MR. MACMILLAN REPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 10

MR. MACMILLAN REPLIES

INCONSISTENT OPPONENT.

HIS SCHEMES DISSECTED.

COMMON-SENSE ARGUMENT.

[by telegraph.— correspondent.] TE AROHA. Tuesday. Another large audience greeted Mr. C. E. Macmillan at Waihou to-day. Mr. W. R. Johnson was elected to the chair. Applause greeted the candidate on rising. He said it was obvious the Liberals acknowledged that there was no local man who could successfully contest _ the seat against him when they brought in an outsider in the person of Sir Joseph Ward. The latter's utterances were puzzling all the politicians in New Zealand, consequent upon his refusal to state definitely whether he supported Mr. Massey or not. Like the good general he was, Mr. Massey was taking no chances. . . . • The speaker caustically criticised ins opponent's references to finance. He was previously under the impression that Sir Joseph Ward was a clever man who would not in his political addresses make statements leaving himself open to criticism. It was with surprise that the speaker read his opponent's first speech, which appeared to be an endeavour to convince people that Mr. Massey and hisi 'rends had an orgy involving the expenditure of £25,000,000. Clever man as ho was, Sir Joseph Ward had forgotten that where the Government spent money the assets must accrue, but his opponent preferred not to mention these. The speaker dctailed State assets, totalling £120.000,000, held against loans. Sir Joseph had said in one speech that he felt the country could not-do without him, but the country did do without mm during tho last three very trying year*. This was confirmed at tho last election when the Massev Government was returned with 70,000 more votes than were cast in its favour in 1919. (Applause.) His opponent expressed himself against borrowing, while in another breath he proposed to borrow £80,000,000 by way of bonds. Sir Joseph said he would complete the railways within five years, but added a proviso,' "If sufficient labour were available." If all labour necessary were concentrated on railway construction, what effect would this have on the labour market ? asked Mr. Macmillan. Other industries would suffer. "Sir Joseph Ward," continued Mr. Macmillan, s, knows perfectly well that the scheme is impossible, and he has no intention of carrying it out. Persons ot my opponent's type go around arguing as if there had been no war. and sugcegine that the Massey Government should have accomplished impossible Continuing, Mr. Macmillan said Mr. Massey entertained a genuine sympathy with the small man, and the speaker understood there was never a better feeling between Labour and Reform. As far as Mr. Massey personally was concerned, Labour members respected him as a fair fighter who never hit below the belt. The meeting was very attentive, and several questions were satisfactorily answered. t ~ . The chairman moved a vote of thanks to the candidate and of continued confidence in the Massey Government. He said tho bv-election was the most important ever held in the Dominion. All eyes were focussed on Tauranga. If Mr. Massey were.going to be ousted it meant another general election, and this would cost the country £80,000. % The motion was carried unanimously.