THE PREMIER AND THE OPPOSITION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12204, 26 May 1905, Page 5

THE PREMIER AND THE OPPOSITION.

MR MASSEY IN REPLY. (special to "raE press.") AUCKLAND, May 25. As Mr Seddon's speech at Dunedin was largely devoted to a reply to tho criticisms of the Leader of the Opposition on the policy of the Government, a "Herald" reporter interviewed Mr Massey to-day, for the purpose of ascertaining what he might have to say regarding it. A.sked whether he intended to reply to Mr Seddon's speech, Mr Massey said yes, he would take an opportunity before the session of replying to those parts which were worthy of a reply, but there vrer& not many of them. Within a few days, however, Mr Jas. Allen would put the Opposition side of the question, and very likely from the same platform from which Mr Seddon spoke on Wednesday evening. "Would, you like to say anything more about the Publio Revenues Act, of which Mr Seddon seems to have made a great dealP" "Well, I want the public to understand this, tliat I stand by everything that I have said with regard to the Abt of 1900; that the '£40 steal' would not have been possible without it; that it was passed partly for that purpose; that it is possible for the Government, by the same Act, to transfer the whole amount of a vote from one purpose to another, even after Parliament had agreed to the expenditure for some particular purpose. I say further, that, by another section of the Act, the auditor's powers are very considerably curtailed, and I want to again impress upon the publio that, in spite of Mr Seddon's quibbling and misleading statements, the revenue of the Customs, the Railways and the Lands Departments, is not audited by the Audit Department, but simply by officers who are not responsible to Parliament, but only to the Minister in each case, and I am sure the shareholders of a company, for instance, would not be satisfied with any such arrangement." "Mr Seddon says that only eleven Opposition members voted against the committal of the Bill?"

"W*2ll, as a matter of fact, nineteen members voted against the Bill. As usual with these objectionable proposals, ib was rushed through at the end of the session. I happened to be absent on account of very serious illness in my family. Then Mr Jas. Allen was ill, Mr.Monk was HI, and I believe advantage was taken of these circumstances to get a measure through in connection with which there otherwise would probably have been difficulty." "What about the surplus P" "That there is a surplus I believe to be the case, but at the same time I want to say I believe the surplus to be partly the result of manipulation of the Publio Accounts. Items such as the proceeds of land sales are credited to th«s revenue account, and many other items in the way of maintenance are charged to capital, instead of to the Consolidated Fund. This is a matter, however, with which I shall deal on the platform." "In connection with the last loan, Mr Seddon seemed to say that you had found fault with the Postal Department for investing in the colony's stocks?" "Nothing of the sortl What we did find fault with was the Treasurer giving authority for £50.000 worth of the 1902 loan to be purchased out of 'unauthorised expenditure,' for the purpose of giving the investing public in London a lead, and I say when 6uch practices are indulged in by the Government of the colony it is not any wonder that our credit is so low." "Have you anything to say about Mr Seddon's statement with regard to the land question P" "I was rather amused at his saying that he had avoided taking a positive attitude on the question of giving the Crown tenants the freehold. I can remember him telling a deputation that "his back was to the door" to prevent tho settlers acquiring the freehold. I can remember him saying to another deputation that it might be difficult to prevent Crown tenants getting the right to convert leaseholds into freeholds. Last year in Wellington he 6aid the proposal was immoral; apparently he is not nearly so 'positive' as ho was, and when he finds a majority in faveur of freehold tenure he will be quite prepared to accept it. so long as he is allowed a perpetual lease of the Premiership." "What have you to say about Mr Seddon's discovery that your motive for endeavouring to secure for tho Crown tenants the right to acquire the freehold is that they shall be obliged to pay land tax?" "I think it would take more than Mr Seddon can say to make the holders of leases-in-perpetuity under the Crown, believe that I am in favour of increasing taxes as far as they are concerned. Tho'thing is too ridiculous." "Are there any other points worth referring to?" "I think not. The speech contains the usual amount of quibbling and misrepresentations, which I shall deal with at the proper time. But I should like to call your attention to the fact that the Premier has not attempted to meet the charges I made with regard to extravagant administration, and the use of publio money for party purnoses. Those charges remain unanswered, and I want that fact to be remembered."