THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3424, 16 January 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

WAIRAU ELECTION.

VALIDITY TO BE TESTED

[per press association.f] BLENHEIM, Jan. 15. A petition was lodged to-day fgainst R. McCallum’s election for Wairau.

REMARKS BY MR MASSEY.

REFORM PARTY PROSPECTS

Discussing future prospects at Epsom the other evening, Mr Massey said that he was convinced that the Reform party would gain larger individual and aggregate majorities if it was forced to appeal to the country again within 12 months. The election had involved much hard work, but the fight had been a good one, and though well-tried soldiers liad fallen in tlie battle be hoped tlieir absence from Parliament was only temporary. (Hear, hear.) When the people had heard the truth, they knew it, as was shown by the large number of Reform candidates elected. However dead the Opposition might be there was no doubt that the Reform party was very much alive. With increased numbers, the party must assume greater responsibility; it must give effect to reforms which it had advocated for many years, and which were urgently needed. THE FRIENDS OF THE WORKERS. A favorite slander against the party was that if the Opposition was allowed to assume the Government, it would immediately reduce the wages of the workers, especially of those in the State employ. No viler slander had ever been uttered, but very soon the party would have an opoprtunity of showing that the workers and the wage-earners had no better friends than the men who had sat in opposition for so many years. He hoped that in the near future it would be able to take measures that would reduce the cost of living and give the workers access to happiness, which had never been given to the people by those who called themselves the Liberal party. (Applause.) READY FOR ANYTHING. “The Reform party is ready for anything that may come along,” said Mr Massey amidst anplause. “We are ready to do our duty even if we are called upon to face another general election. The majority of the people believe that the watchword of the Reform party is ‘Honesty and Progress’ ; within the next few months, all the people will have subscribed to that opinion.” (Applause.)