OPPOSITION SPEECH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 101, 29 April 1910, Page 7

OPPOSITION SPEECH.

ME. MASSEY AT HOK-TTKA,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

HOK-T-KA, Thursday.

Mr. W. F. Massey, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, prior to his address in the Princess' Theatre this evening, was played to the building by the local band There was a very largo audience, and Mr. Massey, who was introduced by the Mayor (Mr. EL L. Mitchel), was accorded a very hearty reception. After thanking the people for their welcome, he referred to the work of last session, and pointed out that the business of Parliament was postponed from June until October to suit the convenience of the Prime Minister, who desired to represent the Dominion at the Imperial Conference. He expressed the opinion that while it may have been right for the Prime Minister to go to the conference, it was wrong for the business of the country to stand over until his return, and in consequence ot the late period at which the House met an attempt was made to put through in five or six weeks business which should have occupied at least 10 or 12 weeks. The result was friction, waste of time, and work very badly dealt with.

One of the most interesting matters of last session was almost the last. Thai was the trouble which arose over the salary of the financial adviser. Mr. Massey related what happened in this connection, and explained that the Opposition, in setting up the stonewall they did, were fighting for a great principle, which was whether the Government should be represented by its direct representatives or by the members of the executive only. The Prime Minister should have accepted the decision of Parliament when it was given, and not have attempted in a thin House, when a large number of the members had left for their homes, to reverse its verdict. A nominal victory rested with the Government, but some victories were worse than defeats, and this was one of them. He though* that the stand which was made would prevent any such improper practices being attempted in the future. Mr. Massey dealt at some length with the land and the native land questions.

Dealing with the Land Bill of last session, he said that on the land question the Govern—lent had neither policy nor opinions, and were qnite prepared to go leasehold or freehold, according to which side ha_ the majority of votes. What the country wanted was a forward and progressive land policy, giving security of land tenure and facilities to intending settlers.

On the native land question, Mr. Massey was in favour of assisting and encouraging the natives to occupy all the land which they required, and if they then persisted in keeping tnelr lands unoccupied, and improving in value by public works expenditure and the industry of European settlers, it should only be on the same terms and conditions as applied to I—rope—as.

I Mr. Massey thought- the time had come to do away with special 'Maori repreI sentation; in fact, the natives and Europeans should be as nearly as possible in the same position before the law. H? referred at length to the serious in* creases in taxation and railway fares which were provide—* for 'last session, amour-ting probably to £500,000 per : annum. He thought that instead of looking for new methods of taxation, the Government should do everything possible to reduce the cost of living and the burden upon the people generally. With regard to the financial position, he said that the Colonial Treasurer would probably in a few days disclose a surplus, but it would have to be remembered that on this occasion the surplus would be for two years, and not for one, as nothing had been transferred to public works in 1908, and the surplus for that year was carried forward to 1909. Reform was a matter of urgency in connection with the country's finances.

j With regard to retrenchment there had been a great deal of talk, but he thought that hardship had been __icted : in some j cases. So far as the actual saving was concerned, it would be found to be a case of much cry and little wool.

R_ferring to the trouble in connection with the much-discussed question of water power, Mr. Massey said that wherever private enterprise was willing to develop the resources of the country it should have the opportunity so long as no monopoly was intended, but the Govern—__t were the greatest monopolists of all. The jealousies and prejudices of a M_aster should not be allowed to interfere with the public estate.

Mr. Massey dealt with the necessity-for the amending of the Crown Suits Act, so as to allow persons who had suffered injury from any Department of the State to take their cases into Court in the ordinary way.

' His party did not deal with defence matters from a party point of view, but -while he supported the Act of last year he thought before they went any further either in the way of expenditure or increasing the age for compulsory training that they should have some experience of its working.

One of the matters that Parliament would have to deal with in the future was the attempt at usurpation by Ministers of the rights and privileges which properly belonged to the representatives of the people. If Parliament would only assert its el± there need be no all-night sittings. There would be less extravagance, but better legislation and better ad_iiilistration. He hoped the Local Government Bill would be proceeded with next session, as he was anxious to see something more satisfactory in the way of finance than the system of Parliamentary agents, which the Government seemed determined to adhere to. He thought a mistake had been made in repealing that part of the Local Bodies loans Act which allowed county councils to borrow for a term of 41 years, at 3J per cent, the latter paying the principal and interest. He asked his audience to look back to the period since the Ward Govern—»nt had taken up the reins of office, and to remember that during that period there had been a greater increase in indebtedness, a greater increase of expenditure, and a greater increase of taxation. He also —cpressed the opinion that more people had left the country during the last three years than in any similar period since 1890. People were leaving the country because it was cursed with a bad Govern—lent.

Mr. Massey concluded his address by stating that the electors now understood the aims and objects of his party m_—l better than formerly. The most progressive men were those who were realty I___raJl, and were among the members —E**~ 3b—-_* he- do_o their

duly to their consfit-ents and to the country, and he hoped they would be rewarded by an increase of members at the next opportunity. A vote of taanks was passed to Mr. Massey for his able and statesmanlike expressions, and for the loyal and valuable services rendered by bin a for many years past in the Parliament of New Zealand.

The meeting concluded with acclamation.