MR. MASSEY IN REPLY

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 454, 12 March 1909, Page 7

MR. MASSEY IN REPLY

PREMIER'S UTTERANCES CRITICISED. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. CIVIL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. (BI TKtEGKAni—SPECIAL COURESPONDENT.) Auckland, March 11. Interviewed by your representative concerning tho most recent utterances of tho Primo Minister (Sir Josoph Ward), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. I?. Massey) expressed tho opinion that Sir Joseph Ward, who was angry over tho controversy a week or two ago, had now becomo hysterical. In consequence,- it was somewhat difficult to'understand what ho was driving at. Mr. Massey said ho noticed, however, that tho Primo Minister stated that his (Mr. Massey's) charges were "dishonest," and bis statements "untrue." "1 am net going to retort in equally violent language," said Mr. Massey, "or oven uso, the 'tu quoquo' form of reply. I simply say that my record since 1 entered Parliament, nearly fifteen years ago, is well known to tho peoplo of this country. I am quite satisfied to allow them to judge of my honesty and veracity, and I am confident their opinions on these points will not bo aifectud by anything Sir Joseph Ward may say with regard to either the one or the other. "Sir Joseph states that I have changed my ground," continued tho Leader of the Opposition. "I have done nothing of the sort. I stand by all the statements I havo mado, and I believo them to , bo absolutely true. I accept, of course, as I have already Said, tho statement, of tho Prime Minister that he paid for the telegrams to the electors of the Southern Maori District; but I cannot- agree with, him that the fact of his having done so lessens the impropriety j of his action. As to the other two points on which he has fallen back: First, with regard to Government billets, allow me to call his attention to a statement made by Sir Robert Stout only a few weeks ago, to tho effect that in connection with the Civil Service he ventured to say there were many appointments made, of persons who had never passed the' examination stipulated. Sir Robert also said that positions in the public service of the Dominion had been allotted to persons when they should have been given to others whom they were below. Sir Robert Stout spoke in his capacity as Chancellor of the New Zealand University, and 'his statement, which has never been challenged, is much stronger , than anything I havo ever said on the subject. "Then as to positions in the Legislative Council being used for party purposes," said Mr. Massey, "the public of this country are quite able to judge for themselves. They seo that men aro appointed to tho • Legislation Council either because they havo had legislative experience, or for party purposes, becausu they havo been useful to tho party in power. Every elector in New Zealand Iciiows of men who were appointed to the Council by tho- political party with which Sir Joseph Ward is associated,- who possessed no legislative experience. or other qualification for those positions, but who were appointed simply , and solely because, in tho section of the community to which they belonged, they had. been able to influence a number. of votes in favour; of the Government." ' ' ■

Mr. Massey went on to say: "Sir Joseph Ward would evidently prefer that 1 made no further reference; to the misrepresentation which went on at the elections, or to tlio barefaced attempts to influence the votes of the electors by the expenditure of their own money.; but_;l can assure tho honourable gentleman that he has not heard the last of these matters by a very long way. Tho end of tho financial year is approaching, and in all kindness 1 would suggest to tho Prime Minister, who is also Minister for Finance, that it would be very much better for him to turn his attention to the financial and other problems -of urgont importance which are waiting to be dealt with,, rather than to give the public, by silly and-incoherent statements to newspaper men, tho impression that Ministers of the Crown, even tho Prime Minister, are made of Very common clay after all."