THE REFORM CAMPAIGN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 280, 15 November 1911, Page 3

THE REFORM CAMPAIGN.

Mr Massey at the lheatre Royal. The Leader in Great Fighting Ferm. An Enthusiastic Reception.

Ii >■ 1 h mit ■ 17 >; .i l. '.. <, ■ < .: ;.a<■ k >■• i. i t« 1,'..-r tl< .w it-" !;•■: c, ••rmr; i>’i all attdtrm »• ti» hear a poi 1| n-.;i.i itihir.:-" l.y Mr. W. F. Ma '<y.. I. :i<!» • <>f I h«- I,riii I' •• ' . I;. ■ • : ■ ■ ' . [ . -i • : si • k >>; i|< I • ■Xtra .<■;ii ; ; 1" ai'comn;.>< !■: ■■ : ,i for a’.oist people being pro- ■ : ' : t • IX ■. Tl.,' [>j >• .-■ :..:< • i 1.-- < io.r !.• uL : ->n 1 1.-->..r;n ivr.s signa! for kind ci rii intieil aj-p'htiist. mid there was ; fart !o-r «;V t luirst. followed l.y rher-rs. v. hen i><- r<or to >p<-ak. Mr i■. W . Viil. an.- o i d t ■ i ii.t :r and « xtt niied a hearty v. t h-oine to M ■ .Y!,-’.-, -. >. I . s’: •I- - '' t Mr. Ma-s»-y <■<>;>:li i-tivi d li.is ;><i iln'ss 1 y t fiai'kiiu; th"’ lutiartice fo’ rL< »• very tmdiai i <■<"«■[>: ion. Ht ■-aid he had been told that in visit ■- Ni’pi- '. ■ '.i:.' “ lu'o th< ■ a’.,-. . • f . In.: i beet 'in the camp ■-< the riirtny l>< for< • ard lie gt’iif rally left it ihe home <>’ , f . A[>[>;.•. '<■>. H" i'xti:.--M-ii hi- i >!ra«urc at scciny mu-Ii : Inrsje attcndaiic'*. v. L went t, : show the great .titerrst t!i<- peoph i displayed in the politics of thi (•raintrv. This u.’.', only as it slioiiir’ !>... .’ was good fo ■ :' -■ r<i.,:.ti i a'.' good for the t io-, err tnvnt ««f th< ... j : . |f t 1 • ■i'-ii-' apathetic towards piddic affairs, th. m po-.'..;, ■.. t.o<'.. r ;; tniud. .... wire :-i'.;n< d t > think th>-y wcri -ci'**-!' i f :*.<■ land. This was tin ::i t .liliM.i. i'll', th - part,, u o'Ti.ee there had recently been t ■. i <!iff>-rt . and r.e was <>: tin o- >:i that X’"-' Zealand uotib •oiio-.v Cat’.’.iia’- o:::»|'!r within th. 'U Xt fe’. V - rks. 1, ru-s of Never I i I,* ii' i. A g-*od 'l> al “f I■ n -T* P>. s, Sitat o l of t! ( )p|>O'lt 10l Party 1 .’.d I" ■ n i,o".e I t the Naple r. ip. rs, arid he wa . goring to strarith ',ii iriaitei' t:p. f.\[pi:ir~ ’. Hi V ;•-! nothipg to l-.l -e. He Itrtit. . ipn-«t >o’!s oi any pn.itu-al sitlijec <t lie wa- |i;i'pi.'rii to gne -tr.’igh a..-v. ei s. lire lletori.i Party n P.irL:l».u-:.t lofi pii' d a -< t of |>!aii bom a, <■*i ;■ ii*ri * men, win w, re \'ev.' Ze'tlnrtdr 1 s in the f/'les I tie- word, t! ' » Lad tiiei i one s .tad fa.niire, i • ..r.-i t 'tend < 't !■■ remain here. ,'.:.il he thairgh. ■th.i before t.e h.’.d ei.n.litlhd hi ad Ir. ss. ll.c andielK- wo. Li agri’i ’.-.ill; !iin> ! i.ri’ m tl«- li'iTi >- of tin llolairi on ti " p.e- nt ti.o, in nen sk.-dd lie turned "It of offle.' ' H ! , ~f No" ai .1 applai— '. n iiii'"i' of il.i- (Ypp.i'it nil i’art’ ha-gi-.i .1 |L" l-i ■: '...:r' lite t> the r-.e i f li. fol i-i:eh i patriot <c ■i-.i'-ii.'. and without an. poetmiarv reward, null i<i* vnaheng • d inn'll'' to -ny timt lie was wr>>ng < «. H** i; 117 'X* )’i- i* ( prutiii'C eitlier a railway, a road o: I l.ri.ige, or- lo ap.x ml any • it t/eii ...• Nr.pir I- |O the I.eg:-!1’.I I’. •• < oiim-I ,v, [| io rei-oiiimriid li '-ni a Instr... of lie- p.a.-i- >'..'.itkl.t' i ■>- h- ‘ ,i ,s not m a po-.iio i to d > tiiat pp. O t iiinty W 'lltd < oirie horl I.* w |,> n the Reform Party '.'■ere tv raiiir d :<> [' ■-> I’m! th* y < >ul< J offer willing ami honest service, am -an r- l.< fo e : i e |.e ._,>.<■ Xlltll • irtl ‘h".:;rl, and v. ilh men of ability. I. ■,,.i.-e : Uei >• got ti.. i<< now ;. Tin • ■ < -.i '! i.‘’t t- r -’ l»i !; l iaxa’ii'i a- wa- happening at pre- . , nr. .rad » l >■ tn.if had ariive-l win i ir- expenditure siio.ild Le kepmr:■r to ri itn om--. The pi ■ -rtf .o il.: .: r.-.t> >n i a.i I ■■■ n oft;. fori ■ ic.r' a :<i tie u-k.-d. w.:- it no. i far t ti:;:t taxation had liven pi!e< O. t'.e <• -; of h'mu r i■•■.d gone lif ‘ a i‘. r.i’-iy ai.d l Io- < <>f govern linn the country had mereastd out ■ of all proportion to the population. Ta.- land -v t. m v. -s me. m a ly a

-ati-metm". :;s it d-.rs ago land yir.i’L Ni-v Zealanders, th< bone r.r.d -.m 1 ”f ti ■ nntry. wer< iI, nv: itr th, i native Lind to tn V. i --" ttri ~..11l L-ei mole silltaba land and o:t >■< iter terms t’.ati they , ■ Id here. \ voiie: Wi ■> syirttider- the land Mr. MiiS'i i The I •<»' ei"i!’.< at ' squand.'ts th..' land. Tie ere..re-< ’and monopolists tn thi« roinitiy an . < :<>ve>-nme-it and the natr-'. ■rat.. •A; ,>iac.-e>. THE LAND. ( "out lifting. Mr. Massey .aid tl.aibe years ago the land system n s oj-i ration «as the optional * ma ■" . |.,. mail going on I iniui I.i ho. of 'Live ten.ire*. 0.R.P.L ll’, and freehold and before tie jc.i.-v m perpetuity' clause was taker r , 'll • ’ ' oil Id I pm 11. ulariy cnrctiil tint a c-t U r one vias ;at i.i its. pipe. i,u dr t .ovi ■ ntiu tit had tu> land ,»d - - p., <tb. .a I oi.d Bid V. 1.11 i- ’t -’O' McNab. .mil !t v,a ' ! l “‘- ;■■ < V. trim, ft ' ~i Si e ill.lst. * Lat.ghte: >. lie hi. It it i noil’ - ’ - ’fl [... the mast, Eh the n.a * p.i (, , ii ii >v. nat ■’•>! ' » ent • I-"*’ l , lir io • ■■» Tlw niatn p: >*■<•« ■'• . p.p Lsll v ■ ti.-if >’ "■’ - ; ..nde t.>.' a ’ row ii o-tth-i to i p , tl . Hc fc ci.old. The »-• i 1 w c U , I Tie 1- Xi ''ill Wil. -I ■ . ' ~f a '-plit t t.e uiffcren. e Lum.’ -- .»■.(! that was inoppcd aD". _ U' ' " .. f. cebo’il hill wa< i'fouglit in. <»u> .. i_. p, i .-ldc-s in the i...vernc etr p .... Pt .Iten.d to join the Opp.. .. and that Lil! v. a - al-" ai -y: , ~J -o A 1..1M hold bill was th. , t,, in- :nt rodueed. but tie t.-holders, objected and it wa ithnevn .werboard. and. tinaiy. a i•} , I tii*- Ifl m'-toii. ye' f HI ,-br measure t . i. instate th- - . t I’--' ‘he Hotts* He n-krnl. Wiiitt w:.l' the p.dt.-y o. _. , ~ -, in the 1.in, 1 qu»'s ■rci ’ , App’.-.i -eh N'. one in Nev Z. .i'.ind - ' v • c v... .. H ’ n jo- -p. A> t• - !.i’’<i l-Ju v was th Ji■ u ;«■ ■7U. I J 1 Jt» J D ■. , i I i. . ■ .-\r vJ »• V*u• * u» I b’’ i s nl l b ‘ . 11. V ..:',o ■■ ■ • ■ : . .. ■ ‘ ' i , /. i j t k i * : : 1 ’• ia * . p ;l . ..rn. • : N.q.i, r r!c. - . .i , !.. v. o.ild - ii>.(»«rt hire . , -1 .. I. -r. r f... \..|o.it t J- -- -s i

m.; o aiiK'i' It..- >r e. The Gov- <■; ;m.-» rit iro po!i<-y at all. They ! Ii;-.d hud pb-m;. of iipyortn nit ;i-s last --■■s-ioii to put forward a p-ii<;. in ' the 1- .: .<:< i.d Stat< incut. Lnt failerr ; • tin o. Tiie Fma:.e:al Sta . rm--it > was sin.p’y a vol e cat eh mg budget ’Another opporlunity l.r.d recent!v been afforded th.- i’lime Mmi-ler . • i.c'i i e made i.-i . log speech a! I\\ niton, .ii the eenne «>f I.is const it ! tiettcy. a long drawn-out speech- | t.ln-;"r- wt re -_’gi words ill some of the ’sc-ntences daughter) but m. policy, i This party lutd lx en in power for ',21 years, ami he like .-peaker) eon itetidi-d tiiat no party < o;.!-i iiobi -•ffn-e for -iich a [.»'riod iliac,t ■ii iirng aliii'The Reform I’.irt’, ranted to remedy tbo.-e ab:i es. In he Financial Statement or th,;pcei h at Wiriton ii .-o- -io word iii-i rr;i--i!r: t v at tim. m> <-i-h <-

>n !»:<■ part • I i i:e <b >. < riiiiieiit : o • i.a.i-le oettir ’i-ii.T • ia: methods. m> intention of dealing v„ ;ili the native land «|»;«- -; i< >• i vlm i, was probably lie inort import.tut of all. There was no desire on the part of the ’ i.n r rnment to deal wit h l.t gisiat iv • t’ottncil K t’orm. to better the system >f Public Service, or the rail?.ay de larlment. though the latter v scettiing wjtii litsi-otit .-i:i ami dis; up tion. Tin- Pubii:- Works - 't--.ii wa.Tie laugbii’g stock of other co.u.rtes : the adiiiiiii.'t ration of it was >xtr:;v again, ami the people were ■m: gelling value for tie ir mn;i.-v. "igl.;-en yctii- ago ;!.<■ (ton imir'Sp< ech l.ii’Hil'i d .1 local (Air, 1 ,: lii'ii’ E:li. The prom!'-' I.ad Iv n selewcd every s> s-,io:i since. Lui ilie: ■■ ’.a- m> i.;>! d.-’re ihe pm > of he (tov crnmeiH to deal with it. A linkin’

Mr. Mass.y : Y --S. M<-k:i i ' I’ll tell ’on all a’l.c.u it present iv. ami here s a litti • I don't know about t. i L.-mghter.)

The speakt r drew attention lo the fm t that the barden of taxation •m-reasmu < vr-rv .’ear. Ji i-ouh no t-onliime as it bad been doing fm- the last ft vv years. He said tliai a n g while ago he had heard .John dcmuim-e the incri asing ta. tr. ion. M hat would be tha i-liur statesman’s opinion if hi co .id see the state . f things a: i: ».ii! Mr. Mas'ii said that he w: - noi against bo lowing i.n tlir «•••:;; at".. be believed in it. but he vv;'s .tr'.iiglv opposed to the sy-'eti-of fm.aneia! plunging that had been taJ.ii.tr place during the atlministra

Mr. YJas.|. % -.dd ti e land poii.-y of he Reform Patty was the option of Im freehold. A man should be giv.-n ;ii:- i. asehrdd if h-- vvt-hed it. mt in- -iio-ilu also he allowed to .-iireh.ise ihe fic-'hold if h>- vv a • in he position io <n> s<>. Tins -ysiern in- f.i r to ho: i. paitn --. Hr tliir ip.-ak-t > r-pr-H'iiii >i a -'oiinmnily it sillier.. ;>mi km w what he waalking about, ami if a settler had my <i->'.d>t .-ilium his temire, he Aiiiild m-t fa-'.- hi' vv.irk with tha; •wtiti-l -n- -• ami ■•.;.-o ;• a-ger.ii-.it which ncant tiic v.cii'are of the country. >\ iiat was good f.-r the Slate was good for ti-- I e.iplc. There v.eri’ ho i-ami' of ~i tli -r- <m land ->c upi- d i.micr th- L.-asr m P.-i p.-i ut,v .11’111, 11:>- !.9fl yi'.'ii-' le;-.,<'. ami ii- considered they should Imvc tinright :•> pin chase at the capital »al'ii- on wliieh they vvi-rc paying in er. -I In 11n S.a’ . Il wa- the law if the land timt a settler's improveiii- - l»-'ni-i?->l tie tie- settler; ii'ui ’hat th-- g....Twi1l belonged lo tin,elilrr. ami th-- mu arn- d im ri-m.-nt was in th;- goodwill. He vias quite villing to submit this analysis to my a.-ti.ary in Napier. Supposing a nan purchased an area on the for an acre. ;:>.d held i: "or Di years ami then sold it nt LTo »er acre, people would say l.c had lone vv.-i’. The l:-w in.in wanted Ihr re.-hold, ami the Stale :i-k-d for th-' ■r.'sem day value, but the buyer nad already paid this to the vendor. ITi-’ t muits -l-o.:id i.e given th--■tight to a--q.ii--' the freciiold. and he money obtained in tins way •oulii hr us'-'-l in taking lamis fm settl .-tm-itt. For the purposes of taxation, tm-r-' v. a - m>.v no d.s-rm-inat ion l.ctw eeii those who work'll their land am I those who lid not. If a man owned five acres imi in.--.de it piodmtive. hi- was a go-.d <;t;<: ;i and shorn.i lie ereotirag■<l. a: -I m-t taxed to tl:e same ex‘ent as the man who did not till his S>/1 ami <liii not help th'- country to prosperity. i Apolause.) Tim p-.p;: lalion was leaving New Zealand and going to Quer-m land ami ot her parts •>f Australia because tlsere v. ere too -rany rest rn-t ;->ns to proi ur-- land in this D-'iini:i->'i. V, t.il-t i n- i-‘ v-as an ure of mi--. - . ;-ii -I land and large trea- of Native lamis lying idle, it uas the duty of the State to make ■ami avada*»i • ; •.* ,-t i'em- u*. This •iffected the t .wits, lie-au.se they <lc->em;e-l alnuri entirely <m the coim rv. The prosperity of New Zealand h-pemb-d ->n the agricultural imi.is rv. ami ■■’.. .y t Lnig possible should >e d-.tt" to im-rcase th-’ number of »r---1

i of Si.- .1. V. ant’s Ministrv. Tlit <.< ; i rnment Year Book -howid Ilia-

per <ii:l, Im would mhiiii evei. 75 per cent, of ihe I•: I ■ ■ ;m m y w.'ii reproductive. But al tl: ri'-lii this was time. mos: p: !plc lost sight of lire fact that •lie : i',r ■ liing 25 ]-r '.ml -f I ii< rm m v ■. oniil only Im obfaimd i>'t l ;i mm Till- was the cause of I'm gr. til increase in the <• i-t of living. I. as proposed that a Royal • ..ii mi simi sliortld >:<• lormcd lo ilh]li:>'' int-i this, quest ion. but there wa- m. m d for i' as evervom' knew h-'V mi ch it ''-nt to live. No comitry v. i rild havi happy am: presperor.■id -it .mt s with excessive taxation. Tl - ta.xat i"n tell mo-1 Imai i!y <a: til-’ shoulders of the people v, ho wi re lea - I able I o beat it. I !.< • p ■.•iki-r pointed <mt that iii Par limmil! the business of the Onpo si'-oa was not s.Jcly to a, ■nt n i-e the < iov -u-nnici'i m ii-.is and ke'p t'e member's ‘iq t., tic mark." The (loveiimieni hmi ra’s'd many loans Im' i 1 was im i;-. -tb]e for arivo.ie to .’’nd out wl-.ri tlr.’v ri'aliy cost. At the beginning ot tire last I’arhanu tit ary se-si m de.ails of the cost of raising the var'' us I'-ans were four yimrs in .irri..r:-. This was a:i o!<i stam'rm’ gr.'\ ..it Every individnri! was .:tit < -.I t" receive information o! tics nature. Various motions liai' be -n brought torward that th; l irifo -nritioii should be supplied, but tiny had all 1)1'1'11 defeateu. As an exarnplc of the manner in which tli< financial affairs of tt.e i-ountry wtrt In iiir: carried on. tlm speaker st".'on 11 <.l dm itig the last fi w day - of the session an item ap purr'd on the Estimates fur £274 co t of o’fii ial eidcrlainment. (m. imii’.’itr wanted to know what h'iii' iri v was to:', but the 1..0v I'rnni-ml v. i re disinclined to give the inf'>.";ix tio;.. A long discuss:.>:i emu'll :n. • a di.isio:i took place mi the qrie •on. The r'suit was lira: both p.r tiis ’ii-re equal. The eliairman. t’s w. s nntitra). voted with the <lj>v'ritim is■,. So much t rouble result c<! ib.o ii..- < eiver imieiit promised to -i.pply a detailed a' '"’.mt next 'lay j tie Opposition meriibr is would ail iw llrn Estimates to be proceed .ri with. The details reqiiii'cil I'Uiiir do.’.;', ami were placed on tire t.'tbb’ nt 2 o'eloi k in the aftcruomi. Ih< fir.-.t two iiems wi'-e conni’i'tio’i ■ i h the rci-cpi ion of Lord and Lady

I > r < >• i: o * . •s. ! NATIVE LANDS. Dealing, wit’i the Native land <]tl‘ ■ !,.!» Mr. V.:-. said theie were not ! lie same ditlii'dties here as in tlie- ! ~nd p.ovine-. there ! .ven Lu a - an-a- iy n:g idle, .'tonic 1 .ears ag.. a Bill '.va> p:i-'id yrovid- | ng tli.it Na' i’.c lai ds should Lc I fated, and sotue time a 'o the Lag | a.i I o;.>; < ottiiiil had oh tamed ! lie nmne- ot three .' e ..’■•■ ir.-i ■ ivitli the intention suing !l >r i ati s arni te-ting tin - law. lull when i *li.e smnnions were taken om it was I that f.vo of the owners v.ere | lead, i Laintc.ter.) These lands were I leirtg increased in value by th“ *‘-x , i mnditnie of public i loney as in-; ! .taneeii m the eaw of t iie Mam ’ D mix line, wiieje land prev ucisly ' .allied at V!:> p-r acre was now i -Aortli £lojivo per acre in the boroughs. Tie* titles should be ill; livid taltM-d m tiie Nafves helped . (, use their Lan I-. but it they •< • .' lK cd to do this, the hir.d Miould ’•<' nad" 'tv ai'ab!.- for -< 11 »»■'*«»• ‘ he ...mg men would n -t be gom, ".it of Nell Zealand, i \ppL'i'.’.-e. 1 1 MOK AL. Mr. M.:—' ti.i.ed ii-' history' ot ’u,- Mok.i > d ml 11 o h , t-J. wie ii the ! •'■state w.i- fir-t ! to - •■ i I..slm:i .1.'..-. ’he • tt' I’m-m j nentiny eiimm;.- IL- said tee estate I ..ills u..;t>. at:..l iml b.-eh i -old I'. ; U 1”. Tie re Wil:- notlllllU On law to pi.-I ent i.H.n 11-ile-:.. • ion* in the fit'll.', and <’»d, m

Islington. Th. rc co.dd be no object :o-i to eit her of i i:e-< . It v :n the third iihivl cruised so nine*, ri.n:,:: i-rnent and astontslmient. Itns was for £-270. Un- c::st of entertaining •h ■ Him. Geotge Fowlds by i.iI- r ll - '1 g::e ■- . "Were yon r<>: ther-: 1 sl.o'.iteti ..;:e iiiterjeetor. "No. 1 was not. I was not given .i -1.. i:. Ilia; s perhaps why I ;-.;u ii.vs;it isiied.' replied Mr Mas f y aua.l-t ro.trs of laughter. This wao.ilv a small matter, but it showed hog f vi n larger ainoums might be wr.i’.gfully t.sf-d. A n-h.nu was i.i sight and piibi ..' opinion was In mg i stirred. The speaker suggested tlm I ( | 1( . bf-t method of pri ii-nting such abtis.s its thi-*e v. as to adopt the Canadian system. Iy wld<-li. at th-i-.ui of every tinaiierd yeai th*' Covinmumt ftirnisLcd a large riliini showing every cent expended Hid the person who ri evived it. It ...,iv needed a majority for the O ■ Mtion and it would n< t Le l am before til- -y-i-.n was adopted, n I If wa- iiiiu-h need tor improve Tin-ris lit th-• e.xprnditr.t'v mi public corks. There w«-. fm example, a railway between Wt-l’ingloii and the Hutt. This had been duplicated. The Mini-:, r ha.i tir-t iii-ked for’ i_-1.1., a- lid- would probably be .[j tl.:1 w as ll< » <led. The Miiii-ivr al-o explained that th i.....fn- fr. m the sal,- of .-nine land v. hi, 1. he pi‘-po -, d Io t. < Sami v.o.ild .|... in defraying the 'l'll.- -mu of money a-k< >1 for I.i tl,<-

CoimiJs being issued. The com pa iy who had purchased Mokatt w.ie Imril-headed business men. ami

tin y intended making mom y mil of th. M’ttlcr.. when il Was i ni up. Mr. \i: -s-y said what a lot moi<- settlers would have be-n put oil the -■-tat:- if tin’ Giivi-i'iiinciii had purchased it. ami pointed out the better positions the settlers would be

in if they w-’iit under the optional -V ieiii. The Mokau trimsaetion was .h ■ worst that had ever taken place, an i he was glml he had fore- d the

inmov. 'The only pail he obj-cie.l ’to wis 'lie .ss mg -'' the ()r<i:-r i.i- ( '<; 11: •!I. ’•’he speaker went mi io draw a comparison between tie treatment m led out l'i the speculator in the M- i; .a deal ami the treatment pro ’ viceu for s.-ttlers by the Laud Bill < i last year. Hr said that in this Bi I there wa; an awkwaid provision for Ihe limitation of area, by vvliicli i tlic ( lovermi’.-nt proposed ( although :l ii;;ii not been parsed into law) tl.; ! in the c.isc or a settler getimg i’r -wa lam! siitce lixn. if he occupied 1 ; eres first-i lass 1.i:,.i. or a -i area up t< g.'rxi 'an 1 beiiiini’ possessed -if an ml-H 'tio .a! ar.’a. he lici-iiuir a criminal. an ! was liable to a tine tq> to .1’544 an I iip tn tit e years in gaol. Ti..-.l wa; the treatment accorded settlers

Minister was io<erl ami lie spent it. L;:t • he again applied for am-lber l'i"'i.i!O'i which was granted, ar.4 oil again lor similar am mm! v. hlrli v. aids ) grnntc.'l. The.’!, lim'd 1 y, the Ministi r asked for £ :; .s.i u ii i, which also was grant'd. Anol her case in point was from Jbim dim A line was to o-i £irti.a: first, but before i: was finished :■ i.t’.d £ iiui,Oii'i. YVLcn mi-'li imstak<-s as these <-ottld happet' th. re was s imething serious'v wr-.ng. Pa-sing oiir public build m.is. the s.ieaki r wcirt «<:i to de.' l .! wi;h r. ads arid liridges. He de<-!:tr-ed that there v, as no check on an expenditure of £t>(Mi.n;io pi r yen' for tins purpose. Tim pei.ple .‘-ent incmbi is to Parliament to wai.-h *h:■ im ( res; s ami t a help t i <■' iitri.l tin’ business of lire mini--11 • blit of; Oil they coll'd Hol .'.'tail the necessary kimwieil.g'' to do so. For instance. a day or two before the Public Works Estimates were considered there were two votes of money set down, ■and these sums it was report' ll were all for tiie benefit of private individuals. He (the speaker) asked lir- Public

lona fide fai'im’i''■ but the laml speculator, who farmed the farmers. <-o ltd got an ()rder in-(’oum d to p'.i i chase 5:t.18M acres at b* i l per a-:e. Thai was Libel alism at the pre .cut time : tne ( aiverninent supj.o present iiad not king to say (lu ll (applausy). they vveie ashamed of il.'-ir party. The Lioei a h-ai ot t:day was extravagant borrowing. • i;.ladiinnist rat ion and spending money for party purposes. Trui Li'-eralism would never die. but he frl sure that the Liberalism he had j-i : 'lnscribed would die a natural dcatli on Dtcember 7t!:. (Ap plausv.)

Works Minister if tlx re was any truth in this slatemem. The Minis', er leplicd i hat as a matter of fact he thought ilie matter was not quite straight, and promised t<> stop the c.xpemlit :i> e. He was uncertain

whether (hi- Minister did so or not. A man named 11amilton, a candidal:" for the const it uency in which this.

mo.iry «ns i-.xpc idl'd. in of his speeches declared that thousands had been spent <1:1 clear ing ami digging ditches, etc., ami all this had been for the benefit of privat" laml own< rs. This candidate went still further. and said that if the facts on investigation

did mil turn out as he had stated he would retire from the contest. I'or every ease of this kind that was made public tiien* were perhaps hundreds going on in secret. There was. as these instances showed, a need for amendments in the financial arrangements. As ime check on expenditure. Mr. Massey ici-om-m'tided that no money should be spent oil public works wit Emit the a'l'.ii';' of local Inidies in the district c«i.u "‘i lied. As another check h * would suggest that no grants should lie made until a report had been submitted by a capable official as to whether the work was necessary or not. Money should only be spent in districts where there was a chance of settlement or of d'vclopment of mim ral resources. In J'.ngland im ney was spent for what v-cre kno'.in as developing purposes. it was pointed out that this would lead to all sorts of political tricks being resorted t". ami a Development Board apart altogether from tin 1 Govcrnim'Ut was formed, and tlm money was handed over to them for i xpenditure. Tins jvs(em was working splendidly in England, therefore why not in New Zealand.' An aitiendment of the local government Liw was verv lu'iessary. and an up to date, instead of an antedeluvian piece of ligislature should or lt was thought by manv people that tiie (-ovi rniuent of New Zealand was r. democracy, and that. it stood for progress. Some |ico pic even went so tar .’.s to believe that New Zealand was ail example to the world when in reality she was in very many respects behind hand. Tin' power of direct representation had been largely transferred to tire Minister. Ix'.eiy dav this was becoming more and more evident. Matters could be attended to by the Minister:-: --Oi d-ers-iu-Comieil they were called-one had been mad.’ in the famous Mokaii case. On tlm Customs Tariff itill a clause was insert' <1 that the Minister could mi-rease. deci'ease oi reaiove taxation altogether on iniplenients necessary for mining and dairying. Money was vot'd for roads and bridges, ami people thought that it was expended on them. It. however, may not be spent fm' the purpose for which it was voted. .The Minister mav take trie money ami spend it elsewhere. This had been done, bill not during the past three years. The power to do it. however. was still there and should Be removed. Salaries were fixed by Ac! of Parliament, but no Act was mc"ssary to increase them, a vote on the estimates wa- all that was nee.ssart. The matter could not (lien be propeiFr enquired into as the estimates wer.‘ always brought down and rushed through near the

4 «,f the session- ily this means it’ was possible for the salaries of ihe members of the judicial bench i(l be increased e'.iornm'.'.sly. He was not making any reibetio'.t on the indges. (»ne j'ulge received £2OO. a \ nr. He was shificd els’where and for two positions that he occupied obtained a total salary of IT) uc-r annum. Mr. Massey said the members of the judical bench should lie aboie r.-wards and above the fear of punishment. If they were not tlie independence ol our a. r()il ,is wmdd be af.-.e.-.L It jm ges vr . rP Pul suflieiemly paid let tl.r-ir ...pgries be in. r-'-a-. d L’lt omy b,. \<t of Parliament. N*w Ze.ikiir< wf) , the most imoerialisti.' <"->mam j„ a H the Bntisii Dominions. Tins wa- proved cm only by the gut a Dr.-uinmight but by the thmi-amls of gaihuit men who lefi Now z>a land to tight .against the Bo?rs m South Africa. Many <•( these brave fellows did not retmn and then lu.nes lie in African soil. These men went to assist the MtHmrland amt it was quite right that they should. The ~; f t of the Di eadumight was iin-tumm-ed to the members without any notice. Parliament h’lt that it had been sligl.te.l but -wallowed it’s .c-’iiph's The excuse given tor this precipitlite m - ion wa- tl at a < m >• b-lween Brit tin and Germany was « • , io. c \b- said that be ivts very d.oubtfil whither any v’risis' look ph.- ' at all. it was ver kind of ( L rmany to hold ba, k t’.nt’. New Zealand - Dreadnought |, lU lt and ri mb for a. tloti. The pre,ent of dm D. .-mluo mhl sii-ml.i nave I made in a dill -rent mamu-r. Pailiamein I. .C i l.:m' ,l 'eu eon veiled, and with the tvli-gi.tpa n , .. Uli have oven done uitlun !* hours ■tnd tie question would have b., 11 ‘ti’ -r.-imhl;. discuss, d. had h-cil 1 mstdted before the lull

of t.L" D: ea.Liougtii was made, and a temgram had been sent to each editor of every New Zealand newsii:ip. r isking (Lal the expenditure of n i.iK-v on a Dre idllonght be not criticised as it was a time of a prea’ nation tl crisis. Th' present of tlm Dreadnought was right tnough. lur. it was not done in the right way. '..' i ohoillv the pow of 'iie retire. ‘ent.itites of the people in I’arl-a-mimt was being taken awav .’.nd t r;i imfi-rrn'l to the Ministers. fi'. ir.ly right that tiie people would iiave soon would be tha‘ of being taxed. In order to prevent this ii was necessary for everyone to use his i..r h-r vote rightly on the 7th of Dect mber. In reply to an interjection Mr. Massey said lie was in favour of '-oil pnlsory military traimng. (( lie.'is ami Loot ;.) He pointed nut that there was a difference between compulsory training ami compulsory service. The time would come when Parliament would feel proud of its action in this matter. If the c-cniiti y. was fit to lice in the youths ought not to mind defending it. The speaker thought that men should be appoint'd 1 y a Public Service Board and urt by political militrnce. A public servant, was entitled to every political right, but he should not been. iie- a political agitator. The latest tlm speaker had done in carrying out liis opinion was to revmm.icnd that a stationmaster be made a Justice of the Peace. The Prime Minister in his recent speech at Winton declared that he (Mr. Massey) had nothing to do with the Advances to Workers’ Act. He des.iicd to give this statement a flat contradiction. Far from having nothing to do with it lie was the first man to move in the matter before Parliament, but tb.e motion was defeated. This was 1906. The reason why the proposal was not successful vias because Sir Joseph Ward recognised that it wonkl be inexpedient •I’m- such a measure to lie carried by the Opposition. His real intention was to bring it down later as his own idea. This he did and actually adoptid the same wording as the speaker had used in his motion a year or two previously. In this wording there was an error which lie pointed out in Parliament. The Premier refused to alter it, but next year an amendment had to lie made on the lines ugg-: st cd by himself. He cited this to show that the Opposition were as anxious for the progress and improve, mi nt of the working class as the pri st nt Government were. Another ■mall re form which the speaker said he intended to have carried out was to formulate a bill founded on the American and Canadian law known .is the Family Home Protection Act. Lilis protected the home against .-■verything but wages, rates and taxes. By this law the women would Lie protected. There would be difficulties ami complications in carrying out such a scheme, but they were not ms.upi rable. He proposed in his bill that the head of the family should be aii'.iii'til for £750 —in round figures about £lOOO. The family home cannet be sold or mortgaged without the written consent of the wife. By this !.'.ie has a voice in the affairs of the home and is placed in a much be tter position altogether. The protection would last until the youngest child reached the age* of 21 years. This was a little reform and should 're carried out regardless of party. Air. Massey then thanked his large audience for the appreciative way in which they had listened to his remarks. He urged that ail those who thought the Opposition the right party should vote in its support on D< ci. mber “th.

QUESTIONS. Mr. Massey said that it was difficult to tell why Messrs. Hogg and Fowlds left the Ministry. The latter gentleman had made a remark before resigning to the effect that if a democratic party arose lie woul join and do his best to help it along. The exMinister evidently thought that the Ward Administration was not that >.f a ikmocratic Government. Mr. Hogg had got into difficulty over his State bank proposals, and this was pri lialjlx tin* reason for his resignation.

Air. Massey express d (lie pl-asm-.« it had given him to address the audience. and n >ved a vote of thanks io the chair, vvliicli was carried by -u-i lamat mn

Arc you in favour of tiie bare majority in tiie licensing ballot ! Mr. Massey said that he was not in favour of the bare majority. If No-license n ore carried by a bare majority there was the danger of it swaying backwards ar.d forwards. During last session important alterations had been mmle to the Licensing Law. For example, they had left out the clauses relating to reduction an;i inserted another, viz : tiie right to vote for National Prohibition on the ball ,1 paper. He thought that no landid.ate should I?e pledged to either party until the working of the now Act had been given a fair trial. Mr. Massey said that he wanted a free hand and did not want the licensing matters to become a party question. Theie were many member.-. in the House who supported the bare majority, others who supported the three-fifths majority and others still who supported the 1! ’nth majority. When licensing- matters were being discussed both sides (Lssoived party as it were.

The export trade did not increase the cost of living. If the export ot our produce failed if would he <lisastrous to th? worker:'.. The Civil Service classification sy stent, ute speaker said, did nut provide for ' ecogr.ition of ability. E'.crv man should be paid on toe merit and the value of work per formed. In answer to a statement to the t fl’c t that Territorial:; who had joined the F Battery. Napier, were, after tr-iining with the battery, being tran-l’erred l" other regiments. Mr. Massey -aid that be did not think that such men should be prosecuted if they refused to serie a.iiidiiated. but that sone better ami move satisfactory i’.irangement sloiiht b«* rn.ii.le He would be pleased to assist th' Labour party m turning tiie Govi'io ami Hiot’.ui t it w.'ihl I <• a good thim* for In .th parties. < h> th.- motion of Mr. E. t !■ y. Reform eiimli Lii' . di. Massey a<eoi'<ie<l a unammoas \<<te ‘.t thanks