NOISY HOSTILE SECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 10

NOISY HOSTILE SECTION

BRUSH AT MORRINSVILL.E.

HONOURS WITH MR. MASSEY.

UNCHALLENGED CONCLUSION

JBY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL REPORTER.] MORRIN Thursday. The residents of Morrinsville made the most of the Prime Minister's visit tonight for the purpose of promoting the campaign in the interests of the Reform candidate, and a dependable administration. It was obvious from the outset that the occasion was to be exceptional. The Empire Theatre was crowded in every ' part and a contingent of the shy type of electors who interject filled tho outer corridors. The Mayor, Mr. F. J. Marshall, presided, and Messrs. J. A. Young and R F. Bollard, M.P.'s, sat with local supporters of Reform on the platform. Mr. Massey was given a rousing welcome, hundreds of electors rising in a wave of cheers to emphasise the greeting to the Dominion's greatest political fighter. A moment later the enthusiasm was renewed by an elector calling for " three cheers for honest Bill." The response was vigorous and sustained, but at the end of it there was a single tig " boo," which raised merriment. It was immediately apparent that among the audience there was a section which intended to demonstrate its political hostility to the Reform Government. Another outburst of cheers followed the Mayor's introduction of tho Prime Minister, who observed : " The sound you have heard just now was the downfall of the opponents of the Government." (Applause and. cries of " rats.") Mr. Massey began with a graceful tribute to the late Sir William Herries, and a suggestion that something should bo done to perpetuate his memory. There as much vehement disapproval of Mr. Massey's quotation of the Labour leader's reference to his party as "Revolutionary Socialists." This citation was by way of emphasising the party's intention to help the Liberals oust the Government on condition that the Labour Party dictated the policy of a possible Liberal Administration. A Lively Interlude. Animated protest arose, including cries of " Out it out, Bill," Give the party its right name," and " Leave Holland alone.' " Before I have finished with you," said tho Prime Minister, who stood like a rock in a flood of noise, " you will be jolly glad to got a decent title like Revolutionary Socialists." (Applause.) "Who is the candidate?" yelled an angry man. "He is a man with brains, anyhow," boomed another voice. The interrupters were lively' for a time and some of the comments from the noisy section were rather more than impertinent. The Mayor appealed to the grouped oppositionists to exercise British fair-play. Mr. Massey characterised the rudeness as mean, cowardly, and contemptible. (Prolonged applause.) After this rebuke the interruption ceased and the Prime Minister had his way about the name Revolutionary Sboi&Keits and thereafter hold a firm grip on the great country audience. The greater part of Mr. Massey's subsequent speech was on the lines of previous addresses, but here and there the importance of the main points was emphasised with exceptional vigour. This was specially noticeable in respect of the campaign reference to the moratorium which had to be arranged for by legislation to which, as far as the speaker could recall, there was no opposition. It had been arranged for the benefit of the small settler with a big mortgage. There were in this country, unfortunately, men with several mortgages on their holdings. " Nothing Like Faith." An elector suggested that Sir Joseph Ward could have raised money for settlers without the assistance of the moratorium. "There is nothing like faith," said Mr. Massey. " But if any financial authority wants to cross swords with me I am willing to do it. I know who will come out victors." (Applause.) Mr. Massey went on to discuss prospective provisions by way of preparation { for the lifting of the moratorium. A large sum of money would be ready when the time came. An Elector: Why not do it now ? Mr. Massey: Are you a mortgagee or a mortgagor? " I'm both," replied the interjector. " Quite so," said Mr. Massey. "The men who want the moratorium repealed are the men with large capital. It will be lifted when the time comes."' He added that it might be necessary for him to go to London to make the necessary financial arrangements. (Applause.) , The Prime Minister's further criticism of Sir Joseph Ward's proposal to issue Government 5 per cent, bonds for payment of railway construction was blunt and emphatic. "It is simply a roundabout and a very improper way of adding to the country's indebtedness," said Mr. Massey. " The bonds will have to be discounted. That is in the proposal. < What the discount would be is impossible to say. I don't know if a man is going to be compelled to take these bonds and to become responsible for them to a bank for five years and charge the Government a high price for the work he does. No Stranger to Bond Scheme. " I know all about this system of payment by bonds. Syndicates interviewed me in England on this very question and offered to finish our railways and other public works on the understanding that we bought all the material from them and that they should control the whole business. I am. rather suspicious of these banks. We are doing pretty well without them. I am doubtful if Parliament would accept the proposal. It is not sound finance." (Loud applause.) For over two hours, entirely free from interruption, except repeated applause, ' the Prime Minister gave the exact alignment to taxation comparisons as between New Zealand and Australia, and battered • the criticism of the Government's fin--1 ancial administration. He concluded with ' an appeal for the return of the Reform candidate. (Prolonged cheers.) One of several aggressive questions was set as a trap for the Reform candidate. This was a ' query as to whether Mr. Macmillan had been defeated for the I Tauranga Mayoralty on one occasion by something like four to one. . " May I ask," countered Mr. Massey, " what happened to the Liberal candidate when he last stood for Awarua?" (Laughter and applause.) A vote of thanks for the Minister's able and instructive address of continued 1 confidence in the Reform Party was carried vociferously on the voices, the noes being nowhere.