SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1101, 13 April 1911, Page 4

SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY

SUCCESSFUL MEETING AT DUNEDINKEEN POLITICAL REPARTEE. (Us - Telegraph.—Pices Association.) Duncdin, April 12. Mr. llassey, Leader of the Opposition, acldressptl a very large meeting in the Garrison Hall to-night. He received a verj hearty welcome, but was subjected al tunes to a considerable amount of goodhumoured interruption. However, he proved himself mi adept at platform repartee, and succeeded on nc.irlv everv occasion ill returning a Uolaiid for the Olivers he received. The !>psukor covered a great deal l 'i ground touched 011 in his recent address al Kaiapoi. He stated that the Party with which he had the honour to i» connected had never put interests of Parly before- the interests of country, iiie party which ho represented was "gainst everything in the wav of graft, political influence, and wire-pulling. The pusent Government had been so long in l-ott-ci that a, number of abuses had grown up, and thefe abuses rCQuired reform. It was not a good thing for this country or ?, J smoc J iltlc country for a partv to be f ,°, r -° 3 " ca;s - Tho «F aijei, *«• r' , ' o '\ e relcrm ot 'he Legislative hi at °V l,O «">«'lines already reportthiv IL.MT y Mid he waS ol °l ,iuiou menf i d ha, ;? moM cx l lc,rt manageandl hi their railways tiivmtl'fl llh ? l , "" Mce ' The W*& r cre^ 3 if, , n a , nd^f Oko Of thn ra l ,id in " innch ■ they could wisely Lrr w *it£ out affecting (he credit of the country. Ine speaker read out tho names of the members who had voted against Mr Aliens motion ■ that particulars upon which the terms on which loans are. secured and expended should be laid on the table of the House within 12 mouths each of the names of the Dunrdin members who voted against the motion bein? received with a chorus of "Ohs." As regards the land question, the speaker slated that the only form of tomiwivhieh would secure to the man the fruits of his labour was the option of the freehold. Mr. Jlassey then wont on to detail differences between the two parties. His party had tried to get the best possible security of tenure-to the settlor. That was one difference between them. His party wae in favour of democratising the. Council, while the other people stuck to the eyptem of political appointments by nomination. His party was in favour of doing away with political influence; they wanted in every case to see private enterprise have fair opportunity. Private enterprise ho.d matlo • the British Empire. His party were in favour of moderate borrowing. They wero not in favour of extreme borrowing. "Arc there any supporters of the Government here to-night?" queried tha speaker, and tho answer cam* back, "Yes."

"I hav<> got my friend there in ray eye. I want him (o answer this question: 'What is the policy of the Government he supports?'" Mr. Massey then spoko of the change of front of the Government on the- NoLiconse question, and their "backing and iilling" ovw the Gaming Bill. If the Government took up the position of laying down a policy, and would stake their ssats on it, it would receive far move respect than it had secured under existing circumstances. The speaker concluded by referring to Bills which had boon placed on the Statute-book largely by the instrumentality of members of the Opposition, namely, the new system of auditing public accounts, the Crown Suits Act, National Annuities Act, Universal Compulsory Training and Government Advances to Workers Act. Ho concluded amidst loud and continuous applause. Mr. Massey was unanimously accorded a hearty vote of thanks.