POLITICAL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 7 June 1923, Page 5

POLITICAL

SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY

CABINET CHANGES

FINANCIAL PROPOSALS

(BY TELEGJttAFH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) * DUNEDIN, June 6. | The Prime Minister arrived at Dun>g | ediu this afternoon, and was received a- jat the^ railway station by the Mayoi [j. | (Mr. Tap ley), councillors, and a larg€ Lf> ; number of citizens, and accorded a cor- ! dial welcome. He was motored to his re i hotel, led by Highland pipers. In the >c evening he was entertained at a com- & plimentary dinner. He will receive a number of deputations to-morrow. During the course of his address at a I the complimentary dinner, Mr. Massey n ; intimated that in the rearrangement 5- iof Ministerial portfolios the Hon. W. lt j Downie Stewart would take the office ■ of Minister of Industries, and that he n (Mr. Massey) would take control of the Public Trust Office. Other allotments 1- would be gazetted in a few days, h The Prime Minister referred to the ■ importance of irrigation works in Cen- ;' tral Otago and to the increased pro--6 I duction that would undoubtedly result therefrom. He quoted figures showing that the total trade of New Zealand ha<J increased from £45,000,000 in 19]3 to £82,000,000 in 192-3 (ending March). Imports for the same period had increased by 68 per cent and exports by 98 per cent. Great increases were shown in wool, frozen meat, butter, cheese and other products. The wages in manufacturing industries had increased from £5,572,000 in 1913 to £11,519,000 in 1923. He dealt at some length with financial proposals to be brought before . Parliament in the coming session in re- ; gard to a reductian of taxation. He spoke of the Government's intention to increase the amount of the loans to i setters and workers. He also touched on Imperial matters, and said it was for Parliament to decide whether he should attend the Imperial Conference in London in October next. 1 Mr. Mossey was warmly applauded on resuming his seat. '