MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 14

MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

MEETING AT ONEHUNGA.

A STAUNCH FREEHOLDER. LAWS FOR ALL CLASSES. A crowded audience in the Foresters' Hall, Onehunga, was addressed last evening by Mr. John Massey, Government candidate for Manukau. The candidate concluded Ms speech in just under an hour, w r ith some interruption. Question time, however, which occupied nearly as much time as did the speech, was lively enough, and sent the crowd away in good humour. Mr. Massev said he had lived all his life in the electorate, and he supposed his reputation would therefore bear looking into. He maintained that the Government had legislated for all classes of the community without fear or favour, and was worthy of continued support. Increased productivity was necessary so that exports might improve, and a decrease in taxation be possible. On the land question he stood firmly for the freehold, and encouraged the spread of knowledge among farmers by experimental farms and agricultural colleges. He was a firm believer in immigration, with migrants of the right class. On the question of Bible in schools, the candidate said he looked with a good deal of pardonable pride to his own school life, when he was educated in a sectarian school —there were no public schools—where there were religious exercises. Principles were there instilled which the pupils had never forgotten, and they were taught to respect the Bible as the word of God.

Although there was a scarcity of houses, and rents were high, the building that was going on showed that the scarcity was being reduced. It was well for the Government- to keep the State Advances Department in funds. Increased borrowing meant increased charges to the direct taxpayer, but that was to be preferred to having the Government departments languishing for want of funds. Secondary industries were not receiving the support they deserved. He favoured preferential tariff in British countries, and where there was a choice, people should purchase locally-manufactured goods. A Voice: Yes, but do they do it? Another Voice: Then why bring Newcastle coal over ? On the liquor question, the candidate said he was a prohibitionist. Mr. Massey then said he would tell the audience what the Reform Government was doing for the settlers. A Voice: They have been doing them all the time. The candidate proceeded to read tho Government's record.

An Interjector: Give us a speech, not a reading lesson. Another Voicet I move that the reading be adjourned. " The Socialist Party policy is confiscation and nothing else," said the candidate, in reply to a question. "Socialism is a dragging-down process. Christianity is a lifting-up process." The candidate was asked how he would stop speculation in land if he granted the right of freehold to the individual. Mr. Massey replied that speculation could be prevented bv increased taxation on land. A Questioner: If the Government proposed to reduce the land tax, would you support it ? The Candidate: Yes. A Voice: What about speculation now ? A motion of thanks to the candidate and confidence in him and the" Coates administration drew about equal volumes of "ayes" and "noes." On a show of hands the chairman declared it carried.

TRIBUTE TO MR. MASSEY. HUMANE AND KINDLY NATURE TWO PLEASING INCIDENTS. In the course of a notable tribute to his late chief, Mr. Massey, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, speaking in Dunedin on Monday evening, recalled two pleasing incidents showing the humane and kindly nature of Mr. Massey in private life. Mr. Stewart sought to correct the popular impression that a man so immersed in grave public affairs as Mr. Massey was tended to lose the personal and human touch. On one occasion, said Mr. Stewart, Mr. Massey suddenly rose and left an important Cabinet meeting without ex-' planation. Mr. Stewart learned the reason later. That morning Mr. Massey had met in the street an old man, poor and very thinly clad. In the course of the Cabinet meeting Mr. Massey suddenly remembered that he had told the man to call at his office at 3 o'clock, to get a warm overcoat. So he hurried from the Cabinet meeting to fulfil the promise. On another occasion Mr. Massey found a man with his wife and six children homeless in Wellington. Mr. Massey sent them out to one of the Government houses at Miramar. "Who will look after the rent ?" a Government official asked later. Mr. Massey thumped the table as he retorted that he would look after the rent if nobody else did. In any case he was not going to have a man and his family left out on the street. (Applause. ) ELECTION DAY HOURS. HALF-HOLSDAY FOR SHOPS. TIME OFF IN FACTORIES. In order that everyone may have a full opportunity to vote on election day provision is made in the statutes of the Dominion for the closing of certain premises, and the giving of time off to employees in other cases on that day. A half-holidav must be observed by all shops on election day in lieu of the usual weekly half-holiday, according to the Legislature Act. This means that the shops may remain open on the Saturday afternoon if they wish. It is not usual, however, for them to do so, two halfdays being observed in the one week as a rule. It is not anticipated that this practice will be departed from at the coming election.

In the case of hotels the Act provides th'at they shall close at mid-day and shall not reopen until 7 p.m. As six o'clock closing is now in force this means that ail hotels must remain closed until the following morning. In order that employees of factories may be able to record their votes the Factories Act provides that all factory hands shall be given one hour off on election day. ! It is not, therefore, necessary for factories to observe a half day. POLLING BOOTH CLERKS. TEACHERS AND THE SCHOOLS. [EX TELEGUAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Thursday. The Otago Education Board resolved: (1) That where schools are needed as polling places they should be closed for the day, and the teachers allowed to act as polling clerks; (2) that where teachers have made application to be allowed to act as poll clerks, such application should be granted, providing suitable arrangements can be made by ffes headmaster for carrying on their work."