THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14349, 8 May 1912, Page 9

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

THE PREMIER AXD MR MASSEY

t • (fress 'association telegrajj.) AUCKLAND, May 7. Referring to the Premier's speech at Balclutha, Mr Massey said that whit Mr Mackenzie did at Balclutha was to •;;ivo a quotation from an anonymous I letter, which ho said appeared in a I London financial journal, and ho did not even give tho namo cf the referred to- Thfl Prime Minister's reply, j added Mr Massey, was a miserable I quibblo and ho (Mr Massey) repeated j bis former reply, that any statement that any member of the Opposition had attempted to injure tho credit of tho country in any way was absolutely . contrary to fact. The knowledge that ' tho liro million loan had been float-ed !in London came to the House as a I surprise, and outside Cabinet not a j single member of Parliament had tho slightest idea of tho intention of thej Government to place such a largo loan upon tho money market at tho time. There was nothing in Mr Mackenzie s speech as reported in Auckland, except this point. Mr Mackenzie said ho (Mr Massey) had said that "n Mackenzie could always be bought," and to this ho (Mr Massey) replied:—"lt is a paltry thing in the extreme, and it :s also untrue. As a matter of fact I j have sent a telegram to Mr Mackenzie jas follows: —■' Will you givo mo your authority for your statement that I said a Mackenzie could always be bought.' " J