ADDRESS BY MR. MASSEY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 58, 2 December 1919, Page 8

ADDRESS BY MR. MASSEY

BIG GATHERING AT WAIMATE

THE NEED OF SOUND GOVERNMENT

COST OF LIVING PROBLEM 'By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Waimate, December 1. The Prime' Minister addressed a, meeting at Wniniate to-night, in a packed hall, many poeple 'being unablo to gain admittance. Mr. AV. E. Evans (Mayor) was in tho chair. Mr. Massey warmly greeted Mr. "John Bitcliencr, tho Reform candidate for Waitaki, who occupied a eeat on tho platform. . Mr. Massey said Ihn't for two years out of the last four-ho had been representing the Dominion at- Home, and took tho welcome accorded that night as a genuine i welcome home. (Applause.) No Time for Wrangling. i't was no time now to indulge in party mangles. The country was lip against a critical time. Tho' problem of war had been solved. Now. we had to solve the problems of peace _ and deal with tremendous responsibilities. With the direct war expenditure find pensions for soldiers and dependants the country's debt was now approximately two hundred millions. He referrpd to the reasons for tho formation of'the National Government. In reply to an interjection lie said ho would not go hack on anj* tiling done in the war period, and was prepared to explain why nil war measures had lieen carried out. Developments Required. After dealing with. the Imperial Government commandeer of produce on tho lines of his North Island speeches, Mr. Massey raid that New Zealand to-day was more prosperous than • nny other country in the British Empire, and he was confident that New Zealand would recover from the war more quietly and with less trouble than any other country .engaged in it. Her recovery was in the people's own hands, but they must nave assistance by development an<l extension in roading nm\ railways. Plenty of men were 'ready to go out and de.TeloD the primary industry, but land, Toads, bridges, and railways must he made ready for them. Also, if necessary tho State should find the shinping for the export of the country's produce. (Anplause.) Hydro-electricity must be develoned nil over New Zealand. The necessity for that had been brought hoaio (o them recently by the ecnreitv of coal. Every man l;new that coal whs scarce because of the "so-slow" poliy in the m' n es. (Uproar and applause.) Mr. Massey: I thought that would fetch them. I wanted to see where tho "go-slows" were, and I found them. Every man must take his coat off a.nd work if they are to do their duty to themselves, the citizens, ami the country. . ' '

Continuing, Mr. Massey said the miners had been misled by men who we not patriotic. lie began to think there were very few New Zealanders anions the leaders. (Dissent and applause.) Mr. Massey proceeded to deal with the nationalisation proposals on the lines of former speeches, and went on to sneak of the present political position and irh«t 'led up to.it. When the National Government was formed, Labour was offered representation, but it would not have anything to do with it. A voice: Quite right. Mr. Massey: That is what you think. Well, I suppose you would not take any part to help win tho war either. Mr. Massey said that tho passing of conscription was approved by the majority of tho people, but a section strongly opposed it. Tim National Government also "had to increase taxation. Such necessary measures did not tend to make the National Government popular. A voice: Why did you not conscript 'money, too? Mr..Ma>soy: Do you know that loans weie forced loans right throiig'h tho war? A voice: Can you tell mo any? Mr. Massey: 1 can tell you scores of cases. Tho interrupter: I doubt your word. Mr. Massey: i'ou can doubt my word if you like, but those who know me never doubt it.

Sound Government Wanted. Continuing, Mr. Massey said that another unpopular act nas tho stopping of public works, but it could not bo helped. And yet in face of all these unpopular measures, which wire absolutely necessary, the National Government survived and carried out tho war work. (Applause.) The best, elements should have continued on together to carry out the work of reconstruction, mid in November 1818, tho lieiorm Party, in caucus, .■unanimously agreed to such a proposal, but4he Liberals said they would go to the country with a eenarate and distinct jjolicy from the Reform Party. Air. Massey proceeded to explain the work of last session, and was subjected to persistent interruptions by a yoilth at the back of Hie hall. A movement was made to put the interrupter out, but ,Mr. Massey said: "Don't put him ©lit I don't mind his interruptions. They only annoy tho audience." Then the interjecter was silent for tho rest of tho meeting. . Mi. Massey said the question now before the people was: By whom was the country to bo governed, and how whs it to be governed? Was it going to 6a governed by 'a handful of extremists it Supposing Labour had twelve members returned, and neither tho lieform Party nor the Liberal Party had an absolute majority.' what would be the position? Mr. Holland said the Labour Partv would join Sir Joseph Ward to oust Mr. Massey, but would not support him unless Labour got the representation it was -.-fighting for. Tho Parliamentary Labour Party would sell itself to the highest bidder. If the-people did not want a few extremists to get tho reins of power, if they did not want the things to happen in Now Zealand which hapDenpd in Oueenslaml lately, tho electors would return the Ueform Government to power with an absolute majority. (Anplauso.) The Liberals could not catch up without taking into their party the extremists. \

, The Cost of Living. The Prime- Minisjer next took up tho subjects of wheat yroiviiiK and the cost of living, and sniil that the rise in the cost of meat, sugar, Hour, nnd butter had been checked by legislation. The cost of liviiipr had gone xip mostly in the -way of imported articles. Now Zoalanders had the satisfaction of knowing that tho cost of living here was less than in America or any other Allied country. In New Zealand it was 100 i>er cent, lower than in England, and 150 per cent, lower than in France. Except for ten, taxation had not been increased on any necessaries of life. The small man had been saved every tiino it was possible to do 60. New Zealand had escaped profiteering more than any other country, but last session tho most drastic Bill ever passed in a British Parliament had been passed to prevent profiteering, and tho man now caught profiteering had two things in front of him—one was a heavy iino and tho other was gaol. He (Mr. Jlassey) had received communications from nearly every Government in the British Enipiro asking for copies of tho Profiteering Bill, showing that Now Zealand could still lead the world in legislation. (Applause.) Speaking of taxation Mr. Alassey said that an alteration in tho law should be raado so that a married man with a family would got larger exemption of taxation than single men. (Applause.) • Other (Questions. Some Opposition candidate had recently snid that (he Government had neglected tho opiwriunity jo Rft tho weat contract with the British Government extended. That was incorrect As a matter of fact the contract with tho British GovrnniPiit continued till June 30 next. He did nut know if the Imperial authorities would take tho contract for another year after that, but if they did he thought the producers would to wise to accept the offer. Samoa must fo held, as it was one of the keys of tho Pacific. It was a fertile country, but could not bo worked on white labour.

N) ono liked the idea of indentured labour, but in tho caso of Samoa it was necessary. In concluding an address which lasted a few minutes beyond two hours, Mr. Massey suid that so far as tho future was concerned, and so far aa ho was coneorned, ho would not profess that any arrangement could bo brought about by legislation to givo better prices, better means of living, higher wages, and shorter hours, and to profess such a thing Would bo {absolutely .-ridiculous, and ho would be a political humbug if ho suggested that legislation could eilect such n state- of affairs. New Zealand was now up against a hard problem, and there was only ono way to face tho economic difficulties caused by tho enormous responsibilities incurred in tho war. The people of this country should bo mado happy, but could not havo happiness without contentment. It was industry, pluck, tenacity, and enterprise which made tho pioneering people from the Old Country overcome their difficulties, and with the samo spirit tho people of tho country could meet and overcome all tuo difficulties they were now being faced with. (Loud applause) , A voto of thanks io the_ Prime Minister wag unanimously' carried, and Mr. Massey was cheered.