MR. MASSEY REPLIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 443, 27 February 1909, Page 5

MR. MASSEY REPLIES.

PREMIER'S STATEMENTS CRITICISED., THE RECENT ELECTIONS. 'A TELEGRAM TO THE MAORIS. (BY TBHSGRAHI—SPECIAL COttKESPONDENT.) Auckland, Fobruary 26. While in Auckland recently Sir Joseph Ward mado several references to what he called "Opposition misstatements," and ho generally criticised several of Mr. Masseya Utterances regarding tho olections. Mr. Massoy was interviewed to-day ra rospect to this matter. Ho said to had not up till then heard of Sir Joseph Ward's remarks, but after reading thorn tesrid 1 come to no other conclusion than that, bir Joseph was smarting under the fact that this shaft had gone homo, and that the statements ho reforred to wore substantially cori As to tho Prime Minister's statement that at tho elections thoro was no suggestion that certain districts would be benefited by increased expenditure in tho event of Government candidates being returned, all ho (Mr. Massoy) could say was that Sir Joseph Ward was very innocent or very ignorant of what took placo. At all events, ho (Mr. Massey) could produce scores of witnesses who were able to testify that such suggestions _ were put forward by candidates and their friends. On tho other hand, incorrect and misleading statements with regard to Opposition candidates and Opposition members were circulated all over the Dominion by the authority of tho party of which Sir Joseph Ward was supposed to bo the head.

"A Warm Time." "I say this advisedly," added Mr. Mas-' soy, "and am prepared to stand by it in the House or out of it. I have heard that I am to have a warm time when tho House meets. Very well, I have not turned my back on Ministers in past years, and am % not likely to run away from any or all of the present r -."In;regard to Mr; M'.Gowan, I stated that I was not in the confidence of the- Government,' but mentioned; what was currently reported in Auckland -and' Wellington, viz., that Mr. M'Gowan had; been, squeezed out so. that thov portfolio 1 of 'Mines-, might bo handed over to Mr. Roderick M'Kenzie, and does Sir Joseph .Ward-deny this?-. ■■'■'■■■■''■','■ ' "As for Mr. Ngata, what has .happened : rn connection with this gentleman's'position is evidently, another backdown ; oh -ttho.'parVot the Government:.'.Every.newspapeivm .the Dominion stated 'at the time of. his'-ii?pouit- ; ment to the Executive that Mr. Ngata had been given control of the PubhV:TrustvOffice, and also of two of, the-Insurance. Departments. Sir Joseph now says that Mr. Ngata's : position ;is":■ analogous to. that;ot,a political', uhder-secretary.' ;That is'. a .matter about which' Parliament, will have ~ sometbin* to say later on,.but a Parliamentary. Under-Secretary, is ■: supposed to be in training, for Ministerial' office.: According.to bir Joseph, the.only Ministerial position-..whinh, a Native member can: constitutionally'■■,fill ;;s that- of Native Affairs.. •'ls Mr.-Ngato.j. in training for that position ?■ Does Mr. Carroll: require an assistant? -These .'are- questions which the Prime Minister might be' induced to answer. I' saw only to-day, that ■ the Hon. Mr. Ngata was travelling to Auckland with his private-secretary,:and w hi] e there would stay at. the leading hotel.. .:Is^Mr... Ngata travelling asV a Parliamentary- -Undqr-Secre-. .tary or as a Minister "of the CfownF. WW the Prime : Minister kindly inform us? ,- :

v'-\^"':V-":Siwthern\Maorl:E|oprtratei^"--7^r:;; Referring, to what.happened in the South-ern-Maori electorate, Mr.; Massey. said:— ; ' ■- ."The fact of the Prime. Minister., paying for the,telegrams whioh'he forwarded to influential Natives makes, very little difference,; He admits that as":a ; Minister'/of .the Crown he interfered with the Maori election becauso one of the candidates could 7 beirelied on-to" support him- in, Parliament, even_in connect tion with the question, where the-Native race are not directly concerned.., When special re- ' presentation .was given to the; ."Maori people many years.ago it was on the understanding that, on wanij. of '/confidence vmotions, /the Maori members.shouleitherd.refrain.from^voting, or should' votetwo 'for', and. two; against the / 6overhmehtj/'-and ■at ;'that/time; : : it was never ■ anticipated- that .same; day ■New Zealand: might have.,a :.Ptime;Minister who would he' willing to"sacrifice'.'-the'.' dignity/of, his/position by 'using the Native,re-, presentatves. for. .party^/purposes,'but so. it has turned out'.'.Heroes a'copy- of v the.teleV gram, forwarded'by the' Prime Minister■ aid I.think it speaks fo" ritself:— , ";; ■/ .■ : ; ■' /\ y: , V r}. : ''Votitorifty Frlehd.V :y ,•.-.■/. ;'■' Premier's /'Office; ,to—• ■ •-/Dear, sir's..;. Greetingsiitey.ouJaD;!; shall.-: ; ; be very giad.if you will all'vote for my- ' / friend, Tame ■.Parata,-'to.boia ; memher'of-./, ..Parliament-, to. the:'place.where he ;has■'•".; ;' done' •great.work.for./ the Maori;: people; :, He is.a/man honoured by ; all.the members ,; ■■ of the/House. /He is :a.truthful; man, a:' man -of one mind.- Th'ero.is:not-a'.Euro-;, j pean:6r a Maori can'say-ho tried'to,, do /; anything dirty..-Besides;' hehasbeon'a '■'■'• , long',time''.working. : .in Parliament.- He ■'■ ■ has done a deal of good besides the great /, work: he has finished for.:,the'-Maoris of ; the South Island; It was ha who-got,the'■ landless ones land; he assisted/the poor.;-/' ■ it was he who got'the. doctors .to.-'attend;••• those/who are sick; and also '/other' good;/ , .tilings lie 1 got ':■ for- his .tribe; it,,was' : by: "y .his efforts/the Maoris old-age '; ;:' pension; lie supported -the ■'■ ,/Maoris arid pakohas''should ,be,\treated;,/ alike'in receiving money;frpm:.the'Gov-;.; ■■■-' ernment for: those: who were/settled' on : farms. Here remainethylbng life (signed) J. G; /Ward,';"; '; ;'.-;,;; /,..../'. ... . y-'