MR. MASSEY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12856, 3 May 1905, Page 6

MR. MASSEY AT CHRISTCHURCH.

; A CROWDED HOUSE. ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOM K. i ! i | VIGOROUS FIGHTING SPEECH. REPLY TO THE PREMIER. iHY TKI.KOUAIMI. — ClU.s.s ASSOCIATION.] ( IIKISIVHURCH, Tuesday. Mis. Masskv. Leadei of the Opposition, addressed a meeting to-night in the Theatre Royal, which was crowded in every part. The Mayor of the city (Mr. C. M. Gray) presided*, and extended a welcome to the .speaker. Mr. Massey was received with prolonged applause on rising. He (banked the Mayor for his hearty welcome and reception. . Owing to misrepresentations made in certain i •quarters, he had decided to address : Christj church audience, and he wished to deal especially with the Premier's recent speech at Pahiatua. TRANSFER OP BALANCES. Mr. Seddon had said with reference to his (Mr. Massey's) statement regarding the Public Revenues Act, 1900, that it was possible ,to transfer the balance of one vote to another, that it' was false. Mr. Massey quoted from the Act to .show that, moneys may be transferred in aid of any other vote in the same class. As to .Mr. Seddon's statement that the Stafford Government had transferred the ■balance of votes in 1367. he said that the balances transferred wen, surpluses of votes after the particular works had been completed. This was a different thing to the vision in the Public Revenues Act. It was quite true that the. Waterhouse Government had referred a, dispute between .the Auditor-General and the Government to the Attorney-General in 1872, but six years afterwards, when the Grey Ministry was in power, that particular piece of legislation had been repealed, and so it remained till 1900. when the Seddon Government, to their : everlasting disgrace, had placed it on the ! Statute Book. THE UPPER HOUSE. The speaKer then dealt with the policy and platform of the Opposition on similar lines to his- recent speeches. Referring to Legislative Council reform, lie said his friend ..on his left (Sii John Hall) was the- type of man that should be appointed to the Upper House, The reference to Sir John Hall was received with much applause, and cheers were given fo.- Sir John Hall. PUBLIC WORKS FUND. Mr. Massey, continuing, referred to the Premier's statements regarding payment out of loans for repairs, renewals, and alterations to public buildings. He said that surj pluses from the Consolidated Fund had been I transferred to the Public Works Fund. He believed that if the public accounts were properly kept, and if kept as a business mad 1 keeps his books, there would be nothing to transfer. • THE LAND QUESTION. Dealing with the land question, lie said a mistake had been made in repealing the deferred payment, perpetual, and homestead systems, and substituting lease in perpetuity. The present Government, by introducing half-a-dozen times the Fair Rent Bill, bad forced the idea in the minds of the settlers that the contract entered into when leases, in perpetuity were granted was to be broken. Regarding the Premier's statement that he (Mr. Massey) had opposed the lands for .settlement policy, he said that his Parliamentary record showed that he hud taken every opportunity of insisting that the land of the colony should be open to the jieople of the colony, and had never lost the opportunity of urging that closer settlement should be promoted. There was plenty of room for improvement in connection with the Lands for- Settlement Act. Ho did not believe in the compulsory sections of the Act, because they placed too much power in the hands of one man—the Premier. When it- was necessary to take laud compulsorily., a similar system to that adopted where similar legislation had been introduced should be incorporated in the New Zealand law. so that the proposal to eompulsorily resume any estate should be submitted to the House, art* if the House agreed to its compulsory resumption, it would be so resumed. This publicity would prevent any wrong being done. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS ALT'. The Premier had misunderstood his (Mr. Massey's) reference to the Advances to Settlers Act. He was quite aware of the amending Act that Mr. Seddon spoke of, but he pointed out that the amending Act only provided for advances on land without the buildings, and only to the extent of half the unimproved value of the laud. What, he (Mr. Massey) wasted was an amendment, of the Act whereuuder the wage-earner could get an advance on the building society principles on a house he intended building. Workers ought to he able to get such advances at a ( low rate' of interest, and should be able to repay the whole amount gradually. He advocated the adoption of the American law, making the wife a legal partner with the husband in a house if owned by the husband; He referred to the fact that one of the Government Departments last year lent £16,500 to one person. It would have been much better for the country it* I hat sum had been lent in 33 sums of £500 each, MR. SEDDON ON WAGES. Regarding the Premier's references to men on. relief works being paid .is 6d per day, he quoted from a speech made by Mr. Seddon on November 18. 1887, in whirl, he argued that wages should not recced Is or &s per day. I PREMIER'S KLI-XTIONEERING METHODS, lie protested against the Piemier electioneering at the expense of the colony, and alleged that the Lontractois to the Government Departments were practically compelled, to contribute to the lighting funds of political organisations with which lf:e Premier was connected, and of which he was treasurer. He denied that the Opposition had obstructed the passage of the Hush And Swamp Lands Bill, and stated ! that 55 Government members had spoken on the measure, while only 26 Opposition- ! ists had spoken on it. mi; opposition's POLICY. j 11,. slated that the policy of the Opposi I i{'on !<>nsisted of a proper audit of the i public .accounts, the repeal of the Public I Iteveivuos Act of 1900. reform of the Legis- ' lalive Council, establishment of » Public : Si i vice Hoard, economy and sound finance, ! local government reform, sinking funds in. . omieetioii with Inline loans, option of freehold to settlers on Crown 'lauds, in- , dependency of the magistracy, Parliameni Laiy business to be done in reasonable i hours, and equitc.bie settlement of the ua- | live land question. j He concluded a two hours' speech, which • was favourably received and frequently J applauded, by urging the claims of the [Opposition party to the support ■of the I electors. ! Mr. Massey answered a large number of ] questions, and was accorded a heartv vote " of thank.*;