THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1914. MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15594, 28 April 1914, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1914. MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

The reception accorded to Mr. Massey at the Town Hall last night was convincing proof that he retains his old place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens; nor is that popularity lessened because his steady and impartial maintenance of law and order during the most troubled period of our industrial history is regarded as unpardonable by those who sympathised with anarchy and syndicalism. It is not necessary for us to accept unqualifiedly the entire policy of an Administration in order to be satisfied with the general tenor of its ways and to be hopeful that its evident earnestness and patriotism will eliminate any weaknesses and rectify any defects. The country at large is greatly indebted to the Reform Government so ably led by the member for Franklin, and if we have still to complain that the legitimate claims of Auckland and other progressive provinces are not yet fully recognised and admitted wo need not forget that the Continuous Government ignored them for over twenty years and ignored them to the end. When we compare the general legislation initiated by the Massey Cabinet with that of its predecessors it is very plain that the progressive party is in office and that the Opposition is entangled in the meshes of reaction. The Land Acts for which Mr. Massey was personally responsible reflect the agricultural feeling so completely that the Opposition did not venture to* make an organised stand in defence of the unpopular tenure it had imposed upon many thousands of settlers. Moreover, these enactments

were so sound in their dealing with tho complications, inconsistencies and absurdities that had accumulated under incompetent Ministers for Land and muddling Parliaments dominated by a small clique of Leasehold advocates, that they were- practically above criticism. Those who think the great agricultural interest upon which the prosperity of the Dominion depends should be made tho toy of city theorists and street-corner politicians cannot be expected to appreciate what Mr. Massey's Land Acts mean to the country, but the farmers of New Zealand view them in another light. Security of tenure and encouragement in industry for the small holder, with steady pressure against undesirably large holdings, is the foundation of Mr. Massey's policy and it was not difficult for him to defend it last night before a representative Auckland audience. Under his administration Crown Lands are being more rapidly opened to settlement and Native Land purchase, on behalf of Crown settlers, is increasing in importance. Few in the districts oppressed and hampered by Native Lands will think that all is being dono which might be done to lift the embargo, but time is against tho traditional " taihoa" policy, and as the wrong thus inflicted upon settlers and the injustice consequently endured by the state is being understood by the public we may expect more confident action on the part of a. Government sincerely attached to Reform.

Mr. Massey has already done so much to fulfil his election pledges that he may be relied upon to do more. Public Service Reform—so bitter of taste to the politicians who kept a moribund party in power for years by control of appointments and by discriminating public works votes—was a triumph of honest statesmanship over the temptations of obvious expediency. In this he had to face the bitter hostility of the Opposition which has shown a determination to do all in its power to defeat progressive measures put forward by Mr. Massey's Government. We have had repeated instances of this, not the least noticeable being the remarkable pleas advanced by professing " democrats" in favour of the perpetuation of the party nominee system in the Legislative Council. Mr. Massey stated, last night, his definite intention to reform that anachronistic body during the approaching session. He has the country with him in this necessary work, as he had it with him in the Anti-Strike Act, so disliked by the professional secretaries. Incidentally it may be recalled to the notice of the great constituency which will follow Mr. Massey's utterances through the columns of the Herald that the Opposition persists in asserting that the Reform Government has no policy and that Sir Joseph Ward has apparently convinced himself that Mr. Massey has filched every idea from the baronetcial hand-bag. Yet upon Public Service Reform, Legislative Council Reform, and similar vital issues the Government and the Opposition do not appear to sec eye to eye, while Optional Freehold had to await the coming of a Reform Administration. The truth is that the gulf between the Government and the Opposition becomes wider day by day, as Reform outgrows its swaddling clothes, and as the Opposition, in desperate reaching after office, becomes more and more disposed to make almost any terms with syndicalism.