POLITICAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16550, 14 May 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL.

PRIME MINISTER AT GISBORNE, [Peb Press Association.] GISBORNE, May 13.

The Prime Minister fulfilled his engagement to speak at Gisborne to-night under extreme difficulty, as a result of the delay of the Warrimoo at Wellington on Monday. She did not reach Poverty Bay until 8 p.m. Before she could let gp anchors a fast launch, which had been lying in wait for her, ranged alongside, and Mr Massey was hustled into it and across tho bay into His Majesty's Theatre, where he arrived only a few minutes late., and was greeted with rousing cheers by nearly 3000 people. Tho theatre was packed to overflowing, and the building was surrounded on all sides by people who looked in through odd chinks and ventilators, while numbers of men spent j;he evening standing on the outside of upstairs windows and endeavouring to see into the crowded hall. "You're late," accused a voice as Mr Massey commenced to speak. "Yes," rejoined tho Prime Minister. "I'm sorry, but it's not my fault; it's my misfortune." "Then build the railway here," retorted the voice. The Prime'Minister said that his experience in getting to Gisborne was ono of the strongest arguments he had yet felt in favour of the Gisborne-Napier railway. (Cheers). Proceeding, Mr Massey said that the Cabinet had decided that tho time was ripe for a strong forward move so far as the development of the country was concerned. The people needed bridges, roads and railways. If tho producers of the countrv were to make tho most of their opportunities the opportunities must be improved for the people _of tho country as a whole. "I am going to ask Parliament this year," he added, "for a larger sum than for many ' years back for the carrying on of public works." (Applause.) As to railways, the Government could not possibly comply with all the requests that were being made. It was first necessary to pay attention to the trunk lines, such as would connect Napier and Gisborno with Auckland. # (Applause.) They would not play dog in the manger, however, hut would give companies the opportunity of building such branch lines on condition that the standard gaugo of the New Zealand railways was used and with the understanding that the State would some day take over these lines at a valuation, j Tho Prime Minister dealt with land settlement on tho lines of his Napier speech, and said that his Government would keep every plcdgo and promise it had made to tho people. In fact, many promises had been fulfilled already. A Voice: Second ballot, eh? Mr Massey: Yes. I promised to knock out the second ballot whenever 1 1 could do so. and I did it. (Applause.) A Voice: What did you put in its | place ? Mr Massey: When I get something better I will give it to you. Until I can get something bettor I will not have the trickery and intrigue of the second ballot. I would rather leave it ;as it is. (Applause and jeers.) . A Voice: That's politics. I On the defenco question Mr Massey said that the land defence system was not perfect, but it would be improved as circumstances dictated. All the discomfort the Territorials were receiving in camp would, he thought, make them better men. (Applause.) When on the subject of naval defence Mr Massey was subjected to considerable good-natured banter and interjections. He stated that an arrangement had probably by now been completed for a conference in tho near future between tho British dependencies On defence. Ho believed the time would come when the people of tho Pacific would have to fight for naval supremacy, just as their forefathers had done. Ho always had held the naval question \ above party politics, but he could not refrain from referring to the statement made by Sir Joseph Ward regarding the gift of the Dreadnought. The speaker and others held the idea that the people of Now Zealand had paid for the Dreadnought. However, Sir Joseph Ward stated in Wellington the other night that only two sections *of tho community, those who went in for horseracing and those who paid death duties, paid for the battleship. What would the people of England say wheii they heard that Now Zealand had not paid for the Dreadnought? It was ridiculous to make such statements as those made by Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Massey dealt with tho subject on the lines of previous speeches. Proceeding to touch on closer settlement, ho said that he intended to ask the Government to place a sum on the Estimates to assist in reading the backblocks. During the year 37,500 acres of freehold rural laud had been subdivided and disposed of. Tho Government was out for closer settlement, and this was proof of it. In response to an interjection ho said the Government intended to see that the intentions of Parliament with regard to preventing aggregation were carried out. His Government had spent more than anv previous Government had spent onVorkers' houses, and this year would place not less than £75,000 for this purpose. He replied at some length to last week's speech at TeKaraka by Mr Macdonald, M.P., and touched on Native lands and the strike. A motion of thanks and confidence met with a somewhat mixed reception, but was declared carried. Taken all round, the meeting was the liveliest political meeting held in Gisborne for some years, but nevertheless the Prime Minister received an attentive hearing, and dealt in_ a masterly manner with numerous mterjecMr H W. Delautotir, who will contest the' Gisborne seat in the Reform interest, also spoke. I Mr Massey will leave for tho south on Friday.

OAMARU SEAT. TFrom Our Correspondent.] L WAIMATE, May 13. Tt is stated that Mr J. A. M'Plierson of Ngapara, who unsuccessfully contested the second ballot for tho Waitaki seat at the last election, has acceded to the invitation of the Oamaru Liberal Association to become the Opposition candidate for Oamaru.