PRESENT DAY POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 158, 20 June 1912, Page 5

PRESENT DAY POLITICS.

WHO SHALL BE PREMIER

RIVAL CANDIDATES IN THE

NORTH

[FEB PRESS ASSOCIATIOX.]

Auckland. June 19

Interviewed on his return from the North, the Prime Minister, Mr. T. Mackenzie remarked: — 'The feeling in the country through which I have gone is similar to that I have found in other parts ot New Zealand— namely, a strong disposition on the pait of the people to give the present Government an opportunity of showing whether they can effect good work. The position, if I were to analyse it. at the moment would be this':—The public mind, by ail sorts of processes, was poisoned and prejudiced against the last Administration. yet notwithstanding that the Opposition did not secure a majority. The public are disappointed with the administrative and leadership ability of the present chief of the Opposition. The party that I am leading seems to fairly meet with the approval of the great middle classes and the steady workers of the Dominion. It is felt by many that the Conservatives, although they may flicker into life for a time, will never permanently hold the confidence or control the destinies of this country, and that if we are displaced we will be displaced by something very much more extreme than some of our critics declare us lO be.

The Prime Minister paid a visit to the Albany district to-day, among the party being Mrs. Thompson (sister of the Premier), Air. A. E. Glover, M.P., Mr. R. A. Harris, ALP.. Mr. F. Lawry. ex-M.P., several members of the Harbour Board, Air. W. A. Beddoe (Canadian Trade Commissioner), and others interested in the progress of the district. Subsequently the Prime Minister delivered an address, in the course of which he again referred to complaints by Mr. Massey that Ministers were neglecting their work in travelling about the country. Let him (the Premier) say that not a single particle of their work was neglected. His departmental work followed him and was executed on the train. It was, said the Premier, the duty of Ministers to move about as much as possible, and if the eagerness of the settlers could be taken as a criterion the country at large thoroughly endorsed that idea. (Loud applause.) As to Auckland, he had spent but a few days in the province altogether since he became Prime Minister, but its great potentialities and its vast undeveloped resources would justify at any rate a third of his time being spent in the province. He could say much more respecting Auckland, but if he did his political opponents would denounce it as bribery to capture the svmpathies of the province. (Voice : Never mind them and applause.) In answer to Mr. Massey’s further statement that the Government ha f r.o policy, Mr. Mackenzie pointed to his policy for making large landowners disgorge for the benefit of closer settlement. Air. Massey was also harping on the £4,000,000 loan in vague generalities. He had declared that short-dated loans were a mistake. Might he (the speaker) ask Mr. Massey, Was it now the right time to float long-dated debentures while money was exceedingly dear ! He thought the commercial training of the present Government was equal to dealing with the financial aspect. (Renewed applause).

A SHORT-DATED CHALLENGE

Auckland, June 19.

A breeze occurred between the Prime Minister and Mr. Harris. M.P. for Waitemata, at the meeting at Albany to-day at which Mr. Mackenzie gave a political address. During the course of his remarks the Prime Minister stated that rhe reason why the Government lost so many seats at the last general election was that “slander, misrepiesentation and lies” had been sown broadcast throughout the country “and.” he added, “I challenge any member of the Opposition to meet me on this platform and prove that such is not the case.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Harris rose and asked permission of the chairman to say a few words.

The chairman declined to allow Mr. Harris to speak; but the member for the district persisted, and sticking to his guns. Mr. Harris obtained a hearing, and addressing those present declared that he woul. accept Mr. Mackenzie's challenge. In reply, the Prime Minister said Mr. Harris knew there was no time between now and the session for him to meet and debate the point, lie had not accused the Opposition of circulating slanders, but they certainly Lad been circulated, and the result of the general election was due to that cause. The public min i had undoubtedly been influenced against the ex-Prime Minister m this way.

REFORMERS ON TOUR

Auckland, June 19.

Great pre-sessional activity is being shown by the Political Reform League. The Leader (Mr. Massev) addressed a meeting at Dargaville te-n»ght. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P.. for Wellington Central, being associated with him on the platform. Mr. Massey returns to Auckland, tome rrow afternoon, accompanied byMr. Fisher and Mr. Bradnoy, M.P. On Thursday night a meeting of the Parnell branch of the league is to be held nt Hamilton. On Thursday two meetings of the Waikato branch have been a.ranged t«> take place the same evening. -Mr. Young. M.P.. . : i.- an address at Hamilton. On Friday there w’H be an important meeting of the Devonpoit branch of the Waitemata league. A meeting of Palmerston North branch has also been fixed for Friday. On Saturday Mr Massey concludes his business in Auckland, and on Sunday night leaves for Wellington in order to attend the adjourned < f the party there on Monday.

Dargaville. June 19. Mr. Massey, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Bradney addressed a well-attended public meeting to-night. Mr. Fisher enforced the point that Sir Joseph Ward hauled off the money market with a loan to put the Massey party in trouble, if it formed a Ministry. The Mackenzie Ministry disagreed on fundamental principles. Air Bradney criticised the Government generally. He opposed the old age pensions as a votecatching expedient. Air Massey had an excellent reception. He spoke similarly regarding superannuation, and held that the underlying principle of British politics was that the party in power must possess the confidence of the Parliament and the country, which the Mackenzie Government did not. He refuted the Premier’s statement about liberality for the: land laws, contending that settlers should be given an opportunity to acquire the freehold. The chief 'point in local government was to do away with political inflcnce in the distribution of Government grants. The following resolution was enthusiastically carried :—

“That this meeting thanks Air. Alassey and his colleagues for their able addresses, records its appreciation of Air. Alassey’s long uphill fight while in opposition, and congratulates him on the assured prospect of attaining office in the near future.”

June 20. Messrs Alassey, Fisher, and Bradney were entertained at a complimentary supper after the public meeting last night. The keynote of the speeches was the solidarity of the Reform party, which was 38 strong, the confidence in the future, and the growing strength of Reform following in the country. Replying to the argument that a member of Parliament should be definitely on one side or the other, Mr. J. B. Coates, member for Kaipara, declared he must stick to his pledges and sit as an Independent. He also combatted the idea that a member should vote against, his convictions for the sake of party. A branch of the Reform League was formed.