THE MANUKAU SEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19143, 8 October 1925, Page 13

THE MANUKAU SEAT.

MR. JOHN MASSEY SPEAKS. LATE LEADER'S BROTHER. LABOUR'S MOTIVES ATTACKED. As Reform candidate for the Manukau seat, Mr. John Massey, brother of the late Prime Minister, made his debut at a meeting of about 100 electors in theCentral Hall, Mangere, last night, Mr. S. W. House presiding. In the course of an address Mr. Massey declared himself a convinced freeholder, a supporter of prohibition and of religious instruction in schools, anil an uncompromising opponent of Labour. The meeting was notable for some interruptions by Mr. J. S. Montgomerie, lately Labour candidate for Franklin, who alone opposed a vote of thanks and confidence. "This is quite a new departure for me," remarked Mr. Massey, beginning his speech. "I am here as the nominee of the Reform Party in an effort to win back the seat which was lost at the last election. The Reform Party regretted its loss very much. They thought that I, as an old resident who was known to most of the people, would have an opportunity of rewinning the seat. I have watched the trend of events in the district, and I have sat on local bodies. As a matter of fact, it has usually been my lot to preside at meetings like this and introduce the candidate. It is a serious matter to stand for Parliament. A candidate is often attacked upon his record, including things that he has never done, and these are trotted out for the purpose of influencing doubtful voters. It is hard work to overtake stories of that sort. I am ready to put my record to the test, for the decision rests with the electors. No earthly persuasion would have induced me to stand if Manukau had not been the home district of my deceased brother and my own home district." More Work and Less Politics. The Reform Government, he continued, had legislated for the benefit of all parties, without fear or favour. He admired Mr. Coates for taking the line of "more work and less politics," Personally he believed that the country could carry on for :soie' years without adding to its legislation. He did not admire the people who were always running to the Government for help of one kind or another, instead of relying on hard work and tackling their own difficulties. He need not say that he was a freeholder. (Applause.) He believed that every man should try to get an interest in a piece of land with a view of ultimately being able to call it his own. The pioneers of New Zealand bad come out to escap# from landlordism, and had won their way by hard work. He believed that by the use of scientific methods the land could be made to support many more people, and that large estates should be divided up ultimately into "one-man farms" —properties each capable of supporting one family. The scheme might be criticised on the ground of expense to the State, but he believed that the outlay in introducing really scientific farming would be justified by results. The immigration of farm labourers and of the British "thrifty farmer" class should be encouraged by every possible means. The Bible in Schools. Mr- Massey frankly avowed himself a supporter of the Bible-in-Schools movement, He said that he had received his early education in a sectarian school, and while the results of the religious teaching given there were not immediately -apparent, he was convinced that the pupils acquired principles which they never forgot. Such religious instruction should be quite feasible in New Zealand. The State advances system had given good results and the Government hoped to find enough money for future requirements. Borrawing for such a purpose was justifiable, but it might be wise to cut down advances to local bodies in order to leave more money for settlers and workers. To the farmer it had been like sunshine after rain find direct taxation reduced. In his opinion, the Government should give rail freight concessions on fertilisers, fencing wire and everything that a settler needed in developing a back-block property. "The Dominion ought to be congratulated on having at its head a Prime Minister such as Mr. Coates," declared Mr. Massey. "I believe you will agree with me that his selection has been a most fortunate one, and one which the majority cf the electors will be pleased with, f Applause.) We feel that the Dominion, in the hands of Mr. Coates, assisted by his colleagues, is in grod keeping. We feel it our duty to return representatives who will support the present Administration." He approved Mr. Coates' adherence to integrity, thrift and industry as the principles which should guide the Dominion. The electors should strengthen the Prime Minister's hands by acknowledging his past services as a soldier and a legislator, which encouraged them to look forward with renewed confidence. Explaining that in using the term "Opposition" he referred to the LabourSocialists, Mr- Massey remarked that one of Labour's principal planks was nationalisation of the land. This remark provoked a loud "No" from Mr. J. S. Montgomerie, the unsuccessful Labour candidate for Franklin at the recent by-election.

Mr. Massey declared that no sane person in. the room would be willing to forfeit the right of inheritance as regards land, arid of selling land to whomever he pleased. The prohibition of all sales except to the State would create an army of Government officials, who would cause much annoyance to the farmers. A Suggestion for Labour. "I would suggest to the Labour Party," he said, "that they had better go into the backblocks and start a communistic settlement. Then we should see how their new-fangled notions would work. (Laughter.) They would be much better off than the old pioneers, who had no railways to help them. The experience would be valuable, and much better than their continual agitation about economic affairs." Mr. Massey volunteered the information that, he believed in prohibition and had always voted for it, though he had no desire to thrust his views down the throats of those who did not agree with him. Reverting to the Labour Party, the candidate said that ifi had been of late very benevolent to the working farmer, but its attitude seemed to be really that of the spider to the fly.. It had talked about the occupation of land by right of use—the so-called usehold tenure, though no one knew exactly what the term meant. Labour invited the farmer to be a tenant of the State, but it did not trust him. Mr. Massey was beginning to quote an utterance of Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P., at the Labour Conference of 1919, when Mr. Montgomerie remarked, "That's 'a long while ago/' and was addressed by name from the chair, with a request that he should not interrupt. Mr. Massey went- on to say that Labour's aim was the socialisation of ail industry. It might be sugar-coated, but the pill was there. In plain language the Labour proposals were a death-blow to the freehold and the beginning of socialism. In answer to questions, Mr. Massey said he favoured the removal of State control from the licensing ballot-paper. He caused some laughter by admitting that he would not mind the merging of first and second-class on the railways, because he had never travelled first-class except at the Government's expense. On the motion of Mr. M. B. Kirkbride, seconded by Mr. Wm. Scott, the candidate received a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Montgomerie alone dissented.

ISSUE OF THE WRITS.

CLOSING OF NOMINATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The writs will be issued for the general election on Thursday, October 15. Nominations will close approximately ten days before November 4, the election date. M'R. JORDAN AT ONEHUNGA. THE PjROH IBST ION QUESTION. The member for Manukau, Mr. W. J. Jordan, addressed a crowded audience in the Foresters' Theatre, Onehunga, last night, Mr. T. R. Gilbert presiding. Mr. Jordan said thousands of pounds were being spent by the Reform Party, but if his party had any pounds to spare they could find plenty of families wh,o could do with it. They were not financed from Russia, nor Italy, nor Germany, and at the Easter conference a proposal to allow Communists to join the Labour Party was defeated by 103 votes to 9. He himself received £450 a year, and wished it was £IOOO, ?or he could easily spend it in the Manukau electorate. Speaking more directly of the election, he hoped they would extend to Mr. John Massey, brother of the late Prime Minister, the same courtesy as they always extended to him, for he hoped to remain good friends with Mr. Massey, just as he did with his late opponent, Sir Frederic Lang. In reply to a question at the close of the address, Mr. Jordan stated that as the question of prohibition was now in the hands of the people, he would oppose any legislation to bring it in, just as he would oppose legislation to reintroduce license if the people voted prohibition. To a further question he said he was in favour of a two-issue ballot paoer, "and if that could not be obtained, tfien a preferential vote. Mr. E. J. Higgins moved a vote of thanks and confidence, but before it could be seconded or put by the chairman it was carried by acclamation.

CANDIDATES' MEETINGS.

PROGRAMME FOR TO-NMGHT, Candidates will address meetings this evening as follow: Mr. A. G. Osborne (Waitemata), Bridgeway Theatre, Milford, 8 p.m. Miss Ellen Melville (Grey Lynn), St. Peter's Hall, Great North Road, 2.30 p.m. Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East), St. Benedict's Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. E. D. McLennan (Franklin), Papakura, 8 p.m. Mr. J. Rea (Franklin), Otahuhu, 8 p.m. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri), Paeroa Theatre, Paeroa, 8 p.m. Mr. H. \V. Milner (Hamilton), Hamilton Town Hall, 8 p.m. The following meetings of supporters of election candidates will take place this evening:—Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskill), committee rooms, Empire Theatre, Dominion Road, 8 p.m. ; Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), Foresters' Hall, Takapuna, 8 p.m.