A POLICY SPEECH.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1868, 12 March 1913, Page 5

A POLICY SPEECH.

THE PREMIER AT CHRISTCHURCH.

HUGE AUDIENCE.

CHEERS AND GROANS

(Preu Association.— By Telegraph. Christchurch, Last Night.

The Prime Minister addressed a large audience in the Theatre Royal to-night. The building was full by seven o'clock, and when the meeting commenced there were as many outside the building as there were inside. The Mayor of Christchurch, Mr H. Holland, presided. When the cuitain was drawn up, pandemonium reigned for several minutes, cheers and groans alternating until Mr Holland rose to his feet "I want to say," said Mr Holland, "that there are a great many people outside, and if yen don't want to listen you can let them have your seats, i appeal to you to give Mr Massey a fair and impartial hearing and to uphold the name and reputation of our fair city. I now call upon the Prime Minister to address you." (Cheers and groans). MR MASSEY'S SPEECH

Mr Massey, upon rising, was greeted with further cheers and groans, but these soon died down, the Premier smiling heartily the while and waiting calmly till the noise subsided. "I thank you," he said, "for the very hearty reception you have given me." The Mayor has suggested that you should give me a fair hearing. Let me tell you that lam going to say to-night what I came here to say." (Applause and a voice: "What about Waihi?") "I spoke in Waihi, and I got a fair hearing in Waihi and in every other centre where I have spoken. lam going to make a policy speech. The public have now had eight months' experience of the present Government and a huge majority of the people say—" The rest of the sentence was lost through interruptions. The Mayor again appealed for order.

GIVE ME A SQUARE DEAL. Mr Massey continued: "A lot has been said about a square deal. Give the Prime Minister a square deal." (Applause). "Unprecedented in the history of the New Zealand Parliament, we nave hart numerous difficulties, financial and otherwise. Our financial difficulties caused our Finance Minister to go Home. < I am speaking of the legacies left us by our predecessors, the short-dated debentures, which in the case of the loan last year meant that the whole thimg has to be gone into again. The policy of the present Government is to spend loan moneys in a manner calculated to bring the greatest benefits for the Dominion and the people of the Dominion. We are lending local bodies money at the same rate as it cost us to get it. That is what I call a square deal. Let me refer to some of the canards sent round the country prior to the last election.'' (Applause). ABOUT LOAN FLOATING. "One of the best financial barometers is the Post Office Saving s Bank. The deposits now exceed the withdrawals, and we hope that the money will be cheaper. (Applause). Mr Allen deserves to be congratulated on the success of his mission—(Applause)—and the country deserves to be congratulated upon what he achieved. It proves how well the country and its Government stands in the estimation of those at Home.''

Mr Massey then • dealt with the £5,000,000, which, he said, had cost £4 12s B%d per cent. "The loan of last year cost £5 2s 8d per cent. The loan we raised a month or two ago cost us £4 os 6d per cent. That proves that it was easily the most successful. It speaks most highly for the Government of the country.'' A Voice: "What about the Southland land transaction?" Mr Massey laughed: "Yes, what about it? Who is on top now? What did Judge Williams say?" A Voice: "How much did you pay him?" Mr Massey: "Such a remark is a disgrace to the city of Christchurch. Judge Williams is a man whom we hold in the highest respect. "(Applause). „ BUOYANT REVENUE. Proceeding, Mr Massey quoted figures in regard to finauce. It was necessary for the people to understand how prosperoas, from the point of view of ordinary revenue the country undoubtedly is.

THE DEFENCE ACT. "Now," he said, "I want to talk to these military people or antimilitary people. We amended the Defence Act last year. Formerly a person who refused to take the oath was met with a fine, which if not paid was followed by imprisonment." (Voices of "shame.") "The Act was altered to military detention."

After some interruptions and interjections a section of the crowd sang "Rule Britannia" lustily. The Mayor again had to appeal for order. THE LEASEHOLD SALE.

Mr Massey, speaking on the land question, said that authorities the world over agreed that the freeholder was a greater asset to the country than the leaseholder. There was no unearned increment. Where was it if they had to wait 999 years for it. They had given the life settlers'a square deal by enabling them to acquire the fee simple of their holdings. He believed that the Reform Government's land policy had done a good thing for the settlers and a good thing for the country. Mr Massey then proceeded to refer to the Southland land transaction which he described as an '"Opposition male's nest."

FREQUENT INTERRUPTIONS. Mr Massey's references to the Waihi and Reefton industrial disputes were punctuated with frequent interruptions, but in the end the Mayor's appeals for older were practically acceded to, and the speaker was given a fairly good hearing. He foreshadowed amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which, he said, the Government would stick to and endeavour to make perfect. The reform of the Upper House would also be gone on with. Mr Massey's references to the provisions marie for Maori war veterans and their widows and orphans were greeted with hearty applause, and the address concluded

amid loud cheers and clapping that drowned the groans of the opposition section. A MOTION. Mr H. D. \cland moved: "That this meeting of Christchurch citizens thanks the Prime Minister for his address, and expresses its confidence in his administration." Mr F. Cook, a Socialist and antiniilitarist. moved as an amendment: "That this meeting of Christchurch citizens lias no confidence in Mr Massey or his brother Ministers and expresses its dissatisfaction of his whole policy as being against the best interests of the country; and that we believe the Government's land policy is in the interests of the land-owning classes." The amendment was first put to the meeting, and then the motion. A great many held up their hands for each amid cheers and groans. The Mayor declared the motion ! carried and the meeting closed.