A TRIUMPHAL PROGRESS.

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

A TRIUMPHAL PROGRESS.

ME. MASSEY INyAmANGA.

v REFORM IN THE ASOEN ANT .

PRESTIGE OF THE PREMIER

SWINGING THE PENDULUM.

CATTLE AS CANVASSERS. [BX TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL . RBPORTH*.] TAUBANGA. Tuesday. The Prime Minister is now the " man of the hour" throughout the' Tauranga. electorate, and is like to bo the man of the campaign. His vigorous service on behalf of the Reform candidate has flattened the earlier inflation of Liberalism. It is a very moderate estimate of the political feeling in Tauranga to-day to say that Liberal stocks have slumped heavily and will require a very noteworthy effort to restore initial value. The marked change in district opinion as to the probable result of the poll next week is entirely duo to the capacity of Mr. Massey as a political fighter. His comprehensive speech at Tauranga must have secured hundreds of votes for the Government candidate. There is everywhere a buoyant confidence in the result of the Reform campaign, and the work of district committees is being pressed forward with enthusiasm. Mr. G. -. E. Macmillan is named; as a sure winner. The remarkable welcome given to Mr. Massey, at Katikati and Tauranga yesterday obviously represented the feeling of the district aa a whole toward the Prime Minister, for to-day he" visited four different localities in the eastern portion of the electorate and was received with tho utmost cordiality by settlers and also by many workers. It looked on each occasion as though industry in the country had been temporarily abandoned for the pleasure of meeting the Prime Minister. Even the sleek cattle by the wayside occasionally. signalled greeting for, painted on the flanks of one frisky animal, was the slogan, " Vote for Massey." ; This display of rural humour gave rather an unusual prominence to the interesting change in tho aspect of tho campaign. A Piquant Duel. Electors generally appear determined to look upon the contest as "a piquant duel between Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey. The Liberals agreed to make their champion's effort national in scope and importance, and the Prime Minister lias accepted the challenge en the same high ground. It need hardly be empliasised that the Liberal candidate will now find it extraordinarily difficult to win the seat. " . ; To-day the Prime Minister addressed well-attended and enthusiastic meetings of settlers and industrialists at Tanriko timber mills, at Otumoetai, Upper Papamoa, and in the evening at Greerton, in the vicinity of the historical buttle ground of Gate Pa. Great interest was displaved in Mr. Massey's; explanation of the political position, and at the conclusion of each address he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence in the Massey Administration. Behind the political interest was the ready hospitality of th* 1 pleasant district of maize poultry, citrus fruit, and dairy cattle. In traversing the ground of previous "addresses Mr. Massey elaborated a few of his main points. The mystery of Sir Joseph Ward's attitude in" the" event of his being elected and a dissolution thereupon following gained some attention from the Prime Minister, who said it was quite impossible to interpret Sir Joseph's intentions. "I am unable to tell you," said Mr. Massev at Tauriko, "whether Sir Joseph is going to vote for the Government or. against it. He has said that we are as wide apart as the poles. That may be—l don't know —but he has certainly not made it clear whether he is going to assist the present Government to carry on or to form another one, or whether he will be satisfied to remain as a sort of independent member, extending support where support seems necessary. Sir Joseph has also said he would be no party to bringing about chaos. I do not know what that means. It is a very unsatisfactory state of things." Government and Finance. Discussing the financial situation and the Government's administration, the Prime Minister was both caustic and optimistic. "To hear some people speak/' said Mr. Massey, " one would imagine that New Zealand financially is going to the 'demnition bow-wows.' There is much talk of extravagance, excessive borrowing, and disruptive taxation. It is all very wide of the actual mark. " The country has got through the worst of its difficulties. Expenditure has been cut down and revenue is increasing. I am confident that the surplus- at the end of this financial year, March 31, will be between £800,000 and £1,000.000. If it is not that I shall be both surprised and disappointed. Thintrs ace coon and promise to be better. There will not be so many unemployed this coming winter. I will not say that there will be none, but I am certain that the number of unemployed will be very few." (Applause.) The Arbitration Court. '•". . As for the suggestion that the Government influenced the Arbitration Court that was manifestly ridiculous, continued Mr. Massey. The Government had nothing to do with the Court, which was an independent tribunal. The country would never be really prosperous until the cost of living had been reduced; He was confident that the cost would decrease very much more rapidly after the substantial reduction of '■». taxation * early "next financial year. Although . £5,000,000 had been spent during the present financial year on public works, it would be found , that the public debt had not been increased by more than £1,000,000:: One of the outstanding features of Mr. Massey's district tour to-day was the manner in .which the settlers took the opportunity to discuss in a homely way many of the obscurities of political - and financial affairs, and particularly 'matters affecting the primary industries. The Prime Minister. wa able to give much information and created obvious satisfaction among many electors. His appeals to the electors to support the RefornTcandidate were heartily endorsed.