MR MASSEY SPEAKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8653, 11 February 1914, Page 8

MR MASSEY SPEAKS

REPLY TO SIR JOSEPH WARD REVIEW OF “ REFORM’S ” ACHIEVEMENTS. FINANCE AND DEFENCE. Press Association. TE AROHA, February 10. Political addresses wore delivered in tho Theatre Royal, Te Aroha, to-night by the I 1 rime Minister (Bight Hon. W. F, Massey) and the Minister for Railways (Hon. TV. H. Herries)', in the course of which both replied to recent statements by Sir Joseph "Ward. There was a very largo audience, the Theatre being crowded to tho doors, and the Prime Minister and bis colleague bad a rousing and enthusiastic reception. In the course of his remarks Mr Massey referred to tho occasion as being practically the opening of the political campaigu. The session of 1913, with tho difficulties which had to ho met by the Government, were reviewed, and Mr Massey went on to deal with the various Acts passed during his term of office. Speaking of Land legislation he said that nearly 2000 Crown tenants who were only leaseholders previously had now the opportunity of converting their land into freehold. The Government also had given them the opportunity of paying for the land by instalments. So far. as tho Government’s land legislation was concerned he was proud of it, and was sure it had been of benefit to the settler and to the country at large. More was to be done in this direction next session. As indicating what was being done in the direction of land settlement he quoted figures showing that during the year ended December 31st, 1913, the Government had placed on tho land 2143 settlers, who had taken up 677,910 acres. FINANCIAL MATTERS. Referring to the financial difficulties the Government had to face, he asked what could be thought of tho financiers who had allowed £8,000,000 of loan money to fall duo in on© year. The fact that the 4J million loan recently raised in London had been subscribed five times over in an hour and a half spoke volumes for the esteem in which this country was held. The Government had reason to congratulate itself, too, for unless the English investor thought well of the people in control of this country he would not lend his money so freely. The 4J- million loan raised nearly two years ago cost £144,049, and to raise the money to pay it off it would cost the present Government no less than £235,000 and charges and expenses of renewal, estimated at the same proportion as the cost of raising the £3,000,000 loan. He hoped that would be a lesson to tho peojile. of New Zealand to avoid short-dated debentures. It had been said that the Government had done nothing for the settler and the worker." .In this connection ho would say that -very shortly, possibly within the nest Tew- days, the Government intended To put up the limit of advances to settlers, workers, and local bodies; There were proposals to increase the limit for advances to settlers from £750 to £IOOO, to workers from £4OO to £SOO (which was the maximum allowed by law at present), and to local authorities from £2OO to £SOO for any particular work, these advances to bo available within counties or road districts; advances within townships, including the populous centres, to be made up to £2500. During the eighteen months in which they had been in office the Government had lent to settlers, workers, and local bodies a total of £2,472,715. DEFENCE POLICY. ’Die leader of the Opposition had criticised the Government’s defence policy. So far as land defence was concerned,. said Mr Massey, the country generally approved of compulsory military training so long as it did not cost too much. As regards naval defence he did not think there should be any difference of opinion on the subject. Now Zealand, had in the past paid to the Imperial Government £IOO,OOO annually by way of subsidy. Hereafter there would be deducted from that payment the cost of the training ship Philomel, so that there was no contemplated increase in the expense. Tho interest and sinking fund on the gift warship was about £145,000, which, added to the £IOO,OOO subsidy, made a total of £245,000 for New Zealand’s naval defence. In 1909 an agreement was entered into between the New Zealand Government and tho Admiralty under which the latter proposed to place here two Bristol cruisers, three destroyers, and two submarines: but what had they got? Apart from the Philomel there were the Psyche and the Pyramus, two boats useful for policing the Pacific, and other purposes, but as fighting ships obsolete. With the officers and men no fault was to bo found, but there was no doubt the shite were out of date. The Government had asked the Homo authorities to comply with the 1909 agreement, and had said that if this were done and if within eighteen months they would give New Zealand tho two Bristol cruisers New Zealand would pay another £50,000 a . year. So far there was no reply. The matter could not bo allowed to rest, and if something were not done it would be the duty of the Government to ask Parliament for authority to build at least one cruiser in a British shipyard. The Prime Minister denied that the cost of this would be enormous, as Sir Joseph Ward had said it would. He thought it about time that New Zealand made up its mind how much it could afford to pay for combined naval and land defences. He believed the Pacific would be a storm centre of tho future, where British people would have to fight for their supremacy. “We should do all that is possible to ensure our naval supremacy in these waters. This is not a party question, and I hopo_ it will never be allowed to becoincT one.” LABOUR TROUBLES.

In reference to the recent Labour unrest and tho Government and Opposition attitude towards it, the Prime Minister said there were going to be two main parties in the future—on the one hand the Reform candidate (really the Progressive Liberal) and on the other the Social Democrat, the Red. Fed., and his supporters. The men who had called themselves Libeals in past years would have to choose between the patriotic Reformers and a set of men who if they had the opportunity would make New Zealand the first Socialistic Republic in the Pacific. “The place for the true Liberal is with us,” he declared, “uot with tho Red Fed.”

The Prime Minister glased with »

promise of a vigorous public works policy, and was loudly cheered on resuming' bis seat. Air Herries said that when Sir Joseph Ward was in Te Aroha recently he seemed to be altogether on the defensive, and apologising for the acts of the Opposition ; and well he might. Referring to the recent industrial troubles the Alinister contrasted the attitude of the Opposition with that of the South African Opposition party, which had supported the Government in maintaining law and order. Dr Pomare also addressed the meeting briefly.