A TRIUMPHAL TOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 69, 15 December 1919, Page 10

A TRIUMPHAL TOUR

' MR. MASSEY IN THE NORTH By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. • Auckland, December 13. The Primo ■ Minister cancludfd a. tri*imphnl tour of.the Hauraki'.Plains on Saturday. The size of the alidience ho addressed and the enthusiasm which ho met indicating that, Thames will leturn M.r. T. W. Ithodes by a large majority, and that Mr.i-.'II. Poland* may noli receive the confidence of Ohineinuri. • On-Saturday afternoon Mr. Massey received the unanimous support of a meeting nt Turua. In the evening ho address, ed a meeting of about 500 people in Pacroa, tho theatre being crowded to (ihe doors. .Mr. Massey, wlio was received c'K-eis'pnd enes of "Good old Bill," received an excellent hearing, practically the only interjections being in relation to tho cost, of living. Tho information which. Mr; Massey ;ab!o to give op this'subject seemed to. impress even the most sceptical. Sneaking of New Zealand'sc problems, lie said that the Dominion would recover from the war sooner than any other, country—(applause)—but ho emphasised the fact that New Zealand had a grievous burden of debt which would only be met bv increased production, for which lie made a strong appeal, declarine: at the same time that this could' only be achieved to the extent necessary by-the Government's prosecution of public works. Replying to an interjection 'Tax the man who won't work his land," Mr. Massey said that <" -vfct'v his opinion.' "If we hug the delusion that we have only to sit down and let Nature do the rest, we will* "be in trouble," said Mr. Massey. "That is the me?sagc I have to give you." The nationalisation schemes of the other parties would not increase production by a single penny, and tho Government ivjis not entering, into the competition on nationalisation which the two other .parties seemed to be conducting. -When ,eoriCiuding his appeal for production a voice ' iclH: ' "Dut it won't keep Hujh Poland out." Mr. Massey (emphatically): "I am not dealing with partv jiolitics.". (Applause.) We have had too much of the bickering and wrangling and waste which accompanied, tho partv system, and T am hero on a national message. (Applause.) Discussing the political situation,' Mr. Massey said that Sir Joseph Ward had found fault with him for not putting up candidates to oppose certain Labour men. Ho admitted-finite frankly that he had used his influence to get supporters,to retire from o contest in which the.y woiild' have split tlie vote and allowed extreme Labour to be returned. As to the complaint alKiut Mr. Wlfo'-d being opposed by a Government candidate, he w-'ked if

•. r ' ' ! l.'iv nt-W ni' l nil'<"-s j n j nnv patent rights over his seat. (I,auditor.) He himself liar! ; hvo opponents which ho would have 'lie pleasure of disannointing on Wednesday. (Applause.) He" menti'ined (bat Mr. Lu"k<\ of Welliimj ton, would have easily accounted for his | Labour onnonent. but Sir Joseph Ward | had secured a Liberal candidate, in his : own secri lary. mfll Mr. Massey stated that in some inslnnees lie was supporting candidates who wero standing; in the interests of sane Labour. He had actually asked certain Government, candidates to stand down in fnvow of these men. Keplyiwr Jo nn inter,iection, Mr. Massov said that Sir Joseph Ward had not once said he would not accent th? sup port of the Parliamentary Labour Party to secure office, and he lr;d only said be would not use its support to hold riiTice. "7 may leli you." added Mr. ir.n'«ev. "that if things had been wing well in regard to New Zealand polilics, T would have retired at this "leclio"." This was greeted by a little' incredulous laughter. ~ ■ »,i \t MW-sey, "in view of the possibilities of a combination T made u.'i my mind that it vavmy dutv to leniain on the ciuartei' deck in the interest--. of th" count-v. That is why I nni here 10-iiicdil. T ant not asking'for a majority for my own iwv'uwl nnilntinu. ! am ivt t'"> ton of Ihe tree, so to speak. T was Prime' Minister during a jreal crisis, and I am not at':--id of . Ihe verdict '.it' history. I am satH'ied with what I have been able to nchicvo | for the coaiitry. I p.'n therefore here as a citizen who is anxious for his counj<" ..-..-.l "11(1 '■v.p. ■l-iy mri. i live." (Applause.) Mr. Ma.ssev eoncluil:cd by c.v>)!'es"i!!>; his J'->!i?f in 'I>.> : nfcd. for naval supremacy in the Paeili". and asking his hearers to consider ; what Irnsf they could niece i?> a n-rtv ; who had done their lo reduce New ■r- : ,!■.:- ivnr en'o"'- in respect to future naval defence. f.App'.nnse.) I A vole of thanks and continued confidence was carried lr'aniuinusly. the sfj o-der of the motion being a returned sol--1 dier.