DOMINION AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 13

DOMINION AFFAIRS.

THE PASSING DEPRESSION. RETRE-fCHME-TT TO CO-TTINTTE. ; DROP IN INCOME TAN. j (By Telegraph. —Special to "Star.") WHANGAREI, Friday. The Prime Minister addressed a crowded attendance in the Town Hall this evening. The Mayor, Mr. D. A. McLean, who presided, paid a tribute to Mr. Massey's Imperial work, and reputation as a statesman. Mr. Maesey was supported by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Hon. E. W. Alison, Mr. F. Mander, and Mr. Vernon Keed. Mr. Massey said that he was delighted with the progress made since his visit eight years ago. He. always looked upon the district with; affection, as he was first sent to Par-: liament by the people of the North. Auckland district. He was not out to> make conquests, as it was not necessary and for that reason he was not on a political mission. Of late years he bad not had much opportunity of visiting parts of Xew Zealand owing to the war and his four trips to England in five years. It was not his intention on this occasion to make a party speech, but he desired to comment on several matters necessary to bring the country tack to its pre-war condition. The present depression was only a passing phase—the country in the past had passed through far more strenuous times. He had faith in the country, and did not doubt its ability to surmount tbe present difficulties. j Mr. Massey at length reviewed the work of the past session, and stated that it was the most strenuous in all his experience of Parliamentary life. He would like to go a great deal further regarding Empire preference, said the Premier, referring to the recent tarifflegislation. The more preference each country in the Empire could give each other the better it would bo for tbe - Empire as a whole. When a country shut its doors to our goods it was necessary though to take the same 6tand in defence —it would be foolish not to do so. Mr. Massey dealt at considerable length with Imperial affairs in general, and also referred to the work "at the Washington Conference, which he believed did much good. -Tew. Zealand was most fortunate in having such an able representatiye as Sir John Salmond. With reference to naval matters the Prime Minister said that the British people must support the supremacy of their navy. As leader of the New. Zealand Government this found his full support. He was not of opinion that the time had yet arrived for a special New Zealand representative in England in connection with Empire affairs. He would not sufficiently be in touch with affairs in his own country. It was lie duty of the electors of the Dominion to send loyal representatives to Parliament to deal with Empire matters. He regretted to say that Ihe railways were behind the times, and to a certain extent out of touch with the public. (Loud applause.) This department suffered more than any other owing to tbe prevailing depression, as the. half-year's figures would show. The railways would •not be sold—he would not countenance that. They, wera built for tbe convenience of the country, and it was the duty of the Government "of the day to _cc; that they were used to the best advan- j tage. Improvement was possible and must take place. Means of communica-i tion, hoth in and out of the country, | must be improved, continued Mr. Mas-! eeywWho proceeded to deal in particular: with the roads. Something had to be; ''done to improve them. His recent visiv ' .to the East Coast had shown him that 1 settlement could not be proceeded with I without roads, even if the railways sys-j tern be improved. Owing to the increase in I motor traffic lorries would be used as| feeders in future, and thus would save I the necessity for branch lines. He was glad to say that the position regarding' coal was more satisfactory now than ever before. He was not in favour of importing coal, but necessity, demanded action. A monthly fast shipping service to England via the Panama Ganal was essential to carry, mails and passengers. He could not find fault with our present steamers, except their fate of speed. He much regretted to" say," however, that j there was no possibility, in sight just now of doing anything in this matter. There were mors possibilities of development in the North of Auckland district than in any* other part of the country. He was prepare- to admit' that it possessed' possibilities" that he did not believe existed on his' other visits years ago. The eyes of "the whole' Dominion would be turned towards the north. If tbe primary producers were not prosperous the" country at large could not be prosperous, and that was the position just now. ifc was necessary to find money for interest and the sinking fund of the public debt.' "Money had also to be found for pensions in the Dominion. Expenditure wis being" reduced, but that was necessarily a long and slow process. He was glad, to say, however, that half the money owing was owing to ourselves, and consequently that interest was circulating among people of the Dominion. That was very satisfactory indeed. He predicted that there would be a drop of two millions in the income tax next year. For that and other reductions in revenue it would be necessary that the retrenchment policy must continue. Our prosperity depended upon England and the purchasing power of the- British people, and for that reason he much regretted to read to-day of the prospect of industrial trouble at Home. It was the duty of the Government to decrease the cost of livinjr, of production and of government, while at the same time increasing the exports of the country. The number of settlers must he increased, and the Government was not going to allow good land to be idle. It was not in the interests of the State to do so. The Prime Minister believed that ultimately the returned soldiers' settlement policy, would"prove successful. He strenuously denied that the land had been bought at inflated prices—if realised now it would show a tremendous profit. He hoped a good deal would be done in the North by way of reclamation of the mangrove swamps. Commenting on housing matters he said that the Government would give assistance by lending the wherewithal for building homes. Every man should be his own landlord. (Applause.) "Mr. Holland calls his party the Labour party," continued the Prime Minister. "In Parliament we call it 'the Reds.' (Laughter.) I am not prepared to admit that they do represent Labour." Mr. Holland had said the Liberals could not take office without the assistance of Labour, who could turn' them out if so" disposed. He was not goring to talk

politics—be full of loving Icinidness (laughter), but they must know what the country was up again- 1. Later, if necessary, he would talk politics, and if the occasion demanded, hit hard. With no desire to refer to politics he could not help placing that fact before his audience without further comment. "The interests of the country are far beyond those of the party," concluded the Premier. "I would put them one thousand times before party interests. They do not matter to mc. Let us get" tbe country out of the present difficulties, and then if someone else thinks he is more able to take my job, then he is welcome to it." Mr. Massey received excellent hearing, hie remarks being frequently punctuated with applause, and r ceived a unanimous vote of thanks for his address.