THE RIVAL LEADERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14465, 6 March 1909, Page 10

THE RIVAL LEADERS.

MB, MASSHY'S REPLY TO THE PRIME MINISTER. (Fr.ou Our Own- (>ttliKsi>o;;DE.yr.) AUCKLAND, March .5. 'I'hft Prime Minister, in rc-plv to some criticism put forward by Mr Massey. Leader of the Opposition,' having thrown out. a challenge, Mr Massey was" asked if he intended taking up the'gauntlet. Mr Massey replied: "I an; sorry (hatSir Joseph Ward seems to h'tve lost his temper over my criticism with regard to some, points 'of interest which have recently been occupying a share of public attention. The Prime Minister docs v.,-,1 show to advantage whe-u lis i.s angry, and as a friend 1 would adviM him V> keep cool. Sir Joseph Ward says my cka""es were groundless, and invites me to pinve them. Those charges were—(l) That Sir Joseph Ward interfered with i-hc Southern Maori election by sending telegrams to leading Maoris. Sir Joseph admits having done so. and actually publishes a copy ol' his telegram, iiliich is practically the same as the copy forwarded to lire.' (2) Thatill giving Mr Ngala- control of the insurance Department and the Public. Trust Offices the I'rime Minister had done wrong, as such departments should only be under the control of a 'Minister respoiisible to a European constituency. Sir Joseph Ward now says that Mr Ngata has not lieen given control of those departments, hut. that his ]K>sition Is analogous to that of a parliamentary tinder-secre-tary. Sir Joseph has changed his ground with regard to this mutter, hut lie has not improved his position, because, if we are t<> have parliamentary Under-Secre-taries, then Parliament itself must make provision, and there is no such provision. Now Mr Ngata's services can conslutionally only be utilised in assisting the Hon. James Carroll as Native Minister, and if that gentleman does not require them the people of the country are. not. getting value for the comparatively large sum which the Hon. Mr Ngata is' casting them in salary, secretarial assistance, (ravelling .expenses, and allowances. (3) That suggestions had been made at the elect-ions to the effect that certain districts would he more likely to lie benefited by public expenditure if those districts were represented by Government supporters rather than Oppositionists; (4) that- systematic attempts were made at the election by members of the party of which Sir Joseph Ward is leader to libel and misrepresent Opposition candidates and Opposition members of the last and precedingParliamonts. 1 take the last two statements together. If these are the statements which Sir Joseph Ward asks me to prove, then I accept his cliallenge, and will take an opportunity of proving them to tho satisfaction of every right-thinking and unbiassed man ar.d woman in the community."