THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3295, 14 August 1911, Page 2

THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN

PRESENT ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED.

MR. MASSEY AT MASTERTON.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

IPER PH.EBB ASSOCIATION.J MASTERTON, August 13. Mr W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a crowded meeting in the Town Hall last evening, and met with a cordial reception. The chair was occupied by His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine). Mr Massey, on rising was given an ovation. After dealing oriefly with local affairs, he expressed the opinion that the party, which was at present/ in the minority in Parliament, was in every way capable of managing the affairs of the country. This was the time for political stock-taking. The past five years, through the good reasons of high prices and expenditure of loan moneys, had been prosperous in many respects. However, matters were not satisfactory. Lands, Roads, and Bridges.

Mr Massey proceeded to refer to the land question, stating that the present Government had practically destroyed the optional system, and by renewable lease bad made settlers tenants for mil time. His party would give settlers the right of purchase of an estate, whether large or small. The irenewable lease was, in many respects, worse for the country than" lease in perpetuity. The Opposition approved of money being raised by way of loan for land settlement and roads and bridges. Authority had been given by Parliament for the raising of £500,000 annually for the acquisition of land for settlement, and for some years this was expended. Last year. however, only £155,796 had been expended from the amount authorised, and there , had been neglect and want of energy in prosecuting the settlement of land, which did not reflect credit on the Government of the country. It was a great mistake having, as Minister for Lands, a man who had no practical knowledge of the business. Good settlers were leaving the country because they could not get land to suit them'. “Give us settlement,” said Mr Massey, “and the country will prosper.” (Applause.) In reference to roads and bridges, which were urgent for the development of the country, the sum of £596,684 had been asked for, and appropriated last year, and only £255,983 expended. This was not fair to the settlers who had to face bad roads in the winter months. Mr Massey contended that the estimate for public works should be brought down earlier in tlie session. Matters of Finance. Dealing with finance, the Speaker said that during the past five years there had been an increase of £2,220,763 in the amount extracted from the pockets of the people. This was out of all proportion to the increase in population, and was a strong indication of extravagance on the part of those at the head of affairs (applause). The laboring classes, though receiving higher wages in certain cases, were in actually a worse position to-day than five years ago. Railway fares were higher to-day than five years back, and the increase was largely in the second class fares. The National Debt of the Dominion had increased from £67 per head in 1906-7 to about £Bl per head last year. He stood firm as a New Zealander, and was proud of his country and its potentialities, but there was something wrong with the administration when the cost of the National Debt, and railway fares, etc., were increased to such an extent as in the past five' years. (Applause.) More About Mokau. Mr Massey then proceeded to deal briefly with the Mokau case. He claimed that the statement laid before the House by Sir James Carroll did not touch any of the assertions lie had made in Auckland relative to the transaction. The laws said that the consent of the Governor-in-Council must be obtained before a larger area than 3000 acres of Native land could be parted with, and yet the confirmation of the sale of Mokau to private individuals had been completed sevendays before the Order-in-Council had been issued. Fifty-three thousand a'cresi — rich in minerals —had been sold at 10s 4id per acre, and now the ActingPremier proposed that an inquiry be made by the Native Affairs Committee, comprised of nine Government members and three Oppositionists. “I can sit down and write the report of that Committee now,” said Mr Massey, amidst laughter; “but I am going on. I’m after it.” (Loud applause). Air Alassey next referred to the >uct that a block of land at Kawhia had been advertised for sale, on the optional tenure, but after people had come from all parts of the Dominion to view the land, the Government had wit-n----drawn the optional tenure, because the land was.suposed to possess minerals, which should not be parted with by the State. Yet the same Government allowed the Alokau lands and their minerals to go' to speculators. (Laughter). . Referring to the proposal in the Land Bill of last year All* Massey said it had been made a penal offence for a person owning over 333 acres of first-class land to acquire a further area, yet an area of 53,000 acres of Native lands could be disposed of to speculators without the slightest risk of imprisonment. “If that is Liberalism,” he said, “its not Liberalism as I understand it.” (Loud applause.) The Opposition Policy. The speaker then proceeded to detail the policy of the Opposition as outlined in his Wellington speech, dealing with finances, the fiscal’ system, reform of the Legislative Council, reducing the age limit of old age pensions to wo-

men, the reform of. the civil service, etc. He claimed that the moneys of the Government Savings Banks, instead of being borrowed by the Minister of Finance, should be made available to borrowers in the Dominion for the development of* internal resources. This would ensure increased interest to depositors and assist small settlers and others. (Applause.) Mr Massey strongly criticised the withholding of information concerning the cost of raising the five million, and other loans, and said this was not fair to representatives of the people . (Applause.) He did not believe the five million loan would ‘have been raised last year unless the Government wanted plenty of money in the background with > which to influence the elections. Referring to death duties the speaker said that these affected small estates as well as larger ones, but no country on earth could be claimed to be made to prosper by increased taxation. (Loud applause.) Tha Land Policy. In dealing with the land policy Mr Massey said his party desired that the leasehold be retained as a stepping stone to the freehold, which every tenant should have the right to acquire, if so disposed. He believed there should be a limitation of area. Dealing with Native land lie stated there were hundreds of thousands of acres up north producing nothing and contributing nothing in taxation. He admitted that some slight movement in the settlement of Native lands had been made under the Act of 1909, but this was not sufficient. They should give the Natives every encouragement to occupy and work their own lands, but if they did not do so, the lands should be utilised for European settlement (applause). They should do everything possible to break up the communistic system of living which was a curse to the country and the Natives themselves.

Dealing with borrowed money, Air Alassey reiterated his former statement and exhibited official documents in support of his contention that only 61 per cent, of the loan money had been expended on what were known as reproductive works. The balance of thirtyseven per cent, had to be found from the pockets of the taxpayers, and meant a substantial increase in taxation. “Utter Nonsense.” Sir Jas. Carroll had said that 130 Europeans owned thirteen million acres of freehold land, but that was utter nonsense. There tvas . not '-a single European owner in the Dominion owning 13,000 acres of land (applause). In reference to the Legislative Council All* Massey said that this at present was infinitely worse than the House of Lords at Home. He advocated the election of Legislative Councillors on the proportional representation system over large constituencies. Mr Massey resumed his seat —after speaking for nearly two hours aiid a half — with a strong appeal to the electors to return to Parliament men of honor and integrity, irrespective of party; men whom they would consider themselves justified in appointing trustees in their estate. (Loud and prolonged applause.) On the motion of Air J. C. Cooper, seconded by Air J. Edwards, the following resolution was carried by acclamation and without a single dissentient :

“That this meeting heartily thanks the Leader of the Opposition (Air Alassey) for his able address and declaration of policy, and is of opinion that the time has arrived when a change of administration would be in the best interests of the Dominion.” Three lusty cheers for Air Alassey terminated what the Leader of the Opposition considers one of the most successful meetings he has held in the Dominion. Air Alassey speaks at Pahiatua to-morrow night.