LIBERAL-LABOUR TACTICS EXPOSED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 57, 1 December 1919, Page 8

LIBERAL-LABOUR TACTICS EXPOSED

PLAIN SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY LABOUR'S INTRIGUE WITH WARDISM !By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Dunedin, Noember 30. Thn Prime Minister, in his speech at Eiccarton last night, said that a new party had como into existence lately. Ho re- : ferrod to the . Parliamentary Labour Partv. which did not represent Labour. ■.. When tlio best blood of the Dominion '. was being poured' out in defence of the Empire, did any member of that party lift a finger to help their fellow-citizen? -No. not ono of them. Tho manifesto 1 sent by the party to Australia anent con- . . Bcrintion was one of tho most disgraceful, documents ever, sent out of the country. (Applause.) He <li:l not imagine .■ that the Labour Party would secure a '' majority in tho country, but the can- ; eee was that it might link up with the Liberal Party, provided it received a promise of legislation that would suit it. "If.'-t said the Prime Minister, "you want ] to prevent anything of that eort happening you must give tho present Govern- ; t ment a working majority sufficient to carrv on without depending on tho Bolshevists.'and it ia in your interests that that should bo done." (Applause.) • A "Glvc-Away." Mr. Massey quoted from remarks of Mr. Walker, a labour member, at Dunedin last woek, to the effect that while the Labour members formeo.' themselves into a distinct party "they were ready at the same time to co-operate with the Liberals in opposing Mr. Massey's Government." and that tho Liberals in the House, in conjunction with tho Labour Party, considered "what chance there '■ • would be of securing the reins of Government." (Laughter.) This, said Mr. Mnssey, was the greatest give-away he had seen ior many a day; Those two parties wero evidently aspiring at that timo to secure the reins of Government. ' Then—also according to Mr. Walker— "when Sir Joseph Ward recognised' that ho could not attain to power" he accepted tho overtures to fomi Government. "I need not elaborate tho point," proceeded Mr. Massoy, "I have never Tead anything that throw so much light on that aspect in tho setting un of tho National Govornment as these words by Mr. Walker. (Applause.) Thoso two parties were apparently willing to join nanos in order to seize the reins of ■ .Government at a critical time in our history. Thank Heaven 'they did not Ret the opportunity. (Applaiiso.) Wβ know then what happened in the, past and we know it would happen again in the future, because Mr. Semple savs'lm party is willing to join with Sir Joseph Ward's party in ousting Mr. Massey's . Government if Sir Josonh Ward's party will accept its policy from tho dozen or members who form tho Labour Parly. I ask tho electors to think of the country, and of the people as a wholo. Think how we are going to met our liabilities. I tell you there, is only one tiling to do, and that is to give tho present Government a working majority." (Applause.) A Word About Queensland. Tho Labour Parly in New Zealand, continued tho Prime Minister, had also boen speaking about what they called tho "better conditions of life in 'Queensland ■'■ under a Labour Government," nnd tho

people had heard so much about it that they had not questioned it. ThcroMiad been revelations lately, however. Queensland, which was ono of'the wealthiest States in Australia, was in a very serious financial position. For eight; years prior to 1915-10 tho Stats showed surpluses, but during the last three years the average deficit had been It had been shown, too. that the cost of •living there was higher than in any other country 'south of the Line. Further, in four years there had been a loss of over a, million on the railways. The Government had bought 20 stations nnd on, 12 of them a loss-was shown, while the whole of the account. , ?, when lumped together, showed a loss. The State trawler caught fish costing .£2230 last year, and realised ,-£136. Tho boasted State public house was not

long, in .being swamped—(laughter)—and thn State farms liad nroduced n. loss. (A voice: ".Drought!") Queensland had not iieen.suffering from orouprlit for four Tears.. .It : was suffering from tlie Parliamentary Labonr Party, and New Zealand would suffer in the same way if it allowed the pioposed combination of the Labour, Party and the Wardites to be Rivcir effect to. (Applause.) . ' Increasing Production. Alluding to tho production of the counMassey said that .the wheaterow.ers had not received tho encouragement they ought to have receivee to grow wheat. Wo had some of tho best wheat-growing-land, and yet year by year we were looking to Australia for some of tho wheat we required. This must Eton, and we must face the position. An elderly man in the audience rose imil nsked a number of questions about superannuation and pensions, which Mr. Massev answered. He promised an amendment of i.ho Superannuation- Act, aiKi'"said ho hoped to remedy some of thn jinomalies in it. He also "dealt with the provisions made for soldiers, tho reinstatement of the Homestead Act, and other matters touched on by him in previous addresses.

■" At the conclusion of his remarks Mr. ilassev received a unanimous vote of thanks,and confidence.