MINISTERS IN REPLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17935, 31 October 1918, Page 5

MINISTERS IN REPLY.

MR MASSEY,

Mr Massey: Ido not know that I can say much to you in reply, except just to explain the position from the Government’s point of view. This is not the first deputation we have had on this question. Even during the present session, although the session is only a few days old, a deputation waited upon us from the business men, then another came along from tho prohibitionists, and we have a third deputation here to-day from tho trade- My secretary informed me this morning that applications have come in lrom other sections asking to be heard in the same way. I do not know if they intend to approach tile House or the Government by petition, or if they intend to come along and exjpress their opinions on tho proposals now prominently before the country. You will understand, therefore, that tho proper position for the Government to take up is simply this: that until we get the whole of the petitions or opinions from those sections of the community which intend to expr -.s them to the Government it would nol bo a right thing to define or outline the attitude of tho Government on the question. That would he judging the proposals before they are beforo us. As soon as we get all tho views before us wo will deal with the question. Let mo say, by the way, that any further representations must come within n very few days. If there are any further petitions they must come along certainly not later than next week,.because the matter will then bo referred to Cabinet. Wo have already acquired a lot of information on what is admittedly a very difficult question. I think wo have all a good deal of experience in thinking upon tho very difficult problems involved in' this question. I would just like to say, and am glad to notice that speakers agreed ivtih mo, that I hope very sincerely that whatever happens to 'be done—and something must be done, some action certainly will bo taken —will be final arid satisfactory. (Applause.) Something was said about the soldiers- It is just as well to he perfectly clear that whether the question is submitted to the electors at the time of a general election or by way of a referendum or plebiscite, a vote or tho soldiers will bo taken. It does not matter whether the soldiers are here or on the western front or on any of tho fighting fronts. Our soldiers are scattered all over the fighting front, and they have done credit to themselves and the Dominion on every one of thorn. (Applause). Wherever the soldiers and whatever the occasion may bo, wnether it is a general election or an ordinary referendum—which I think would be new to New Zealand, although lam not quite clear—tho soldiers will have a vote. The Government have quite made up their minds on that point. On other points they have not made up their minds, and it will be impossible for me to give you a. definite opinion to-day as to what the Government proposals will be. 'When the whole of the proposals have been submitted to us, then at the earliest possiblo moment you will be informed, and the public will be informed of tho legislation, or nature of the .legislation, that the Government intends to introduce. (Applause). , SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Sir Joseph Ward said he had listened to the three petitions, or rather tho sections petitioning, with a good deal of interest. Ho desired to say, as the Prime Minister had said, that he thought tho matter had to come up for settlement with a view to letting tho peoplo of tho country finally say whether they were going' to have the question of prohibition, continuance, or whatever it might be, settled, instead of being everlastingly dragged across the front of whitli 'lio might call the public questions of tho day. The country had some mighty difficult problems to settle within the next few years, and tho 'work of settlement would have to be commenced within the next yew-

Jhese matters vital to every interest in the country, and in his opinion evciy section of the community would have to recognise it. On this ailimportant question the introduction of a compensation clause from his point of view as a public man was important, and ho understood that it had been generally assented to by different sections ot the community who had been opposed to it before. “It is one of the important elements that are going to come into this matter.” Sir Joseph said, “and in dealing with tho representations you have made I for one am going to keep that, issue in connection with this important matter clearly before mo (applause), and when we have gone into the whole matter in Cabinet, after the two other petitions aro received, the whole matter will receive that consideration which tho Prime Minister has referred to, and you, gentlemen, will have an opportunity of teeing what tho proposals of the Government aro as soon as wo have decided upon them. This is a very importune and difficult question, requiring tlio fullest consideration, as far as the Cabinet, Parliament and people of tho country aro concerned.” (Applause.) Mr Kernot. in. thanking tho leaders for tho courtesy with which they had received the deputation and for their utterances on the matter, said the deputation fully recognised the difficulties surrounding the question and did not expect a. definite answer that day. However, in the face of the overwhelming evidence which had been adduced that day they did expect finality would bo reached, and they believed tho petition which they had placed before tho leaders would roach that finality.