THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15249, 12 March 1913, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH.

e The Prime Minister delivered his j first speech since the close of the Q session last night, selecting as the 6 place for its delivery Christchurch, ■_ the only remaining stronghold of the Opposition. He met with the kind of reception which from past experi- | ence of Christchurch he had some reason to expect. : Christchurch has a reputation for noisy political meetings, and this reputation was maintained last night. A section of the l ~ audience set themselves to prevent l " Mr. Massey from stating his case, e but in spite of persistent interrupt ie tions he was able to give clear evi--11 dence of the activity of the Governn ment in the public interest, and oi 16 the wisdom of its measures. The Government's financial administra x " tion was not only justified, but wat 11 shown by the terms of the recenl g loan to be more satisfactory to the •d country than the previous Govern >r ment's loan transactions carriec ly through under more favourable con if ditions. The institution of an insur ;e ance fund for Government buildingp it and the abolition of secrecy in th< til financial affairs of the Dominioi 5r were also quoted as evidence of th< is unsoundness of the oft-repeated poli in tical formula that without the guid a- ance of the Heaven-born financier 8- of the Continuous Administration w< is could not keep the country fron ts financial: ruin. In speaking of lan< d- and labour policy Mr. Massey wen is over more or less familia: bo ground, emphasising the Govern m ment's known intention to furthe lg extend the right to the freehold, an< m to strengthen and maintain the Con or ciliation and Arbitration Act. Hi e- declaration of the intention of th< Government to insist onan electivi m Legislative Council will be welcome* is by the country, which was long sine • ' V

convinced oi tne viciuubuco» ui - nominative system and of the poverty of its results. " As a justification of the Government's actions during its first session on the Treasury benches the speech was a telling reply to critics, and it gave pro- c mis a of legislative activities in the 1 coming session which will further J strengthen the Government's posi- ® tion. a ===s==l c