MR MASSEY'S TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 10

MR MASSEY'S TOUR

' SPEECH AT NAI'IER. (Pm United Pmu Associations NAI'IER, November 14. Mr Masscy delivered a political address to-night in support of tho candidature of Mr E, Crowloy for tho Napier soat. Tho theatro was packed, many being unable to gain admission, and on tho stago many prominent ladies nnd gontlemon _ wero soatcd.- Mr i'. W. Williams occupiod tlio chair. Mr Masscy, who was greoted with loud applause, said.tlio party recently in power in Canada had como to realise tlio fact that Ihoso who mado a Government could also unmako it, and probably tho > New Zoaland Govoriimcnt would liavo similar experience within tlio next few wocks. Thoro hnd been n good deal of misrepresentation. Ho had nothing to hido and nothing .to oonceal. Tho party ho belongod to wero plain practical businessmen. . Ho boliovcd tho great majority of tlio audicnco would agreo with him that it would bo to tho advantage of the country if tlio present Government wero turned out of offico—("Hear, hear," and applauso.) On behalf of that, party ho had not como before a Napier midionco to inako. promises. They could only offer honest and willing servico, and they camo before blio pcoplo with clcan Inuidv Ho was glad to seo sucli a large audience, bccauuo it showed that the jwopJo irero awakening to a truo mforcet in public affairs, and it was vitally neccwary that such interest should be taken. There had arrived a timo of national stocktaking, so to speak, and it would bo well for them to consider what bad boon don© during tlio past fivo or six_ years, awl whetfer it had boon' beneficial or detrimental to the country. Was it not a fact that durinp tiki last five years taxiticfi had been piled up? \V/ia it not a fact thai during tlio same period the ocst of living bad increased? Was it not ft fact that tho ocfit of Government had gono up considerably? Aral was it jvot a faot.' that the land system was not nearly bo satisfactory now as fivo- years ago? In oonsequenoa of unsatisfactory land laws, many of tho yciing in on of tho Dominion had gono to, Queensland and other parts of Australia, wh(>ro thoy oould (ret land on bettor terms than hero. After describing tho various land bills introduced by the Government and dropped when it was found that they would not bo popular, Mr Maraoy asked if any members of tho audience'cwuM tell him what tlio Government's land policy was? Personally he oould not say.—(A Voice: • " What is your policy?") He could tell them what iiis party's lind policy was in two minutes. It was tho optional freehold for every pettier wlio went on the lar.di._The preacni Government had no land policy at all. When tho Budget was brought down the Government had an opportunity of announcing its policy, and when the l'rimo Minister addrcsesd his constituents thoro was a similar opfortnrnity, but no policy had been announced. Tho Government, had been in power for over 21 years, and ino party could bo in. powor for so long without anuses growing tip. Tho Reform party had como into existence to put an end to those abuses. In tho Financial Statem«it thonj had .not been a word as to (k-croaaitiß taxation or tho cost of living, and no indication of tho Government's intention to introduce bettor financial motlials nor desire on tho part of the Government to deal with tJw Native land question—perhaps ono of tlio most important questions thai had to he dealt with. Tlio Government had not indicate! a desire to deal with tlio reform of tho Legislative Council, civil service, and railway system. Tho railway serrico at present seethed with dissatisfaction, but tho Government had odvanced no ptopcaal to remedy tlie grievances of the men. Another matter with regard to which the Government lrnd fnilcdltt ddal satisfactorily waa local government, although a Local Government Bill which woukl satisfy all requirements liad be«i promi-od wlion lio first entered Parliament 18 years ago. As to tho land question, he did not object to tho leaseliold, but lie contended tint as soon ds tln> leaseholder was financially able ho should havo tho right arid powor to acquire tho freehold. Security of tenure of the best means of inducing that industry o,n tho part of tho settlers . which would lead to tho development and prosperity of tho country. As to tlios) who had taken up lend under tho leas? in perpetuity, tho opinion of his jiarty was that thoy should bo allowed tho i ifjhfc lo buy- the land on the basis of tho capital on which they had paid tho inteccst to tho State. Tlio law said that improvements and the • goodwill belonged to tho settlers, and if bo the only thing that would 1-elans? to tho State at tho .end of a 99-yea.rs' Icaso would bo tho original vnluo df tho land.—{A Voice: "Whit about tho unearned increment?") 'Hie unearned increment would bo includo:! in tho goodwill, and would therefore belonj? to tho settler. Another point ho wished to emphasise was that thoro had not been sufficient discrimination between men mado who mado good ueo of land and tliow who did not—tiioso who mado their holdings productive and tho'e who allowed theirs' to remain idle. Many had left this country becauso of tho restrictions and limitations in connection with taking up land. Any amount of land vas available, nnd it waa tho duty of tlio State to provide facilities for tlio pcoplo going on it. The country depended largely on its agricultural industry. and everything that was poosiblc should be done fo promoto settlement. As to nativo lands, there woro larffo blocks in tho Auokkuid district which wero absolutely of no use to the Dominion. Ho did not prudffo the Najiro owners their land, but thought they should mako Deo of it or that it should bo mado available for European fettlomoiit. Mr Masscy then went into tho history of tlio Mokau ease. Ifo declared flirt th* Government should liavo, purchased thef land in tho first place. It was 1 ono oi the worst transactions that ho had heard of. and ho was clad that lio had.forced tho inquiry. Tho most objcctionablo featuro of tho matter was the use mado of tho Order-in-Council. A bona fido settler who attempted to lako up morn lan<J th#n_ tho law allowed was branded as a criminal. There was a penalty of £500 for doinir no. but a speculator who intended to moko a profit out of tho set tiers was assisted by an Ordor-in-Council to purohsso 50.000 acres. Was that Liberalism?—(A Voioo: "Wluit about the Labour land policy?") Mr Masscy said ho was glad to m that thoro was u 500J understanding between tho Labour'and Reform parties in Napier. It had been sui?gestod that they might join hands. If so. 110 was willing to support tho _ man who was chosen. Speaking of tho iucreaso in tho country's indebtedness Mr Mossoy said tlio Govenment should put tho brako on. If they would voto /or him ho would show them how that could bo dono. lie was not against borrowing for profitable undertakings, but h<? was opposed to the financial plunging of went years. Tlio interest on 25 per cent, of tho publio debt had to bo found by taxation, and that increased tlio cost of living. It did not matter on what section of tho community luxation was imposed, it would always fdil in the long run on tho rank and filo of tho community. They had had great difficulty in getting details of tho financial transactions for tho past two years., Thoy had moved to liavo all such details produced within 12 months, but tho Government had opposed it; yet tlio people wero entitled to it. In Canada they lad a better system, with a full disclosure at tlio end of cacli financial year. Tim lWonn |«fttv, if electod, would introduce that system. Tliey would r.ot cease agitating till" they Rot it. Referring to tlio cost of" tho Hutt railway duplication, which cxreeded the estimate so enormously, ho said that thoro must lv> something wrong with the Public Works Department. There was no check on the expenditure on roach and hridgos. Vote were passed in Parliament, but. nobody but tho member for oaoh district knew how (ho works in his district wero progressing. Ho referred to ewes in which fnonoy was spent for tlio benefit of private parties, nnd Said | that for every ciss that booamo known there were many that did not. Bcforo any moro was spent the local liody for tho district should re|x>rt on the pronosed work Tho Dominion should bo divided into districts, cloarly showing where public works expenditure was required, nnd in that wa> thousands of pounds would bo Saved, ll'o believed that a development board would •bo a good thing. _ The local law was out of date. _ Ho believed in compulsory military training for tho.young, and would lako his share of tho responsibility for nut ting it on the StaMto Book. ll'o thougl t that before lone thw pcoplo would say tncy hnd done the right tiling. Ho was in favour of n fainiiy protection low, safeguarding tho wif» and family up lo £100). Other matters were referred to on tho lines of recent spocohes, and nt the closo Mr Mnssey received a hearty voto of thanks