MR. MASSEY'S NEW ROLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 26 March 1923, Page 8

MR. MASSEY'S NEW ROLE.

JEKYLI. AND HYDE.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star."! TAURANGA, Saturday. The Prime Minister appears to 'be a sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: if one may judge by his acts as opposed to his utterances. His acts include the actual selling of Government stock at 5\ per (cut at Tauranga Post Office. The stock, which was issued in payment for land, bears Mr. Massey's own signature. The Premier on the other hand is at the same time rushing about the Tauranga electorate shouting out "Frenzied Finance" because Sir Joseph Ward mildly suggested the issuing of the same kind of Government siock as payment to contractors for railway construction. Mr. Massey evidently imagines that if he makes a big enough noise he will be accepted nt his face value, but it is a value much too barefaced to Ik- effective. The general view is that Mr. Massey. as be lias done in other cases, lias managed to do about as much harm as he has done good for the cause of his own candidature. As a statesman and financier he has not struck the electors on this occasion as' being particularly bright. On the other hand he can be very funny at times, and no matter what a man's politics one can always enjoy the relaxation of a good sideshow, whether in the open air at Tauranga or at the opening of an A. and P. gathering.