TOO MUCH FOR THEM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 64, 22 April 1914, Page 3

TOO MUCH FOR THEM.

PREMIER IN GOOD FORM. (Sun Special.) WHANGAREI, April 21. The Prime Minister is receiving a very cordial welcome to various parts of- the North Auckland district. To-night he addressed a large gathering in the Whangarei Town Hall. *' The Prime Minister dealt more particularly with the past actions of the Government, and scored particularly in repartee against one or two antagonistic members of the audience. These attempted to force Mr Massey into answering questions, but the chairman (Mayor Steadman) ruled that it was not the practice for visiting Ministers to be. interrogated. "Are you afraid to face the music?" sneeringly asked a prominent interjector.

"No," came ther fighting reply from the Premier. "I am not afraid to face half a dozen like the gentleman who asks the question." "(Cheers).

Several similar brushes ended with honours to the Premier.

In referring to the stonewall tactics of the Opposition, Mr Massey observed: 11 There is no harm in my stating now that it was my intention, if the obstruction continued, to go to his Excellency the Governor and ask for a dissolution on the grounds that we were unable to effectively carry on the business of the country while we had a working majority; but they got to hear of it, and the Opposition died after they had been talking unceasingly for 70 hours.

,A Voice: "They have been good men, Mr Massey."

The Premier: "I don't believe there was ever such drivel talked outside of a mental hospital." (Laughter and applause). Another voice: "The Opposition did not die.''

The Premier: ."It is as dead to-day as Julius Caesar." (Renewed laughter). One interesting made by Mr Massey was that he intended to have legislation placed on the Statute Book which would make it practically impossible for Asiatics to come to New Zealand. Press Association. WHANGAKEI, April 21. Mr Massey addressed a crowdod meeting at the Town Hall this evening, and was received with much enthusiasm. He referred to last session's work, which, he said, was a record in every way, and had dealt with much business which would work out for the benefit of the country.

After dwelling on the financial position which his Government was faced with upon taking office, Mr Massey said that when the Government last year/asked for four millions and a-half the extraordinary position was that it got offers to the extent of twenty millions., (Cheers.) He contrasted this with the loans that South Australia and other countries raised this year, to show that New Zealand's credit stood at the time of its last loan better than that of South Africa, South Australia, and Canada. The speaker's references to this and to the increased deposits in the Government Savings Bank were received with loud applause. Mr Massey then stated what had been done in the matter of freehold and land settlement, and said that under the freehold system he had settled many thousands of people. So convinced was he of the necessity of roa'tiing backblocks that he proposed to ask his colleagues' assent to a special loan being raised for roading purposes. (Cheers.) His Government had come to the conclusion that 'everything should be done for the settlers in the out-dis-tricts. It was his policy to help the man who was endeavouring to help himself. The speaker mentioned what had been done towards assisting- the fruitgrowing - industry, and predicted* that the industry would soon be as im- J portant to the country as the dairying j industry was now. He upheld the Civil Service Board, and said the expectations of certain people regarding wholesale dismissals had been falsified. There had been no dismissals, and.the Public Service. was to-day in a better position that it had ever been. Dealing with the Second Ballot Act, Mr Massey explained the objections to it. The Act, he said, was brought into existence for party purposes, and even in that respect it had been a failure. All the bitterness of the election was centred in the week bet;ween the first and second election:--, and he determined to abolish it. The stonewall was set up, but was quelled when the Opposition got to know that lie intended to ask the Governor for a dissolution, which they did not want. As to what was going to be put in its place, England and tlie Commonwealth had failed to find a solution, and he was going to continue the present system until something better could be devised.

The .speaker dealt at length with the pension system, and pointed to the way i?i which it had been 'improved as regards old soldiers, the reduction of age for women, and provision for wido\ys or their children in case of the deatli of a pensioner. As to school teachers, the Government had done something, but intended to do still moi'e. The wages of the police had been increased by 7/- per week. The Government was not in for a skinflint policy, but 'wanted the very best men and women in the Public Service, and was going to pay them adequately. The position of the Legislative Council, said Mr Massey, had become a perfect- scandal in this country, and the Bill which was introduced to reform tli'e Council, and was laid aside, would be again introduced without alteration in principle, and, he believed, would be passed. He defended the Government's attitude in connection with the strike, and said it would, under similar circumstances, do the same thing to-morrow. The next election would be governed to'a large extent by this labour question, and there would be the "Red Feds.'' and their sympathisers and those who wished to oust (lie present Government on one side, and on the other those who believed that the Government had done the right thing, and he believed these would be the larger section. The Prime Minister concluded by saying that his Government had laid the foundation of: a policy which would last for many years. There would be a number of reform measures passed next session, and the Government would be prepared to go 0n,., with its reform policy, with which he believed the great majority of the people were in accord. (Cheers). Mr Carruth moved a vote of thanks to Mr Massey, and confidence in the Government. The motion was carried amid applause.