IN REPLY. MR. MASSEY SPEAKS AT WHANGAREI.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 26, 1 February 1911, Page 4

IN REPLY. MR. MASSEY SPEAKS AT WHANGAREI.

-SIR JOSEPH WARD'S DEVONPORT SPEECH. [B2 TELEGSAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WHANGAREI, 31st January. Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a largely attended public meeting in the Whangarei Theatre Royal this evening. Mr. J. M. Killen presided. Mr. Massey said the Prime Minister's speech at Devonport had not been siich au important deliverance as he had expected it to be. There were a few points in ifc, however, that he would refer to. One was on the National Provident Fund Act. He had supported this measure, but he expected that it would require amendment next sesson. He was anxious lest the Act should detrimentally affect the friendly societies, and if such were the case the Act must be so amended next year as to protect the societies. FIVE MILLION LOAN. Mr. Massey dealt wit"h Sir Joseph Ward's contradiction of his previous statement that the placing of the five 1 million loan had affected New Zealand's credit, and that it had been adversely criticised by leading newspapers in England. It was no pleasure for him as a New Zealander to point out that our credit was not so good as that of other countries, but he believed that the best friends of the Dominion were those who advised caution, and endeavoured to prevent extreme borrowing. (Applause). Last year three and a half millions had been borrowed ; the previous year four millions had been borrowed ; during the present financial year five millions had been raised' in one transaction. What the total increase in debentures for the year would be it was impossible to say at present. It was quite true that we could not do without borrowed money, but there was a great difference between moderate borrowing and plunging, and he believed that the fact of this being election year had a great deal to do with the amount of borrowing that had recently taken place. The party he was connected with stood for economy and safety all the time. The Government party, on the other hand, stood for extravagance and "plunge." In regard to the Public Debt Extinction Act. the principle of sinking funds was ( all right, but one Parliament could not bind another, and although the Parliament might set apart sinking funds there was nothing to prevent a Minister of Finance in the perhaps distant future from "collaring" these sinking funds when he found himself short of money for other public purposes. No doubfc in such a case it would be found possible to induce a majority of Parliament to' agree to such a step. This had happened k 'fhore than once in the past, and it might happen again. He hoped it would not happen, but there was always the chance of it happening. Sir Joseph Ward had asked what item on which borrowed money was expended could be done without. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. One of the proposals in his (Mr. Massey'b) amendment of last year provided for the option of the freehold. If that had been carried there would have been a saving in the way of borrowing (through the tenants' cash payments) to the extent of at least half *a million. Again, if local bodies were allowed to generate their own electricity it would not be necessary for the Government to borrow under that head. Private enterprise and the influx of capital should be encouraged. People outside should be made to feel their money was safe when invested in this country, and. if that were so he was quits certain that it would not be necessary for the Government to borrow ho much. They should make up their minds as to the amount) that they 'could safely borrow each year without affecting -their credit, and llien .spend it to the best advantage without using any part ot it for party purposes. Sir Joseph Ward apparently forgot the increased taxation in speaking of increased revenue. There were the death duties, the extra Customs duties (expiring this year), and the taxation on banks and racing clubs; railway fares had also been increased. Ho believed that tn& taxation had been increased by half a, million a year during each of the past two year.?. If we went on as we \aa been going New Zealand, would bo the most heavily-taxed country in the British Empire. LAND QUESTION. In regard to the land question, he had moved an amendment on the financial debate last session, and although it had not been carried the division showed the great progress of the freehold doctrine. Had such an amendment been moved three years earlier and accepted as a noconfidence motion it would have been tlefeaied probably by a majority of forty, whereas m this case the majority, was only ten. In regard to native lands some pi ogress had been made, but it was irrilatingly slow to the natives, who weie able to take care of their own affairs and should be allowed to do so. HINE CHARGES AND "BLACK" • PAMPHLET. For" what were known as the "Hine charges," Mr. 'instead of being blamed, was 'entitled to great credit in doing' a disagreeable task. "The "Black" pamphlet, he said, "had come up in the House in connection with the Hine charges. He' regretted to have to refer to the matter, but it was necessary in order to make his. -position clear. It had been suggested that the Opposition was responsible for the publication of the pamphlet, b'ufc this, was untrue. He had been a member of Parliament for seventeen years, and he did not think that any of his opponents could say that he ever hit below tie belt. (Hear, hear.) He had made the offer in the Hon&i, and he repeated it now : That if any person could prove that he had anything to do with the publication or circulation of the pamphlet, or that he even knew of its existence before it was on sale on the public streets, he would retire fiom public life for all time. (Applause.) fie had | thought that this oifer avouW be sufficient, but one or two persons had continued to ! harbour the statement that ths Opposition was responsible in the circulation of i the unfortunate pamphlet. Another j pamphlet had been circulpted to which lie fcqok exception. One of these pamphlets- circulated through the Government newspapeis consisted of a collection of exk'acta irom speeches delivered by members of . Parliament. The extracts might .be correct so far as they wsnt, j but when 6uch quotations were separated from their context they . presented quite' a misleading meaning. The pubI lication of such a paniphleu was unfair. His party had nothing to do with it. and he objected to what had been done by th.e-, other side. .The attempt -to make it appear that the Opposition was responsible for the . "jßlaclc^ publication" was one of the most cowardly and most dastardly things that had ever happened in connection with the public lifo of this country. NO FIXED OPINIONS. The policy of the Government was a "weather-cock policy."' The Government had shown that it had no fixed opinion on any su'Sjqct. H© did not say that a Government should display , mulish obitinacy, but it should put its

policy definitely and clearly before .tho people. If the country approved it, well and good ; if not, it was the duty of tho Government to walk (sfi. The present system of allocating money for public works was wrong, and should be replaced by a public works committee. POLICY OF THE OPPOSITION. | It had been suggested that there was j very little difference between the Government and the Opposition, but he | would endeavour to show that a wide : gulf separated them. The policy of the Opposition was one of honesty, whereas the policy of the Government was one of "humbug." (Laughter.) He would not advocate tho revival of the railway commissioners — he did not agree with that ; but he thought the railways should be placed under expert management and freed from political influence. (Applause.) Mr. D. W. Jack moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Massey for his address, and this was carried by acclamation.