MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14300, 21 February 1910, Page 4

MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

In speaking on Saturday to the electors of Franklin, Mr. Massey prophesied that the next general election in the Dominion would be as keenly fought as the one which has recently been concluded at Home. We sincerely hope that his prediction will be justified, for the worst feature of our Dominion politics is the indifference with which the real ißsues are regarded by the public at. large. Were our people more interested in public affairs there would be no op-

>, portunity for Mr. Massey to make s his trericha-nfc criticism . upon the ad- >- ministration of Crown and Native J Lands, for the simple reason that no ; party could possibly remain in office • which neglected and impeded land ■ settlement as it .is both neglected s and impeded in the North Island. ■ Then the great majority of the • people of New Zealand, and - the ■ great majority of their • members in • Parliament, are professing Free- > holders, yet the Land Bill introduced i last session v was abandoned, notori- • ousjy because it did not please a s small section of Leaseholders. Mr. Massey termed the Bill "a hybrid ! thing," and perhaps it was. But purebred or hybrid, it was not > passed, so that the good which was in it was lost to the community. It has been frequently said that taxes ; are one of the only two things of i which men can be sure, and we can certainly be , sure of ever increasing taxes in this Dominion. We agree i with Mr. Massey in ascribing this to the weakness of the Government, ' which is extravagant where it should be economical • and slothful where it should be enterprising, as anybody can i perceive who compares the expenditure arid receipts upon South- > era Railways with the expenditure and -receipts .upon Northern Railways, and who estimates the enor- • mous annual losses through the persistent locking from production of ' millions of acres of fertile land, part ! of which is actually traversed by the . Main Trunk. We do not hesitate to assert that were Mr. Massey in office this intolerable state of affairs would not be permitted to continue, nor that the most urgent need of the Dominion at the present time is for an energetic land settlement and practical public works policy. ; Among the many- pleasant and well-deserved compliments paid to Mr. Massey on Saturday, there were none more meaningful than the repeated assurances that he has the ; constant confidence and respect of : agriculturists throughout the Dominion. -