THEN AND NOW.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 139, 13 June 1911, Page 5

THEN AND NOW.

rUCONSISTEIfCV OF THE OPPOSITION. STIRRING SPEECH BY NATIVE MINISTER. ( (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLING'ON. this day. The Hon. Jas. Carn-lt (Acting-Pre-mier), accompanied by :"ne Hon. A. T. Ngata, was present at .. Liberal social gathering in Carterton ' Ist night, ami had a hearty welcome. B--'h Ministers delivered short addresses, principally dealing with Opposition criticism. Mr. Carroll claimed that the p01 : ..-y of the Liberal party had been consistent md progressive for 20 years during which they had been in power. The Opposite 0. had gone through many phases. First it was the great Conservative party, then the National Association, and the Reform party, and now the only true Liberal party. The Opposition Kid termed Mr. Ballance and his party tb<; '-.seven devils of Socialism": now they -..id Mr Ballance was a noble and self-reli-.it man who did great good. The Oppositi---i had said Mr. Seddon was galloping i-> a deficit and ruining the country; now they said Mr. Seddon was a great, strong man. whose work had benefited New Zealand. The Opposition had said tTiat the Ward Government was hypocritical and dishonest; a future Opposition would probably refer to them as "the noble men of 1911." Ths Opposition had been opposed to all Liberal measures, but now they claimed credit for initiating some, approved of other-, and would not repeal any. Mr. Massey had said that the Native Minister was doing no good, and should be removed as an impediment to progress.

Mr. Carroll claimed to have consolidated the native land laws, introduced the board system, put native lands on the same footing as Crown lands, and secured a proper valuation, settled 1,700.000 acres of native land in five or six yeans, settled last year 344,000 acres— acres by sale and 170,000 acres by lease; yet Mr. Massey said he was doing nothing. Mr. Carroll referred to Taumarunui and Te Kuiti on the Marc Trunk railway, las once native lands, now- municipalities. I Lately a pastoral show was held, at ; which hundreds of people were present, j where only ten persons could be fcrand 1 three years ago. Was that not progress? Mr. Massey knew nothing about native lands; he only indulged in vague generalities. The Minister challenged Mr. Massey to say where the six million acres of waste native lands were that he was so fond of talking about; it was absolutely untrue that any such area of land existed. The Government was not a class Government, but legislated for all—for small farmers, for the workers, and for the whole people. There was no need to pull down the Liberal banner now. All should strengthen it. and do their share to help on the progress of the country they all loved. Mr. Ngata urged young electors to beware, of "wolves in sheep's clothing." The Opposition were putting on Liberal clothes and begging to be put in power. J They would not repeal any legislation. | but only wanted to administer "it. The Liberals had not changed. The social was a great success, a large number being present.