with tho administration were the loaders of the Liberal Party. 3lr Massey had spoken slightingly of the Liberal Ministry, but what public position had 3fr Massey ever held to qualify him for administrative work. No member of the present Cabinet was a single taxer or land nationaliser as had been asserted. Mr Massey had attempted to unfairly place the position with regard to leasehold and freeholds. He felt sure that at next election the people would say “The Liberal Ministry has dene its work well.” He hoped Stratford would join in by sending a Liberal member to represent the seat again. THE PREMIER.

The Premier, who was received with musical honors, said they had been termed a “stop gap” Ministry, but they were at any rate a party against whom nothing could be honestly said. They were a clean party. The statements of corruption and Tammanyism against him were false and unfounded. Mr Mackenzie went on to deal scathingly with the reform party’s recent platform utterances at Stratford. Surely it should be the Reform Party’s merits and not the Governments demerits which should be that party's recommendation, if any, to the people. With regard to land the Government wanted to deal with territory rather than tenures at this time. The pwfsent Government was going into this question whole heartcdly. THE HINE CHARGES.

Referring to the Hine charges Mr Mackenzie maintained that Mr Him; had proved nothing and that he ought not to occupy his position to-day. Speaking of the session just ended, the Premier referred to the failure of Mr Massey to give a pair for Mr Wilford and said it was not “playing the game-” If Mr Herries, who was now absent owing to ill-health was not in his place next session, he would himself pair with him if no other member did so. It was not true, as Mr Massev had said, that one member of the Cabinet wanted U flotd the counter with yellow label. - , nor was it true that the last loans had been a failure. Mr Massey might think all fair in politics. A campaign of slander had' been directed against one man to drive him out. It had succeeded but it did not follow that Sir Massey could take his place. He did not believe the country wanted Mr Massey, though it had been misled. They wanted to get rid of all this slander and abuse and to be judged fairly on their merits and for what they did. Statements were being cunningly concocted hv certain Conservative newspapers to put the financial position falsely and damage the country's credit. At the recent Reform rally in Stratford, Mr Massey had said “was the country to be dominated by half a dozen men ’ but had not Mr Massey brought the I,abor members into Parliament himself and did he not claim their votes ? The present Government recognised the responsibility on its shoulders and would use every effort to do the right thing for the people and the 'TIAITDATORY RESOLUTION. The following resolution was carried unanimously amidst continued applause This meeting of Liberals heartily congratulates the Hon. T. Mackenzie‘cm his appointment as Premier and his choice of Ministers and trusts thev they will have a fair and impartial 'trial'in administrating the affairs of the dominicn and considers the best interests of the country will be fullv safeguarded by them.” | The Premier said they would never j regret passing that resolution. I