FOR REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1286, 15 November 1911, Page 7

FOR REFORM.

MR. MASSEY AT NAPIER. A CROWDED MEETING. IDy Tclccranh.-rross Association.) Napier, .November U. Mr. W. P. Massey, Leader of tho Opposition, delivered a political address in tho Theatre Royal (o-night in support of tho, candoifcuro of Mr. E. Crowly for tho' Napior seat. The thcatro was packed, many being unablo to gain admittance, and on tho stago many prominent ladies and gentlemen wen; seated. Mr. !•'. W. Williams occupied tho chair. Mr. Massey on rising lo speak was greeted with loud applause. After somo preliminary remarks Mr. Massey said tho parly recently in power in Canada had como to realise the fact that llioso who made a Govwutncut could also unmake it, and probably tho New Zealand Government would havo a similar experionco within the next few weeks. There had been a good ileal of misrepresentation. Ho had nothing to bide, nothing to conceal. Tho party he belonged to were plain, practical, business men. Ho believed I'ho great majority of tho- audience would agree with him that it would bo to tho advantage of ihio country if tho present Government was turned out of office. (Hear, hoar, and applause.) A number of members of tho Opposition had given tho best years of their lives in t'ho country's interest for patriotic reasons only, with Utile hope of feo or roward. On behalf of that party ho had not come before tho Napier audienco to make promises. lie could not promise them bridges or roads or railways. Power to carry out such promises was not yet in tho hands of his parly, but their time would come. (Applause.) They could only offer honest and willing service, and thoy camo before tho people with olean hands. Ho was glad to sec so largo an'audience, becauso it showed that tho peoplo wcro awakening to a truo interest in their public affaire, and it was vitally necessary that such interest should bo taken.

Facts, There had arrived a time of national stocktaking, so to speak, and it would be well for them to. consider what had been done dnnng the past five or six years, aud ft nether it had been beneficial or detrimental to the country. Was it not a fact that during the Inst five years taxation bad beon piled up? Was it not a fact that during tho same'period cost of ir l ? s iL ba(l incrM sca? Was it not a fact tnat the cost of government had gono up considerably? -Was it not a fact that the land system was not nearly so satisfactory now as five years ago? In consequent of the unsatisfactory land laws many young men of tho dominion had Bono to Queensland, and other parts of Australia, where they could get land on better terms than hero. After describing various Laud Bills introduced by tho Government, and dropped when if. was found they would not bo popular, Mr. Massoy asked if any member of tho audience could tell him what the Governmenfs land policy was. Personally ho could not say. A voice:', What is your policy? He could tell them what liis party's land policy was in two minutes. It was the optional freehold to every settler who went on the land. Tho present Government had no land policy at all. n hen the Budget was brought down they had tho opportunity of announcing thenpolicy, and when tho Primo Minister addressed his constituents there was a similar opportunity; but no policy had been announced. The Government had been in power for over 21 years, and no partycould bo in power for so long a period without abuses growing up. Tho Eeform party had come into existence to put an end to thoso abuses. Not a Word." In the Financial Statement there was not a word as to decreasing taxation on the cost of living; no indication of an intention to introduce better financial methods; no desire on the part of tho Government to deal with the Native land question, perhaps ono of tho most important questions that had to be dealt with; no indication of a. desire to deal with tho reform of tho Legislative Council, tho Civil Service or the railway system. He could tell his hearers that the railway service at present seethed with dissatisfaction, bnt the Government had advanced no proposal to remedy tho grievances of tho men. Another matter with regard to which the Government had failed to deal in a satisfactory manner was local government, although a Local Government Bill which would satisfy all requirements had been promised whtra he first entered Parliament eighteen years ago.

The Land Question. Now as to the land question he did not object to the leasehold', but contended that as soon as a leaseholder was financially able ho should have the right and power to acquire the freehold. Security of tenure was the best means of inducing that industry on the part cf settlers which would lead to the development and prosperity of tho country. As to ihoso who had taken up land under the leaso-in-per-petuity, the opinion of his party was that they should bo allowed the right to liuy tho land on a basis of the capital oil which they had paid interest to tho State. The law said'tho improvements aid goodwill belonged to tho settlers, and if so the only thin? Hint would belong to the State at the end of the 999 years' lease would bo tho original value of the land. A voice: What,about unearned ineromn.lt? The unearned increment would be included in goodwill, and therefore belong to tho settler. Another point lie wished to emphasise was that there had not been sufficient discrimination between the man who made good use of the land and those who did not—those who made their holdings productive and thosu who allowed theirs to remain idle. Many had left this country because of the restrictions and limitations in connection with taking up land. Any amount of land was available, and it was the duty of the State to provide facilities for the people going on it. The country depended largely on its agricultural indnsti-y, and everything thnt was possible shonld be dotio to promoto settlement. As to Native lands, there were largo blocks in the Auckland district which were absolutely of no use to the Dominion. He did not'irrudge the Native owners their land, but thought they should mako use of it, or that it should bo made available for European settlement. Mr. Mnssoy then into the history of the Mokau case. He declared that the Government should have purchased tho land in the first place. It was one of the worst transactions that ho had heard of, and he was glad that ho had forced the inquiry. Tho most objectionable feature of the matter was tho use made of the Order-in-Council. A bona fide settler, who attempted to hike up more land than the law allowed, was branded as a criminal. There was a poivnlty of £500 for doing so, but a speculator who intended to make a profit out of tettiers was assisted by an Order-in-Council to purchase 50,000 acres. Was that Liberalism ? A voice: What about the Labour land policy ?

Labour and Reform Parties. * Mr. Massey paid ho was glad to sco that there was a good understanding between tho Labour and Reform parlies in Napier. It had been suggested that thoT might join hands. If so, he was willing to support tho man who was chosen. Speaking _ of tho increase in tho country's indebtedness. Mr. Massey said the Government should put tho brake on. If they would voto for him he would show : them how that could bo done. Ho was not against borrowing for profit-able undertakings, but he was opposed to Hie financial plunging of recent years. The interest on 25 per cent of tho public debt had (o be found by taxation, and that increased the cost of living. It did not matter on what section of tho community taxation was imposed, it would always fall, in the long run. on the rank and filo of the community. They had had groat difficulty in getting details of the financial transactions for the last two year?. They had moved to have all such details produced within twelve months, but tho Government had opposed it. Yet tho people veto entitled to it. In Canada they had a bettor fystem, with a full dlsolosuro at the end of each, flniuioial jear. The Be-

form party, if elected, wonld introduce that systoin. They would not cease agitating till they got it. (loads and Dridgct. Referring to the cost of the Hull rail, way duplication, which exceeded the estimate so enormously, ho Baid that Uieio musl 1)0 something wrong with the Public Works Department. I'hcro was no chock on the expenditure on roads and bridges.' Votes wore passed in Parliament, but nobody but the member for each district know bow tho works in his district were progressing. ITo referred o cases in which money was spent for I ho benefit of private parlies, and said that for every case that became known there wore many tlint did not. Hcforc any money was spent tho local body for the district should report on tho proposed work. The Dominion should bo divided into districts, clearly showing where public works expenditure was required. In that way thousands of pounds would ba saved Ho believed that a development hoard would be a good thing. The local government law was out of date. He beMoved in compulsory military training lor tho young and would take bis share ot the responsibility for putting it on tho fttalulo Book. lie thought that before long the peoplo would say they had tho right thing. Ho was in favour of a lamily protection law, safeguarding tho wifo and family up to a thousand pounds. Ulhcr matters woro referred to on tho lines of recent speeches. At tho close Mr. Massey received a hearty voto of thanks.