UNFAIR TACTICS

Grey River Argus, 2 July 1914, Page 6

UNFAIR TACTICS

' ' LIBERALISM »S ' ' LITTLE WAY,

THE MEMBER FOR NAPIEB BOWLED OUT.

WELLINGTON, June 29. The unfairness of the tactics of the Liberal Party in the present political battle ure beginning to disgust even several of their own followers. The bowling down of the Minister for Marin oat Wellington, and th eatteinpt to stop the Prime Minister from putting his views before the people of Christchuntil, are typical examples that have brought a decided amount of support from the Liberal to the Eeform standard.- . The latest instance of unfair tactics comes from Napier, where Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P., and Mayor of Napier, objectod to a proposal to give the workers of Napier the benefits of the Act of last session passed by the Massey Government. This Act lit?. regarded a? worse than useless, because under it the worker was charged seven per cent, interest,, whereas the Ward . Government charged only 41 per cent. As a matter of fact, the Massey Government charges only five per cent, interest, and two per cent, for repayment of capital. But to carry the f.-.cts still further: the charges made by the Massey Government are exactly the same as are provided in Sir Joseph Ward's own Act of 1910. It was the Wardist Government that fixed the rate which Mr. Vigor Brown says it was a shame to ask the worker to pay. But the joke of the thing is that A\hen the Workers' Dwellings Bill was before the House in 1905, Mr. Massey moved to reduce the Tate for the acquisition of the 3 freehold in fee simple from six to five per cent, and actually, carried his- amendment by 50 votes to 13.. Even the late Mr. Seddon and other" Liberals like Mr. Davey, Mr. R. olcKenzie, Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr, Wilford voted for Mr. Massey *s amendment; while of the thirteen Liberals who voted against him only Messrs Ell and Hanan are now in the House. A motion by Mr. Massey to reduce the rate in Mode B of acquiring the fee simple from seven to six per cent. ; was rejected by o.nly seven votes, but a week later this proposal was taken, up by Mr! Seddon and agreed to on the voices. > ■ ' ' The whol ematter is clearly set forth in Hansard, Vol. 135, pages -611 and 7(51.