EMPIRE CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11522, 18 May 1923, Page 7

EMPIRE CONFERENCE

WILL MR MASSEY ATTEND? AIR AVILFORD ON “AtACHINEAIADE RESOLUTIONS.” NEA\ r ZEALAND'S PROBLEAIS. ltoplying last night at the complimentary social tenuered at Petune to Mrs Milford and himself, to remarks made about tho resolutions appearing m tho Press with regard to_ the coming Imperial Conference. Mr T. Al. \\ lltord, M.P., said.— l “Before every session you will notice throughout Now Zealand an outburst of Reform propaganda through the Reform Press, generally highly in praise of Reform and its methods. Tho Leader of the. Conservative Party in England, Air Bonar Law, has just given tho Leader of tho Conservative Party in New Zealand a testimonial for tlie purpose of making New Zealanders believe that the Prime Alin ister is the only lit representative for the Imperial Conference. A resolution of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, seconded by the last Reform or Conservative candidate for this electorate, adds to tbe scheme of propaganda; and a resolution from Wairarnpa, moved by Reform’s righthand supporter there, adds smo re in the same direction. “Those of us who remember Lord Milner’s wonderful eulogy of -oar Prime Alinister some time ago, were impressed somewhat until we read practically the same eulogy by Lord •Milner, of tho Conservative ex-Prem-ier of Canada. “On Alay 24th a big gathering will be held in Auckland to afford an opportunity, we are told, for that city to further extol the Prime Alinister, though we all know that Reform has not a Parliamentary representative in either Grey Lynn, Auckland Central, Auckland City W’est, or Auckland City East-. The Auckland Education Board has, after discussion, agreed that the school children may have a holiday from 11 a.m. to swell the crowd. “I want the electors of my constituency to see the value of these made-to-order resolutions, and to weigh them accordingly, and to remember how resolutions against the Opposition were suggested by circular by Air Ernest A. James, Reform’s secretary in days gone by. They, the Conservatives, have not changed.” “GETTING A TITLE.” “Somebody getting a title,” inter jected one of those present, amid laughter, when Air Wilford referred to the_projccted Auckland gathering. Air Wilford: Well, do you mind if I don’t answer that (Applause.) However, that is the propaganda that is going on; and those who know how the machine works can very easily see through it all. (Laughter and applause.) He was not, he added, one of those .who denied that New Zealand should be represented at the coming conference. He recognised that the Dominion ought to be represented when such vital questions as the defence of the Pacific, Imperial preference, and so on, were to be discussed ; but he did not, and could not, agree with AL - Bonar Law that the Prime Alinister was the only man fit to represent New Zealand there. (Applause.) BASIC PROBLEMS NEGLECTED. What, demanded Mr AVilford, bad been done in this country soince Parliament dissolved seven mouths ago, for its social upliftment, for the solution of its economio difficulties, and even for securing capable administration? (Applause.) The Government had practically been electioneering only right down to the end of the byelection of Oamaru, from /which Air Massey had “returned with a flat tyre.” (Laughter and applause.) A “DO-NOTHING” POLICY. Mr Wilford strongly condemned the Government’s do-nothing attitude in regard to housing, unemployment, the adequate relief of soldier-settlers, so many of whom had had to walk off their farms, and the reduction of Customs taxation, (Appiauso.) The rich man did not need help, he declared.; but something ought to be done for the workers in view of tho fact that the cost of living was still some 50 per cent, above pre-war level, in view of the difficulty of finding decent housing accommodation for many of the people of this country, in view of unemployment, and what was almost worse, the constant dread of unemployment that was always haunting the workers. (Applause.) He contended that the duty of Parliament, of tho Prime Alinister, and of the Cabinet, was to get down to the solution of these basio problems. (Loud applause). He was going to begin at the beginning of the session with his team to insist upon adequate steps being taken for the housing of the people, for the curing of unemployment, for doing jiistice to the great mass of the people in regard to taxation, and for dealing faiily and equitably with the soldier-settlers on the land (Loud applause.)