POLITICAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14463, 30 November 1914, Page 6

POLITICAL.

■' * - ; m MR. MASSEY AT WAVERLEY. ' (Prom Our Special Reporter.) ~ . , Mr Massey has come and gone, and his supporters ; are apparently satished wth his speeches-. His reception at Hawera was a mixed one, and at Waverley was also subjected to a- good many inte - ieotions. On the motion of, confidence at Wavetley on Saturday night tne Hoes wore, strongly "in evidence. The ayes, however, carried the resolution. jVir Massey devoted a large portion of luS speech to an assiduous attempt to wave tne patriotic .flag, and thus blind the electors as .to real political issues. He spoke of the fine ' patriotic, thing that the Massey Government had done- in sending an expeditionary-force to help the Mother Country. Someone interjected “Sir Joseph Ward would have done the same.” “I am not saying that lie Wouldn’t ; this, is ,npt a -party matter,” retorted Mr Massey. “Then why bring it ditto a party political speech,’'’ said the interjector. - , This - did not- disturb Mr Massey, who went on to . 'claim-that, he was responsible for the present -Territorial system. ■- He was reminded by someone in the audience that the system was introduced by. the Liberals and brought into ■' existence before the Massey party came into , power. , _ ..The Premier then shuffled, and the chairman arose and called the interjeotor to order. Mr Massey quoied a sentence without con-, text from- a speech obviously directed against continental conscription and en-' ■doavoured to prove from it that Sir Joseph’ was against the 'iiresent Territorial system. . ■ .'' ' The Premier indignantly denied the imputations concerning the'ostrich farm and the statement ’that he used his official < position to secure money for the owners. .. “What sort of ,a Cabinet will you have if the Ward party gets in;” said Mr Massey. ‘‘You will perhaps-have -a-Min-istry composed of a brewer,- a prohibitionist, a socialist, a free trader, and a pro-, i tectionist—a Ministry ■ with as many ; colours as Joseph’s coat.” “What about the leaseholder you ’nave in your freehold Cabinet,” shouted one of the audience. Mr . Massey was taken aback at this' reference to the Rainbowlined Minister for Marine and said something about having’ converted him,' a statement which was greeted with ironical laughter. ’ , . The Prime Minister condemned the Red Feds and was reminded that he supported them last time. He claimed credit for the splendid prosperity that the Dominion is enjoying. He said that the Government was the friend of the Working man, that they had raised the salaries of the - teachers, the police, and the railway employees. He went back to the subject of a local navy, which he said would be part of a national navy. No questions were allowed at the end of the speech. At the conclusion of the, meeting an old gentleman got up to,propose a motion of confidence in Mr Massey and his party. He was nervovis and the document he was reading appeared to be too complicated. He stammered, stopped, lost his place and went hack over it. For fully ten minutes he negotiated the difficult and voluminous document, while some a sepulchral voice put in ah occasional ‘amen.” “Get Bill to help you,” cried one. “Sing .it,’ advised another, amidst much laughter. The proposer finally'sat, down in confusion without finishing his task. ‘ The meeting ended with cheera for Sir Joseph Ward and counter cheers for the Prime Minister. NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE FOB MR. PEARCE AT WAITOTARA. The ways of Reform arc hard to understand. After reading the glowing account of Mr Pearce’s, Waitotara meeting one ’would 'naturally think that the electors of that portion of the Patea electorate were’unanimously in favour of Mr Pearce’s candidature. At least that was the only impression one could get from the account published 1 in the Reform papers. "The true position is that a vote of confidence in. Mr Pearce received no favour from the audience; and a show of hands on at noconfidehcC motiondirected agaihat: Mr Pearce was practically carried unanimously, only . about three' hands being raised as-ainst the motion, Mr Pearce thereupon told the ahdience that he Was not a bit surprised as he didn’t expect much support at Waitotara and hadn’t .many Waltdtara votes in his favour at last election, but that he had won in spite of that fact. : Mr Nelson Hughes, chairman of Mr Pearce’s ’meeting at Kai lwi, writes us to the effect that the statement published in our edtiimns that a vote of thanks and confidence was declared lost by 20 to 3 was incorrect. ■ Mr Hughes says that' “the motion was put first, and the amend-, ment of no-confidence followed, and on a show of hands it was declared that the aye's have it.” * MR MORRISON AT OPAKU. Mr Morrison, the 1 Liberal candidate for Patea, addressed a very enthusiastic meet-: ing at Dpaku on Friday night. He received,- in ,co'mmdn T : wil’d 'aiUHiS l WP§tmgs. a very cordial reception, and at the conclusion of bis two hours’ address was accorded; on the motion-of ■Mr Hurley, a unanimous vote of thanks; and confidence. Mr Morrison speaks at- Whenuakura to- ; night (Monday), and at Waitotara to-mor-row night. Mr Veitch will speak- to-morrow (Tuesday) evening, at 8 o’clock, on Durio Hill, at-the top of the steps, near the flag- . staff.