The Trial of Massey and Co.
Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 201, 9 December 1914, Page 4
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The Trial of Massey and Co.
"William Ferguson Massey, you and jour Cabinet stand charged with so administering tho affairs of this country that you havo brought more misery into the lives of the peoplo .during tho past three years than any other group has ever done in double that number of years. Wo charge your administration with the breaking-up of hundreds, aye, thousands, of hitherto happy homes in this country. AYe charge your administration with tho death of Evans of AVaihi. AA T e blame your administration for what happened at Huntly. AVo charge your administration with having jailed hundreds of 'ittlo boys, boys who ought to be devoting tho wholo of their timo to the learning of useful crafts and) so that this country may become a happier land for those who livo in it. AYe charge you with having turned this country over to a gang of explciting individuals who worked in eecrct and hired thugs during a timo when tho workers wero making a. lawful demand as to conditions under which they could sell their labour power. You and your administration are now to bo tried by a jury consisting of tho wholo of the adultpopulation of this dominion. AVo have listened to your plea for mercy. AA r e will tako into account all the goods acts that you say you havo done. AYe will consider your plea that if you aro given another chanco you will reform. AVo have carefully read the figures you have supplied to your supporters. AA'e warn you that wo cannot promise you much consideration for those figures, becauso thoy are unreliable. AYe adviso you to /o adjust your political affairs that you will be prepared for tho worst. When you appeared before the court on tho previous occasion, you also promised to reform. AA r e gave you a chance; wo doubted your ability to reform, but we gave you a chance. AYe believe in the law of "heredity," we know like breeds like. AVo admit we forgot for the moment
that your party was the direct descendants of the National Ass. We thought for a moment that an improved environment could overcome tha faults of heredity. A r o admit wo were wrong. 'An ass-can only reproduce its kind. However, wo feel sure that the jury will also take that fact iuto (consideration. AVo havo given you every chance o address the jury. AVo have allowed you £o travel on otvrj railways free of cliargo. AVo have supplied you with secretaries and with everything possible that you could; havo desired. You cannot claim that we have not given you a fair trial. Wo now lcavo you in tho hands of tho jury. Fellow citizens, what is your verdict? Guilty or Not Guilty?—THE VAG.
