THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13103, 30 April 1908, Page 7

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

INTERVIEWED AT WELLINGTON

THE FIGHT AGAINST SOCIALISM

(STECIAI TO " THE TRESS.") WELLINGTON. April 29. In an interview to-day Mr W. F. Massoy, Loader of tho Opposition, stated that he had every reason to be satisfied with his mission in the South Island.

"It has boon stated," I ventured, "that your business in I>unedin was to arrange for a coalition or a coalescence between your party and the Government for the purpose of curtailing the Socialistic tendencies of the Radicals "

"Absolute nonsense," replied Mr Massey. "I have already given that statement a flat denial, and I don't mind saying that my business on the present trip is to moot the Opposition n>einbers and some of the iprominont supporters of the party in the different centres. But lot mc take the opportunity of suggesting to those people who are alarmed at. the spread ot Socialism, that tho proper thing for them to do is to assist the party that has stood up, and -with a certain amount of success, against Socialistic proposals in Parliament, and by Socialistic proposals I mean the nationalisation of the land and the nationalisation of the industries of tho Dominion. I believe the question ot Socialism will bo very prominently before the electors at the coming elections, and properly so, because 1 think the sooner the position is faced the better. Biit I would ask the electors to think for themselves which party is the more worthy of sxrpport—the Government party, of which a large majority are by their votes prepared to accept Socialism, or the Opposition pairiy, wh&sh, while anxipuß to give every man a chance to improvo his position, is convinced that tho destruction, or even, discouragement of private enterprise and private industry, would be tho very worst thing that could possibly, happen to this or any other country. On this question tho electors should see that there will bo uo running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, but that every candidate will b© called upon to make his attitude perfectly clear." "Do you wi?h to say anything about the financial position?"

"Only that -wo , arc all pleased that the financial position, as disclosed by the Colonial Treasurer tho other evening, i> art present so satisfactory. It Ls well, hoVever, to remember that, in consequence of the preferential x part of the Tariff Acta only coming into operation after tbo 3Xst. <if a -very largo siim, ttos collected by. -wray ot revenue prior to tho end of last financial year that -would otherwise have stood over until this year. And hero I may point out that I think a mistake is being made in borrowing in New Zealand. The recruit of this local borrowing on the part of tbo Governir.enfc during the last few years is that tho Government itself has come into competition with those who requiro borrowed capital. Thus the rate of interest has been increased to tie farmere and merchants and manufacturers of New Zealand. Neither do I agree with the policy of borrowing in Australia. The Governments of the Australian States are able to go to London for the money they require, and New Zealand should: be in at least as good a position to do likewise. 1 notice that the Colonial Treasurer, in his concluding remarks the other evening, was not' nearly so optimistic as usual, and even hinted at a possible incroaso of taxation. Well, taxation is already pressing very heavily on the people of this country, and I am sure that with careful administration there should bo no nocessity for anything of tho sort. Tho present taxation, when one considers the increased cost ot living, is quite a sufficient burden for tho people to bear. It would be far better to curtail of the unnecessary expenditure that goes on than to suggest oven the possibility of increased taxation."

Asked if he had any other point on which ho would like to touch, Mr Maseey said ho found in his travels through tho v Dominion that tho two political questions uppermost in the minds of the great majority of the electors were the question of the growing tendency to Socialism, and the administration of the Arbitration Act. Hβ had given liis views in regard to the former. With regard to the latter, the general opinion—and it was one in which he shared—was that the Act had practically broken down, and that if it was to remain on the statute book, or to ba of any value in the future, it must bo amended, so as te make it more elastio and less irksome te both, employers and workers. Whether the Government would insist <upon making tho necessary amendments next session or not, ho was, of course, to say.