ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14855, 5 December 1911, Page 8

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

FIGHT FOR REFORM. OPPOSITION MANIFESTO, SOUND, SELF-RELIANT POLICY. POINTS FOR THE ELECTORS. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. W. F. Massey, has issued the following manifesto to the electors of New Zealand " Before recording their votes, I ask the electors of New Zealand to remember theßO facts : " Tho Reform party has submitted a definite, straightforward, and progressive policy. Tho Government has gone to the country with no policy; dissension in the Cabinet, rendered a policy impossible, and the Government has none to submit. It has offered the electors nothing but a, tirade of potty abuso and misrepresentation of the Opposition. " The Reform ' party offers a sound and self-reliant policy,' efficient financial administration, as compared with the reckless extravagance and frenzied finance of tho Ward Government. The Reform party would develop ihe resources of the Dominion, and send up tho volume of its oxports by leaps and bounds. It would enable the country to produce wealth, and gradually make it independent of the foreign money-lender. " The Reform party would bring about an era of progress in New Zealand such as is drawing tho world's attention to Canada at the present- time. The Creator gave the lands of the earth to the sons of man to cultivate, and bring to harvest; the young New Zealander is denied proper opportunity to settle in his native land, and .'is driven overseas to Queensland, Canada, and the Argentine.

" The Reform party offers a progressive land policy, the truest and best policy in the interests of every man, woman, and child in the Dominion. The present generation has a right to the lands and the wealth produced therefrom ; at present industries are handicapped and employment decreased by tho ' taihoa' attitude of the Government, which has given over much of the great and valuable estate, of which it is trustee, to idleness and noxious weeds. . , .

" Tho Government has no programme; its candidates offer vain apologies for- its notorious neglect of tho people's interests. Ministers and- ex-Ministers arc preaching nonsensical evangels, and broadcast sowing erratic and impossible promises in the last desperate extremity. " I ask tho electors to register a decisive verdict against . the Government. Tho Reform party is united, it is strong and confident in its high ideals, unci in its bold and progressive programme. It offers far \Vider and far higher opportunity to all classes of tho community.

" It would sweep away tho rotten system of political patronage and Ministerial influence in tho Civil Service, it would have all Government posts mado possible for tho children of tho worker equally with tho children of tho influential man.

" It would reform the Legislative Council, and take that body from under the political control of the Prime Minister. 'ho Legislative. Council would be made representative of tho people,, and be elected by the people. - "The Reform party would do away gradually with the wasteful and extravagant system ,of- Parliamentary grants for •vote-catching purposes.- It would, instead, i give local bodies extended powers and assured finance by a bettor system of local i government. " It would introduce legislation for compulsory insuranco against sickness and unemployment. It would increase employment in every industry ? and branch of trade in tho Dominion, and it would open a wide door of opportunity for the sons and daughters of tho workers. , " The Reform party would afford the men of small capital all possible facilities to get on the land by means of tho leasehold, as a stepping-stone to the freehold, and it would give settlers and Crown tenants the option of the freehold. " It would reform the fiscal system by reducing taxation where possible* to lessen .tho cost of living. It would keep borrowing within reasonable bounds, and pi-event wasteful expenditure. It would develop our overseas trade and relationships, and foster new channels of industry. • "Tho Reform party would push on railway works, and prosecute a'vigorous reading policy, in order to develop the country. Vast areas now producing nothing would be thrown open to an army of small settlers. • ••Millions of acres of idle lands would bo made to pour millions of pounds' worth of exports into overseas markets. . The resulting trado and interchange would benefit every class of the community. It is to the interests of town and country workers alike to vote for the Reform party. '. ••" The Reform party candidates como bofore you, all thoroughly representative public men, tried and trusted. They have no axes to grind, but they have the energy and the ability to promote the development of the country? They are united on. a' straight, clean, broad, and progressive programme. \ " The Opposition has earned tho respect and praise of. the people from-the Bluff to the North Cape. It has been earnest, honest, and watchful in the people's interest, and it appeals to the electors with every confidence, strong in the knowledgo of honest work, honestly performed. " Tho Reform party was never more vigorous than it is to-day; it's programme stands out clearly above _ the fog of abuse and misrepresentation with which its opponents seek to obscure'it. At last elections its support from the electors was increased enormously. V ,

"Throughout the country, there . is a rising tide of public feeling against the effete and spurious - Liberalism of the Ward-Carroll-Findlay . . Government. I hope and believe-that tide will sweep , the present Administration aside like useless lumber, and go irresistably on towards progress, prosperity, reform, and opportunity. ■ "I ask the people of New Zealand to show their opinion of the Government's underhand; electioneering and abuse and misrepresentation by wiping out tho Government majority. ■■■■■? .. ■■ o "If the electors believe in stagnation, spurious Liberalism, and a system of government by political patronage, let them vote for the Government. On the other hand, if they believo in progress, genuine Liberalism, and equal opportunities for all, as I am confident they do, they will vote for the. party.—W. F. Massey," ME. MASSEY AT DEVONPORT, ENTHUSIASM AND CONFIDENCE. Tho electors of Waitemata tendered an enthusiastically hearty ■ reception to the Leader of tho Reform party at Devonport last evening.'. Mr. Masse.v delivered ' an address in the Post Hall, which was crowded with an audience of about 650 persons, and many others were unable to enter the building. ;The-, meeting was almost unanimous in its endorsement of the . Reform party's politics, and. its demonstration in'support' of Mr. Massey and the party's candidate was significant of the public opinion of the district. •The Mayor of Devonport, Mr. W. Ha.ndley, presided, and- Mr. A. Harris, tho Opposition candidate for. Waitemata, and Mr. L. R. Phillipps, the late member for the district, wero also seated on the platform., Mr. Massey devoted some attention to the recent speech by the Hon. G. Fowlds, and said Mr. Fowlds had incorrectly stated: his (Mr. Massey's) opinion on naval defence. He had always maintained that there should be one Imperial navy, under one control-one fleet, one flag—and that the Overseas Dominions should all "contribute

to the maintenance of one navy for the defence of the Empire. y * Some time ago, continued Mr. Massey, the Imperial Government, through ' Lord Drewe, then Secretary * of State for • the Colonies, had s6en fit to take him into his confidence regarding naval defence. a. his was the' first time ihe had mentioned that fact in public. : He believed that with the exception of members of the Government ho was the only man in New Zealand who had been consulted on this subject by the Imperial Government, and he regarded it as the greatest compliment over paid to him. In fact, he would not exchange that confidence for a baronetcy. (Laughter, and applause.) - - s Mr. Fowlda had declared that th° Leader of the Reform party showed a lack of patriotism in calling upon tho London money-lenders to apply the screw to New Zealand's borrowing. That was only a half-truth. He quoted the full text of his statement to Parliament on this subject. Mr. Massey concluded his speech with an explanation of the Reform party s platform, and expressed the. hope, which was i endorsed by hearty applause, that when the new Parliament assembled, the member for Waitemata would take a seat upon the Reform party's benches. i. . , Mr. Harris briefly addressed the meeting, and cheers were given for him. By a unanimous vote, tho meeting accorded to Mr. Massey a vote of thanks and confidence, the proposition being moved by Mr. C. P. Murdoch, and seconded by Mr. 53. E, Grimwado. Cheers were again given for Mr. Massey and Mr. Harris.

ENTHUSIASM FOR REFORM. BIG- .WELLINGTON MEETING. fBT TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. The great Reform meeting # which was held in the Town Hall to-night was a magnificent demonstration. Nothing so fine in its way has ever been seen before in this city. At seven o'clock, an hour before the meeting was advertised to start, a large crowd, had gathered outside the hall, and as soon as the doors were opened all tho ordinary seating accommodation was occupied. The seats behind ... the stage were next filled up, and at halfpast'seven people were seeking ■ standing room; the doors wero shut at 7.50, ana thousands were turned away. The audience' was estimated at nearly 4000, and there was also an overflow meeting on the street, where it was stated that over 2000 people were present. All the local Reform candidates were present and spoke. All the speakers were enthusiastically received, and the remarks which pleased the audience best were those in which the present Government was most, strongly condemned. ,At the closo, the following motion was enthusiastically carried by acclamation:"That in the opinion of this meeting a change, of Government is desirable, and that the meeting.pledges itself to support the Opposition candidates for Wellington city and suburbs."