POLITICAL SPEECHES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 131, 4 June 1901, Page 3

POLITICAL SPEECHES.

MR W. F. MASSEY AT OTAHUHU.

Last evening Mr W. F. Massey, member for the Franklin electorate, addressed a meeting of his constituents in the Otahuhu Public Hall. Mr A. Sturges presided. Mr Massey was received with applause. He said that interest in politics had been diverted lately to various events of importance. He referred to the approaching visit of the Duke of York, am l said there was no doubt a very loyal and enthusiastic welcome would jjg given to the Auckland people to the heir to the Throne. The speaker then referred to the question of federation, and said there was no prospect of them joining* the Federation in the near future, but the question was one which would have to he thoroughly discussed. In regard to the Federation Commission he did not think the advocates in favour of federation were sufficieatly well represented on the Commission, and he also thought the farmjno* interests were not represented as W ell as they should have been, considering the importance of the agricultural interests. He spoke of the advantages in trade for produce which ftew Zealand would gain by joining the Commonwealth of Australia, which irould be practically closed to New Zealand if a big protective tariff were put on in Sydney and other Australian ports. But the Australian federation was not the only federation now being consummated. There were the Cook Islands, which would be shortly joined to this colony. It might be their duty to take up the white man's burden as far as the Cook Islands were concerned, but he would very strongly object to including Fiji, as was proposed by the New Zealand Parliament. There were about, 100,000 Fijians, 14,000 coolies, amd about 4000 Europeans in the group, and considering this disparity in the population he didn't see how any other Government than a Crown colony would suit Fiji. If New Zealand took Fiji into the boundaries of the colony and admitted her population to a voice in the government of the federated islands they would have sixteen native members in Parliament, whicli he considered very undesirable. There were several matters in connection with the demands of the Fiji people which needed very serious and careful consideration. He did not, see that there would be any advantage to New Zealand in taking Fiji under her wing. On the other hand, there were considerable financial and other difficulties in the way. The coolie labour problem was . a very serious one which New Zealand had better avoid. The Premier wanted New Zealand to receive these Fijians on equal terms, but he considered it was very undesirable. He was willing to go into the Australian federation when the time came, but he would never consent to such a piebald federation as that with Fiji. (Applause.)

Mr. Massey next referred" J to the agitation last session for the speedy completion of the Main Trunk railway, and said more progress in this direction was made last session than in any previous year. He sketched tbe back history of the Main Trunk railway finances, in regard to the million loan, and said that the allocation of funds last session for the various railways of the colony was most unfair, for the Main Trunk line suffered at the expense of far less important Southern lines, such as the line across the Southern Alps. The Helensville-North line, for instance, had far stronger claims than the Midland railway, but it was only voted £15,000, while no less than £100,000 was devoted to the Midland line, which traversed absolutely barren country. There were some most important new railway lines needed in the Auckland province, but they were not likely to get their rights ■while the present Government were in office. Mr. Massey proceeded to show how Auckland anil tbe North snffered at the hands of the Government, which consisted of six Southern members and only two Northern members. If there wa,s one portfolio more than another that ought to go to the North Island, it was that of the Lands; but this portfolio, and also that of Public Works, were held by Southern men. Referring to the Upper House, Mr. Massey showed how in the Legislature the great majority of the Upper House were from the South Island, and quoted tbe. protest of the "Star" the other evening against the undue predominance of South Island men. Auckland and the North were thoroughly neglected in Cabinet and Upper Housa appointments. He quoted figures to show that in his opinion gross favouritism "was shown to Southern districts, and especially Westland, in the expenditure of public money in the colony. Speaking on colonial finance, Mr. Massey said his hearers had no doubt noticed that the Treasurer (Mr. Seddon) had announced that there was a surplus of £532,000. Considering that the expenditure was tery heavy during the last year, the fact that there was a balance showed that the receipts had kept up well. At the same time the surplus was £70,000 less than the preceding one, and it must be remembered that '£105,000 hadgheen carried forward from the previous year. Last year they were enabled to transfer £500,----000 to public works account; this year they would not be able to transfer such a large sum. Recently a loan had been floated in the colony of '£ 500,000 at 4 per cent. That interest was high when it was considered that there was nothing to prevent the debentures being held in London, and as the mortgage tax did not apply m the ease of Government loans, the 4 per cent, was better than 4_ per cent, invested by way of mortgageHe had no doubt that they would find when the House met that there had been very heavy borrowing from the tanks and the money departments of the Government, such as the savings banks. In the Treasurer's speech, he could not help noticing that the annual expenditure had increased £1,163,000, though on the other side the revenue had increased by £1,165,000. If there was only such a margin between the two increases last year, when there was such a demand for produce in South Africa, what would be the balance f when things settled down again? He thought it would be on the other side. They had entered on an era of extravagance and heavy expenditure in all directions; they were going too fast, as was proved by the Colonial Treasurer's statement that the expenditure of the colony had increased during the last few years by £1*163,000 per annum. The resources of the col-

ony bad expanded wonderfully during the last few years, and money had flowed into the country; but it was ridiculous for the Government to take the credit for the general prosperity. If, however, they had had a Government in office favourable to the North Island they would have had more attention devoted to this part of the colony, more lands opened up, more roads made, and consequently far greater benefits would have accrued to this part of New Zealand and to the Auckland district. After criticising the Public Revenues Act of last session and the famou*. £40 bonus, Mr Massey referred to the coming changes in representation in Parliament, ami said that after next session the North Island, under tho new representation system, wotdd have thirty-nine European members in Parliament, while thirty-seven would be the number sent to Parliament by tho South Island. He hoped when this came to pass the North Island would get its fair share of attention from the Legislature, which if had so long deserved but never obtained. (Applause.) The speaker, referring to the Customs tariff, contended that a thorough and fair revision of the tariff was very badly needed. There were many anomalies iv the tariff which should be set right. The Customs duties should be so arranged that they should not press too heavily On trade and industries, and there should be no duty at ail on the raw material.

Touching on the Lands for Settlement Act, Mr Massey said that every settler placed on the land under this Act cost on an average £980 per bead; while on some of the estates cut the cost per settler amounted to £2000 and £3000 per head. Taken as a whole, there might not be a loss on this system; but he questioned whether it was wise or prudent to go in for such an expensive system of land settlement: these experiments were very costly. While they had such strong demand for Crown lands iri this part of the colony they ought to devote less attention lo acquiring estates for settlement under this Act, and devote more attention to settling the lands which already belonged to the colony. (Applause.) On the subject of the 'Frisco mail service Mr Massey commented ou the exclusion of New Zealand-owned steamers from the service contract, and he thought the Australian and New Zealand Governments should join in asking the United States Government to allow Australian and New Zealand steamers to trade to-Ameri-can ports on the same terms that the United States steamers were allowed to trade to these colonies. The present shipping laws operated to the detriment of the colonies, and it would be the least America could do to concede to New Zealand and Australia a similar exemption to that which the United States Government had been forced some time ago to give to Canadian steamers on the lakes. (Applause.)

• On the motion of Mr W. S. Day a unanimous vote of thanks to Mr Massey for his past services ami of confidence in him as representative was passed by the meeting.