MR. MASSEY IN REPLY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1134, 23 May 1911, Page 5

MR. MASSEY IN REPLY.

WHAT HE DID SAY. NUTS FOR MR. FOWLDS TO CRACK, (By Tofranil — Special Correspondent.! Auckland, May 22, The statement made in Wellington on. Saturday by the lion. George li'owlds, Minister for Education, to Uie effect that Mr. \\'. F. llassey, M.P., Leader of tho Opposition, had "appealed to foreign money-lenders to put the squeeze on New Zealand" is vigorously denied by the latter gentleman. Referring to Mr. Fowlds's statement, in. conversation with a "Herald" reporter yesterday, Mr. Masscy said: "Hero is what 1. Raid w-ord for word, as reported in Hansard, and I nvk the public to think of it, recollecting the recent increased indebtedness, amounting to over six millions in one year, and a corresponding increaso in taxation." The quotation from Hansard is as follows:—

It is quite truo that we must liavo borrowed money for certain purposes for carrying on certain works, but there is a tremendous difference between running down the Kiniutaka inclino with tlio brakes on with caution and in safely, and running down the Rimutaka incline with the brakes oft' with the possibility, or I might tay the probability, of a tremendous smash up at the bottom, and that is the risk wluch, judging by the Financial Statement, the Treasurer of this country is asking tho people to take. I do not believe for one moment it is. possible to find the whole of the money which is required to give effect to the proposals sot forth in tho Financial Statement, but I would liko to say (his, that, if tho electors o[ (he colony do not feel inclined (o put the brake on, it will bo a good thing for tho country as a whole if the inoney-lend-ers do. Let anyone contemplato the enormous borrowing proposals of tho Government and tlio enormous borrowing proposals of some of our most important local bodies. One must won<Jpr under such circumstances what tho burdens will he liko which in a few years tho permanent residents of this country will be expected to carry.

Proceeding, Mr. Masscy said'"Now for Mr, Fowlds and his fcingle-Uvx propofals.

"Will Mr. Fowlds deny that ho hits■ publicly advocated tho doing away with tho exemption under tho land tax and i making Iho poor man with the very smallest section pay land lax? "Will he deny that along with that ho ' advocated doubling tho land tax? "Does lie remember supporting Iho Bill making it impossible for any Crown ten- 1 nut lo acquire the freehold? "Does ho remember voting against my proposals to make it easier for the tenants , of workers' homes to becomo their own landlords?

"Does he remember stonewalling tho proposals to allow Crown tenants 10 per cent, rebate of rent?

"Does ho remember sneering a,t tho farmers in Parliament?

"When Mr. Fowlds has answered those questions," continued tho Leader' of tho Opposition, "I have a few moro nuts for him to crack. As for injuring Iho credit of the country, I have always said it was one of _ tho best countries on this planet, but it is cursed with a. bad Government, tho Government of which Mr. Fowlds is a Minister, and it must ; bo a, wonderful country when it call afford to pay men liko Mr. Fowlds .£I2OO per annum with travelling expenses and' travelling allowances, and supply them with secretaries to do their work. As to my offer, it holds Eood, and tho cheque for my share will bo forthcoming. I pay my own expenses when I go round tho country. I have not drawn a penny from the party funds for six years, but I bclipvo nothing would open tho eyes of tho people so well as a repetition of the advocacy of singlo tax along with the personal abuse of myself indulged in by Mr. Fowlds at Pukekohe."