THE PRIME MINISTER

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 50, 27 February 1918, Page 3

THE PRIME MINISTER

"WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET OUR MEN DOWN" The Prime Minister, who was received with cheers and opposition calls of various kinds, said the policy of the National Government was simply this : to enable New Zealand to carry on its share of the war, and to keep the country prosperous at the same time; and that has been done. There is no country in the Empire that has done better than New. Zealand,; and there is no country in the Empire that is more prosperous to-day. The Prime Minister aaid that after the outbreak of war the necessary war measures had to be passed, .including the Military Service Act. "Our example," he added, "was followed by Canada. I will not say it was followed by the United States. As a matter of fact, we followed the United States. And who will say that the United States is not a democratic country ? We took as the basis of our legislation the legislation passed by Abraham Lincoln at the time of the Civil War. (Applause.) •. ' ■ ' •-■•..• "As to the cost of the war, when we ask for two and a-half millions a month for war purposes—thirty millions a year —we get it from a loyal Parliament without the slightest hesitation. . ,one of the / most satisfactory things about this country is this : that the huge sums of money required for the war we get from our own country; , and I believe when the war cornea to an end we will be able to get the money required us we are getting it now. The people are able to find tbe money. Why ? Because the Government* of this country was able to make satisfactory arrangements with the Home Government to take our produce at a. price satisfactory to them. We have sold them thirty million pounds worth every year, and we expend thirty million pounds a year in carrying on the war; and if_ it costs us more we are going to get it. (Applause.) We are out to win this war. (Loud applause.) "HOW WELL OFF WE ARE." "People sometimes complain about the scarcity of money. If only they knew or realised how well off we are compared with other countries in the Empire! If only they would stop for a moment and think of the great war that is going on—a war that is being wagedi for every man and woman in this hall—aye, even for those hoodlums who are disturbing this meeting !■ It is being waged fot them, and they ought to go down on their knees, "and thank God for the men -who are fighting for them. (Applause.) AN INCOMPLETE PEACE. "We deplore war; but we are fighting for peace and for civilisation. We were in hopes that tbe war would end this year; but I stand here as one of a huge majority and say: We are prepared to carry on till 1928 sooner/than submit to an incomplete peace; because we know if an incomplete peace is agreed to, at the very first opportunity Germany will be at the throat of Great Britain. "What would happen to New Zealand if Germany became .victorious? We ■know what "is. in store for us. if Germany becomes triumphant. "The war has not been brought homo to-us as it has been brought home to people in other parts of the Empire and to countries on the other side of tbe world. But the war has been, brought home to us in one way. It has been brought home to us by the fact that 100,000 men—the pick of our population —have been nailed away from their ordinary occupations to fight for the defence of the Empire." A voice: Called by whom? Mr. Massey:' By the Empire. If that rmm who interjects "Called by whom:" had his way not a solitary soul would have gone. Moat of our brave men are in the' Renting line to-day. Perhaps we are on the eve of'the greatest battle the world has ever seen; and our men are fighting for their King and for tlie Empire and for their fellow countrymen; and we Me not going to let them down. (Applause). I gay most of them. Some, oi' them have come back, war-worn veterans, and we are going to do our duty to them. A voice: What do you give them ? Twenty-five "bob" a week. Mr. Massey: Twenty-five "bob" a week is more than ever that man wao worth. (Laughter, applause, and uproar). I call him a man for courtesy's sake. Soma there are who will never com?, back. They have made the supreme sacrifice. But those men and the deeds they have done will never bo forgotten so long as sun and moon endure. (Applause). And yot sacrifices, and still more rf.-icrifines. are being required from Brit>in and from Britain's Allies. Those sac••ifiees are b.iing made, and they will be made, and ma,de willingly, because we know tint thfv are made in a good cause. A voice: Rot! Mr. Massey: Somebody says "rot" when I say "a good cause." That man :e a traitor. (Uproar and loud applause.) He is » wretched traitor who ought to '■•p mi Germany. (Renewed applause.) Whpn we hear these- pacifists, these Re-' volutionarv Socialists — (uproar and cheers) —these peace-at-any-price men ; when we hear them suggest that peace ghguld be made on any terms to suit

Germany ; when we hear them say that we should allow Germany to trade in British ports; when we hear them say that Germany should be allowed the freedom of the seas ; when' we think of the sacrifices made by our soldiers and sailors and by our citizens, it makes a loyal man indignant and angry at the wretched people who make these suggestions. I say if we' were to give way to these suggestions .it a time like this we would not bo worthy of the race to which we belong. And we are not going to do it. The British people—our citizens, our soldiers, and sailors —and in saying our sailors I refer not only to the men of His Majesty's Navy, but I also include the men of the mercantile marine—(applause)—not a man of whom has turned bis back to his duty since the war broke out. (Applause.) There is no "cold feet" in their case. (Applause and uproar). A large majority of thi6 meeting, so far as I can judge, are thoroughly loyal men and women. SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATION. Dealing with taxation, the Prime Minister pointed out that there was no country in the Empire where a man of small means was called upon to .pay so little, or was treated so lightly in this war, as in New Zealand. . He showed that the increase in the cost of living had been less in New Zealand than in any country in the world, and he quoted figures in support of his statement. " "PLAY THE MAN." On a renewal of the uproar, Mr. Massey remarked : I want to say that Dr. Thacker has been disturbing this meeting in a most unseemly manner. He ought to remember that ho is a gentleman by Act of Parliament. I hope I have said enough, because I am not going to put up with his nonsense, here. ' At this point Dr. Thacker was on his feet in, the centre of the hall, and all eyes were focussed on him for a time. The chairman asked Dr. Thacker to "play the man."'and ask his supporters to give that fairplay which had been accorded to him. Mr. Massey proceeded with his remarks, and dealt in some detail with the question of the increased cost of living. He also emphasised the necessity—rendered more imperative as a result of the cost of the war—of closer settlement and of increased production in order to meet our heavy burden of taxation in the future. Tbe' great nntural resources of the country, he aaid, were vast. Steps were being taken' to provide for the employment of over 15,000 men on Government works, etc., immediately after the conclusion of the war. , New Zealand's pension scheme, he said, was the best in the Empire, and. being the best in the Empire, was tbe best in tbe world. He quoted some examples of the provision made for soldiers nnd their dependents: and stated the amount? granted to men who were wholly mid pnrtially incapacitated. Tbe question of allowances and of financial assistance was referred to. and further examples were auoted. Of the 14.750 soldier? whn \had returned. there' 1 were only 345 who had not, been settled, and of the Intter most of them had onh recenth come back nnd were on holiday. Over 600 returned soldiers h.id been settled on the land. clarion on Maoriland WOBKER. The Prime Minister quoted the Clarion's scathing condemnation of the Maoriland Worker! The former journal was edited by the well-known English Socialist. Robert Blatchford, and the latter by H. E. Holland. Mr. Massey contrasted the attitude of F^n Tillet, Arthur Henderson, and other Labour leaders at Hnme with Mr. Holland's attitude in regard to the war. The Prime Minister concluded with highly appreciative remarks as to the war work which Mr. and Mrs. Luke had done. "Mr. Luke's loyilty," he concluded, "has been tested by fire, and there is no man in New Zealand who,has done so much patriotic work as Mr. Luke. (Applause).