PREMIER’S TOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11366, 13 November 1922, Page 7

PREMIER’S TOUR

ADBRESS AT MASTERTON DEFENCE OF REFORM ADMINISTRATION. FINANCE AND TAXATION. (By Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) MASTERTON, November 12. What is generally admitted to bo the largest political meeting held in Masterton was addressed by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) on Saturday night. The hall was crowded with electors from' all parts of the electorate. Throughout bis speech Mr Mousey was subjected to many interjections from one quarter of the hall, where the speaker thought they were made to confuse him. His retorts were prompt, incisive, and to the point, and ho frequently scored. The journey from Eketahuna, where he had spoken earlier sft tlxo day, was retarded by the lights of the car, failing to work, so arriving thirty minutes late Mr Massey wasted no time and got right on to politics. FARMERS AND SHEEP. Dealing with the farmers, outlook he said they would notice by statistics that the number of sheep had decreased by about four million in the la6t three years. That was because the farmers could pay their way without sacrificing part of their flocks. They were told that tihe decrease was due to increased dairying, but this was only partly true. The real trouble was the scarcity of money, therefore sheep had to be frozen and exported to Europe. He hoped soon to see that remedied. New Zealand could carry another five million sheep, and! as far as he could judge the season would be as successful as the last. REDUCED TAXATION HOPED FOR, 1 • He hoped that the Government woud ho able to reduce taxation next year. High taxation kept up the prices, also the price of money, and the cost of living. During the month the Government had reduced the price of sugar, and now New Zealand was getting cheaper sugar than any nonproducing country in the world. An election cry had 'been raised for State banks. “We already have one,” remarked! Mr Massey. “Four of the six directors are appointed by the Government, which now owns one-third of the institution. Li a single year the bank contributed £580,000 to the State, whereas the Commercial Bank of Australia, which is held up as an example, contributes nothing to the State. REFORM PARTY’S STRENGTH. The advocates of proportional representation had asserted that the present Government was a minority Government. When Sir Joseph Ward and ho returned from England they had to go to ihe country almost at once. He did not trouble about organising for the election as there was no time. He took the candidates as they 'came along and in 16 districts Reform was not represented. That meant that probably 90,000 votes for Reform were not recorded, ( Yet the other side counted them against the Government. As a mattpr of fact they would have had a majority probably in the districts which tliey did not contest. A representative of the Proportional Representation Society of England discussed the proposal with him, and frankly admitted that under proportional representation the country quota must go. It. was an accepted faot that a man could represent 20,000 people in towns as easily as 15,000 or 16*000 in the country owing to being better able to reach them. That was quite evident in such n sparsely settled country as the Wairarapa. LIBERALS AND SOCIALISTS. There were unfortunately three parties in the House besides a few not attached to any party, but these were finding out that the day of the Independent was over. The danger was that no party might be able to get a majority. He considered 45 members essential to. have an independent majority for the dominant party to do justice under the present difficult conditions. He read an assertion of Mr Holland that the revolutionary Socialists—he did not call them the Labour Party because Labour as a whole did not believe in them—would insist on dictating the policy of the Liberals if they got - into office with the help of the .Socialists. They were out to nationalise agricultural, commercial, and financial institutions, but thev would not do it in 1000 years if he knew anything about it. , AMPLE STOCKS OF COAL. Dealing with taxation he said that the cost of all Government Departments had enormously increased, and the price of staple products had dropped .60 per cent. l That was the position., that the Government had to raoe, and provide for an increase in taxation. The steps taken to effect economies were detailed, and Mr Massey added that as a result the deficit at the end of the financial year was only £200,000, or a little over. The Government had been compelled to lay in stocks of coal amounting to £SOO, 000, and this was paid for, otherwise the balance must have been on the right side. If the seamen’s trouble developed, and he hoped it would not, the railway had enqugh coal to last five months. He then referred to the efforts made by ,the Government to curtail expenditure, and find an extra £4,000,000 revenue needed. A GOVERNMENT’S CLEAN HANDS. The Civil servants’ bonus had to bo reduced byhalf, but a third out would not be made unless the fall in the cost of living warranted it, as tho bonus was hased on the cost of living. A voice: Who worked that out? Mr Massey: Three of the ablest accountants in the employ of the State. They were selected on account of their ability. A number of election candidates in opposition to the "Government were hinting at extravagance. He challenged anyone to point to a single case where the Government had not clean hands. Not a single chance by way of scandal had. been brought home to them, and if suoh could bo proved he would immediately retire and let someon j else have a try. A voice: What about cement? Mr Massey: Well, what about it ? A Supreme Court judge found that the Government had not the slightest reflec J /on in the matter . There had been much talk about a minority Government, but as a matter of fact where the party system existed it was almost impossible to escape suoh a position. In the ease of the Reform Party, it was so popular that lie could, not keep out all the candidates who wanted to stand for the party, which would secure almost any seat in a straight out fight. ASSISTANCE TO EX-SOLDIERS. “There Had _ been some criticism about the action of the Government in using the accumulated surplus to build soldiers’ houses, but in the state of finances it was the only thing to do. A voice: -What about a loan from America/ Mr r Aa a British citizen 1

will not go to America for money. (Applause.) Continuing Mr Massey said that 82,500 returned soldiers had been assisted in various ways, and he was pleased to say that the money was being rapidly repaid. (Applause.) The trouble was that these men- had gone on the land at a bad time, and the Government had a clear duty to perform, and he intended to carry it out. ' PEOPLING THE DOMINION. Many of the Government’s critics took exception to the immigration policy. The position was that the country was urgently in need of settlers. A voice: Wo have got more' than wo can do with. Mr Massey: If they were all' yonr sort, I agree with you. When honest, industrious and straightforward men came here and helped us develop our resources they would soon become taxpayers and the country would benefit m the end. If we could increase the population by 500,000 it would" be the bost thing that could happen. No immigrant could come here without the consent of the Government, and that also applied to India, China, Japan and European countries. New Zealand was intended for a white man’s country, and the Government was going to keep it so. The law permitted them to come for six months for education, health or business, and they then must return. A voice: What about Hindus? There are 30 on the Masterton roll. Mr Massey: It is no credit to those who put them there, but they are British citizens, and are entitled to vote. He admitted that there were a number of Hindus in the country, but these had settled before the law was passed, and had made sure others were coming. Mr Massey concluded by repeating his Pukekohe and 1 Papakura addresses concerning the three parties, and arrangements made between the Liberals and Labour to oust the Government. A vote of thanks was moved by Mr Jaokson, the retired Reform candidate, and was cd-