TRIAL OF STRENGTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15384, 22 February 1912, Page 4

TRIAL OF STRENGTH

, _ "® ot ' NO-COXFIDENCE DEBATE. ]j" i. froi THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. p|;,| Mil -{ ooc SIR JOHfl FI>TDT/AY'S ATTENDANCE ma EXPLAINED. ,(. tlit flfV ERIME JUMSTER AND MR MILLAR j / — hat PREPARED TO GO OUT OF OFFICE. ___ la3i ' He (Fbou'Oob Ows Connr.srosDtHT.l m ri «' fici WELLINGTON, February 20. JIK , tho coiiiso ol his speech in Uio no- W| confidono!! debate Sir J. G. Wanl ?aid that j <( ivsuggestion luul lx.cn inailu tliat Sir Julm Findlay iuid forced him-selt to obtain ,tn ()[ invitation to attoml lio Imporu.l Confer- j |p cnoo, awl to tint lie ffM'o an emphatic w!] denial. Ho ("'« lJ " mu Mua:4< ' r l w,s mi iifited by tlio Imperial authorities whether ho "would bo ablt I" arrango lor aiiotlwr mombor of tlio Cabinet, preferably a , n rotiuiwr, to attend tlio w i ,l ' c Vi 1 , !. C0 ' „ "" lia liSUor was diitwl October 8, 1910. Every )>r country was ri>;>rct*yilc<l at tlio conference a) 1 <wecr>t Ne«' Zealand, anil Novfomidl.-uv.l n f liii] threo roj>rosentativ<», and tliero was t ], legal work (o do at tlio conferem*. upon 1( , winch legal men, among them Sir John ;lt I'indUiy, wcro cmjiloyod all the tiino. Tim mi Lender ol tins Opposition luul not said ono f(; word in ius tipwcli against trusts and comliincs. w; Mr Maaicy: Yes. I did. 1 said that tlio |1( Government should bo u-txl tvi every oc-:a- ;l|| 6 ion to smash up monojioliiw | KI Tho Prime Minister said that lie wan j K goilii! to invito tlie lion. gentleman to assist „ ( in iunatdiinj; up ft- incviopoly by suiipnrlins tl[j llio proposal contained in tlio Governors |j ( Spcoch, ii'. pursuant*- of which tho_ country tr V.xmkl scciiiv) an cstat<) valued ali/lo.MO.O&v 1 . ;i|] "Mr Massey; Why didn't you bring dor.vi ||, the propofol M ycai ': 11: ■ 'Tlio l'rimo Minister: 1 did bring it do.vn. (J| Mr M.vsscy: *Jlien why ilitl you not put it j, through? f... ■'Jtoo l'rimo Minister roniaikd tlint the | Ixwrier of tin* Opposition hud not. siid ono |, ( Word alwut llio aggregation of tlio freehold u in l.liis country. Ho talked about, tcuurily (l( d[ tenure, but wlvat did he iu*ivu by that? ji ]n t3lis 1 lou.si! Hid luhinni of puilies «:h isuch that n» one <*>uld ;;et a Tenure liill | i; through. Jivorylxxly laiew that thin w.m n to, but under tlio jiniixital lie luul mentioiicd £13,800,003 worth of land would (< ho' roltlol upon by men and woin.ei h( nlid their and would bn taken (. Iroin tho larj;o land-owners |j out tho coiiniry who luid shomi their j| bitter boitility lo this (the Governmcr.t) r-irty and to llio worker., of tliut country. H>.nio of the landowners, j| born with silver spoons in their months. 2in<l never earned a penny for tluunseliv.;, but thin £13,1100 000 worth of Ir.nd could j| 1» talien without doiii:; injury to <iny landowner. ~ Mr Murtioy: Do you inohulu Mokau'.' Tlio l'fimu Minister suid that t.he leader 0 of Uio Uppohition had advoeatvd K'llinj; the freehold of Native lands He had own j ( advocated tho nalc of the nine million auva of wulowiiKvit lands. The £13,800,000 worth j| of land <ould Iki Uiken without lining llio f sliuldOKl injustioi to any land-owner, but a drailio provision would Ihi that preventintr mljatent owjiors limiu };oin(, r to a (Join- ' poiwation Court and ovideneo wliieh would abnoriiially inenaso iJiu v.diie of (lie ( land, The value would In- fixed by ilits » I/and I'uniliaso Ikxird. anil not by llio Go- j vernnionl. Tlio land wouhl l*j cut ti]> into | cloterri'il payiuent sixrtioivs j Turning next, lo tlio (|iu*tion of " petrol, 1 ' j tho Priimi Minister askinl wliat worliin;,' ( nun: could fitaiid for Parliament 10-il:iy wit u any liopo of .siwess'; Op|xxilioii e.vidi- J (twos went aloni; to a poor man or woman . with a f.'iinily and said: " C'omo alonu ■u»l linvn ft lido in my irntnr car." That was liow tliej' liad l<ee:i ehxtitMi?, In A*l(itralia Uu.y had slopped the use of Iho Motor '"•ITU vit. elections for distances nf less than two miles. Why jJiould not tlx> ' wimo bo done here? Ho liad no (;real obieot|oiw lo tlio repeal of tho .Hxvnn| Ballot. Aet. 'Hio Ix-a<Kw of tl«> Op|*>«ition liad talked al-out. land mlioijiit-lr.ilinn. In this • di'pttrlnient there was n record nf which ho 1 wns not ashamed. Which of the aels |wvod liy tho l.ilmral Government would thoothor ' fido rep<'Jd? ' 'Mr lav (liroinpllv): The law of libel. f ■Sir Josoph Wan I: Vou'v<r never been ill ! for tho law of lilicl, b\it ymt oiU'litMo be.— (Cries of "'Hi! Oh!" ami "Order.") Air J.ec: I rlrnv !h:it. ,Sir J. G. Ward: You don't, know anything nbout tlio law of libel. ' "Mr-Lee: Anil you.don't kno«- nnylhiiiK ' about- uk". eilher. You .'i?l;ed uie a (|ues- 1 tion. and I answered you. After llm pasM(,'e-at-arms which. ! Hioiikli brief, was a rather warm one, Sir ' Joseph Ward went, on to define the pre- j ifcMlt ixwition of parliea from his point of vimv. .Some of his opponent !, he said, had tlloiißht that their chief calling was to bll\ck(!liard. One liewsimpei- Sl>eeinlly hail done that. They t io do some prwl li.y putting their nose inside a |>olitieal mails private house. Thev eouht only do that with tlio fup|«)ii of the dirictor.-, and lift waa wtistied tlmt they would no| deWild to such deptlw unless they liad received the Mip]Kirt of ll.eir ilireelors in re- • (flud to what they said al««it (,'ettini; lid nf liim. Thev liojMMl by doinjr so that tiepitrly would lie disintegrated, Inn when lie was free ho would have a glorious anil a liappv time. They said ho wanted lo rliiifi to ollire, but, he wn.< the truMiv of a lart'o liuinher of people who had supported the Liberal Government. Al. first he contemplated ressixnini; Mrnijjlu away, bill lie found that that would lie an unfair thini; to do, .and llio right thing was to call l'arlioinent together, lie did not attempt to carry on, as he might linvn done, till after tlio end of the linalieial year. No one would «ei*>pt the dot-won of the House morn cheerfully than lie at llio present juncture, ami nolhwilhstauding all the Opposition said, he believed thev were going to win. tie believed it would tie a bud thing if thev did not win. lie said tho cry in tli,< North Island was against him. It wax to put Ward down, but at tho same tinio it was not a cry to put Massey iti. Mr llorries: That is what wo are here for Sir Joseph Want: No doubt yoti have been thero all along fur that purpose, and yell tiro still ilieiv. Ho had shown that tho nunilier of Liberal supporters in the country wns greater than ihe numlier who Mipporloil tho Conservatives, but he was not going to cling lo ollieo upon a narrow majority (or anybody in thv. country. The Leader of the Opposition might, try that unci find llio i-oifcvipieneos if he liked. Tinnatural allies in this country wore the Litaral and Liilniur sections. Ono of the niost fatal wouM W> to allo>v thoir nAlurol oppononts to Iti* \w\\ in ikkhvmoii of this country at the n;oiiii'iit V 'Sir Joseph Ward - i-onliiniitl that bo did . not inieud to go on in the position lie now " held even it his side won m tho division, j lis he honestly Ix-lioved (hey would. In 1 oilier words, ho was not going to bo put in tho position of allowing them lo use hint to injure llio I.iheral and l.abour J parlies in this countrv. An attempt had neon tnado to do that hv raising cries against him porsoiiaJly by misropresenta- ' lion ami tlolilvrate and wilful falsoli.Hvls.! 'fW' stiiteiuonts had bo"i\ ciivulntid |o tho S cxtetJt that nnv babbler who was talking ConW *ay: "All wo «ant is to put Ward out. Wlnu ho had to say to tlv.» l.itioraU i was tfkit he was piepan-d to go into the ! rank Mkl filrt of the Liberal and Lihour iKirty in New Zealand. (ApplaiiM' front (Jowruniont superiors.) He was pro|>iirod ; to stand by them mid help them to tlio Ivst of Ills ability. As n five man without rosjKinsibility ho would bo at a much greater advantage, lie had now to curb his »ongue.--(l/iuichtor,) lie would bo abb to do what tlio Lvulor of the OpjioMtion and' bus pori]Kitotie band hail done. 1L» had 68 invitations to dilToront parts of the wintry, lie did not os.ro for their attacks, and ho hod Iwn responsiblo for saving this country from a crisis throe times. He referred to the Op]M»iticvti aa a I\likl of Ir.yiparoos that had Iven jumping over this country.- (Opposition laughter.) In regard to the criticism of tho Opposition pro.-s or of tho Government press regarding his policy, lio'said that whoever carried it out lio would havo tho satisfaction of haviio: given an indication of a i>o|iry that wouhl drag tho Loader of the Opposition and tho lilou who Mipportod him at the chariot wheels of tho I.ilvral and Labour party. In that jioliey thero wa-> the groundwork (or (ho man who wanted to stand bv tiejwoplo of this country--Ihe farmers and worker?. Sir Joseph Ward went on to refer to the foul pioalis ami the doir.idiilion of a journal owned and cor.t rolled by laiuli'd proprietors which was propped to do aiiytlmi" of' tho meanest charaeti'r to damago him. XJn'dor its policy of bbckgtianliug public men it thought to deter th-in from carrying on their mission. He would wnchido by parodying the words of a great Irishman, that the majority of tho people in Xow Xoalantl might lw liis tmnixiraiy enemios. but he would never be theirs, and after he had Won lio wouhl bo prepared to assist tho party and go alone as a private mouiber,

ving a happy time with tho Loader of KO s Opposition anil tlio memlicr for Tim- | r< npi and others in )scll;imy'.s on tlio bo*' Ti terms nnd help tho l.ilicral and 1/iboiir V( . rty io sweep tlio hirgn landed gournian. s |, iers out of existence.- llxmd apiilaufo. j n , >m the Government ta-nihc?.) lii: .Mr .Ma.ssey rose t<i nxike a jieriwn.il ex- t o unation. l!o was sorry that llio Prime j r( inistor liad forgotten the tlmt ho j|, cupictl, and liad used language that no j|, an in tho Ilotiso ishould have iifod. r,i Tlio Hon. li. M'Kenzio Mibniittod that f a lis mnonntcd to a reflection on the hair, but tho Speaker ruled that r.o re- si ction lu\d bocn nvido. Mr Miuwy sii.l lliat the l'rimo Minr.ler id acrused him of <>xpro.-s:ng tho opinion j| i.it local lyxlios shoirld, lie allow«| lo ivo tnotioy at 3 per cent., tlio general j), xpayor ln-in-j left f> inako good the low. 0 lia<l fai<i tint hxat lxxliofl should get , n one.v at 3 per cent., and that tlm de,- j, ( .-ici.cy should 1» made up from Jiarlia- j (] iontary grants. He bolh;ve<l that, this ould be mure wtisfiietorv to i-ottlen ;tr.<l v 1 lotvil liodic.s, and would enable them to ;l et l/Oltrr value for their money.—(Cries i " (Jnitij, douhlo.") Mr Ma.wy widtliat j. a was sorry that the intelligence of those lio had intorji'ctcd <Kd not alow them to lidoinlund tlio jxjtiilion. The l'rimo „ lini.ster ha<l said that nol«dy had votc<l a gainst the Dreadnought- That wan ipiilo '|J me, but. at tho timo tho Prime MinUrr ad eomo to him, or ho had gone to tlio y 'rime .MiniMer-ho was not. suro whic.li— ml I lie l'rimo Minister showed him a draft si f a resolution that the House approve of ... lie gift of llio Dreadnought. Ho refined j| II vote for the motion in this form, and s t his suggc.stion the word " c<infirm " was j, nbstiluled for '' approve." Mr Ma.wy o laled that-' the jxirlion of tho l'rimo n Minister's speech to which lie objected' n.oft. ; .'as his reference to setlarianisnt. lie did n lot wish lo l» jilaced in a false position, ii nd Uiok this oiimrlunity of staling thai a io had never made llie t-lighl'vl difrerer.ce ( K-tweon member.', of any ice;. He had t ■<fni supifirlem who '.we Houhin t'alholic.s, v nil two of his candidates at tl.o late ohy- 1 I ions wcro Catholics, lie went lo Ihe d:sriots which they contc.-iod lo nssi.-i them, lid nolhing would have plea sod liim belter lian lo have Ihe-o men silling Miind liim I hat night. It was n very groat pilv that •lie qiio.'l.ion of sectarianism should line s ■eon rainil. lie leul not said that if a ( ..'Ction of iiieitilvei's did not keeji llwil' < iknlgos lio would foreo a tlisfohilion. What io did say was that if the Governuicr.t 1 .von—which could onlv lw on account of i ■eriain menibers breaking their pedge.'— < t .would l>o imno-siblo for it- to c.irry on, i ml lie did not. itelicve that members wriuld I iirejik their pledges.—(tiovcrnment inter- •' ruptioii.s.) Tho man who broke his pledges I nas a disgrace to himself and a disgraoe : lo Parliament, and a disgrace, lo his con- ■ itituency. What, lie had said was thai the i fiovonnnonl. could lint lie retained in jiosilion by I ho casting voto of the S|ieaker. ' It w:k the liaturul desire of llio Opjiosi- ' lion parly to find its way on lo the Treasury liencW, bill, if they could not gv-t I here by honourable means they would not ' go there at all. Mr lliinan objected that the l.rader ol Ihe Opposition w;ih making a fpewit. The Speaker ruled lliat Mr Mtusey could not debate the ipieitions. Mr Massey siid that the linn, genl'emen , were anxious to create an imjirchsion that the Opposition woio anxious lo get on lo the Treasury bcnches by anv means. An inm'rssion had Ik'Oii crcatod that motor tirs had been used mily by the Oiaio.Mtioii. 11, Mr Ixuirerison cornphiined that Mr Massey w«6 advuncing argmuenU against a previous speech. II was not a. fad, Mr Mas\s«y continued, that motor cais had been uscml jMrlicularly for tho iH'iiefit of Oiufo-silion candidates. 110 could only sneak from personal knowleduo of Auokl::nd. It" know u-h.it had gone on in rjiristchurch and Wellington. In Auckland, for ono tar itv.'d bv Opposition candidate* the Government candidates had used five, lie lieliovcd that the same thing had occurred in nearly ev-'ry |ur; nf Now Zealan<l. Sir Jojoph Ward rojo in turn lo ir,«l;o a personul explanation. Tho 1.-ador of the Opp:sition. 1h- fa.id, had ii"|. moi.ir oih in hi-- 110 fil:o I'n'nn Minister) knew that the lar^" 1 landed nn|irietor.s of Now Zoehind liml sent lli--ir motor cars to l>o urrd against llio woilors' ami Ihe f.ibcrals. Mr Ma-soy: What about Mr Donnelly 111 llawko's IViv—six ears? Sir Joseph Ward: Ho is only ono out of a number. I know that in Wellington il was |insilively danifernii.s, They had never seen such a display of wealth 'More, lie was informed flu* member for Napier tint Mr DoniHly never lonl n c,ir. M.' Massev: I raw siv of Ihom. Kir Josi-rili <nid tliat a competent valuer had estimated that Ihe total value of motor cars used on ono dnv lo as-ist Oopcuition candidate.-! was £80.000. Wh-d chanco had a working man against thweallli nf Iheso landed proprietors, who fi'iit ihe'v motor cars wholesale nguiusl overv poor m.-n who Hod lo got into Parliament '! In what Ihe Loader of tlioOppnsitiou had wtid idiom mnUir c-trs ho had put. his font inlo il worse than over- In effect Mr Massev had trird lo hrilio the whole country. He (the Prima Minister) had never heard of anything like il in his life. Al 9.50 (lie House adjourned for half an hour. Mr James Allen said thai a lolling indictment had been levelled againH the Government bv the Leader of Ihe Opposition, lint il w as mi answer to say lliat I hero were blackguards in tho cninmiinity, Not n single 1 indictment had been answered. Soniono mentioned that motor care wore used bv , one side as much as the other, and if Ihe Government disapproved of Ihe use of motors in connection with elections il had never given otToot to its objivtion during ils 21 years of legislative power. It was lisokw [or llio Prime Minister to niake an appeal lo tlio country for personal symjiathv for himself and lo declaim thai largo land- I owners were lwhind Ihe Opposition. Tho fact, was that when the member for Tanranga and himself said that tho iui|xisition of the graduated tax was tho pro|ior way lo !>ui>i up tho large estates liie Government sent its agents through Hawko's Iky to obtain promises of nippoit from tin.' largo landowners in regard to the Dreadnought. The Prime Minister had nsrd means which lie thought ho ought not to have used. Mr Allen declared thai through- j on! this enmjia'gn he had never failed in a single speech lo take full responsibility for ' his dluiro iu tho defence legislation of the country. Had lint ihe Minister of Kailway s said that tho Government, would not continue the prosecutions for failure | () register. ami so admitted that it was prop.vcd lo allow the sy«tem to break down? The Prune Minister had accused tho Oiipisilion of innuendo: yet his own speech 'was full of accusation-, and statements which ho could never substantiate. No member of the o|i|*isiii(in liu.t ever lliat piekiii'.ii from the loans had fallen lo llio l'rimo Minister. lie could not nctopl with equanimity 111.- -t:il.,nu'nr regarding ihe live million loan. Kighteen years ago there was ua need for the employment of underwriters. vol the rot lira showed thai 1J per cent, had Iven |)aid for underwriting* ami commission. As a result of the mile,-.. ; and plunging finance of tho Prime MinNloij Ihe condition of Now Zealand was not so good as it was when ho assumed otlice. I New Zealand slocks liad dcprcciati-d bolov.- | those of Australian colonies during the j last few veals, though a few years ago j they oreupiei! the proudest posit'.'n anuuig I the cnloniil stock*. The reason for Sir i John l'i::iilav's visit to England was not ' given al the lime. Il was explained that I'.O W.%"> going lo scMlo two legal ieall'l-. not thai he was going io the imperial Con- ! ference. There was a good deal of humbug alvmi the settlement of the Webster claims, which seemed to require ihe visit of someono to England every four years, and they wore not yet settled. Thi» was another illstance of the indifference which had caused llio revulsion of feeling against ihe Government. Mr Allen drov, attention to the omission of "a loan sccoun; at Inched " ■ mentioned by the High Commissioner in his letter u|>on the live million loan. Thero again was n lack of candour iu tho Government's treatment of the House. Referring to Mr Wiltord's jtosition, Mr Alien said tliat Mr Massey's reply to llio request lor :v pair was perfectly justified. He slid ilia: the Reform forty would repeal the Second Halloi Act, which il hail always opposed. . Mr Allen said that all he would say al.out .jtlio Ciovornor's Speech was tliul in his lopinien a use lud Iven made of tho GoI \ernor that should rover have Iveu made, j I Tho lieforui party had given spec : lic charges , i of oxtravaganl oxpondituro of pub'iie mom*.'. ! lull nothing had been heard of the promised inquiries. A l ocal Government Hill I had Iven pvomi-od iniiualiy for tlio last . j IS years, and fulfilled onlv that day. lie | I readily admitted tlmt a certain amount ol l-orvow«l money was uccossiry, but it was , | a dangerous doctrine thai borrowed money was ihe only cure for high Kites of interest . and for employment. Surely it was a , wiser |wlicy to borrow only what was necessary ami expeml it wisely, teach--1 ing tlio [>coplo to be self-reliant. » C«relossn<.Vs ami unlitTorciuv to tin '■ Meifnr>> i-i ihe jvoj»V luul Urov-m the Governnion: to its present pi.si ,- lion. It was gros> carolessm*s< that jiro ,|need tho Fic.a.'icial Statement cf last . Mid tho l'rimo Minister could not deny ill, i miitako of two millions iu the not dob as sltown in tho Statement. Anything wo.

;ckx! cjiougli for Parliament when it ea.ne I ro.n Uio Sti'.'bt lion. Sir Ward. 1 i !V(-nty yt-ars of <illico iuid ina«le tho Go- J ernmenl. vnivlns. and now in its (loipciruto | 3 Irngglo fc.r (on'.iuuanc.- in odlo it had put v lilo llio 111011t.il o! tin' Governor word* which < lis J-Acellc.ncy shoiilcj ncvei- have Iwin a.skcd ' 0 utUi,-. The Prime Minister had 1:01, | n-atcd liio cduuny rigiitly in wizard to t i.i) l''in.;i.(-i.'d Suiiomonl I'.v bad jmt. Icioro 1 lio llouei. that afternoon. 110 luul not ;n- I Tkiigo'l !'(1 ;* the niiiewals of any of Igo loa:is i ailing duo after March 31. Sir Joioph Ward: You lake llio rcspon'ibility alter that. Mr Allen: You like lo leave those coming dt'-r vou iu a very dilhcult. iiosition, anrt I il, will l» a very ilifiicull, position lo eomo < dtor yo'.i when you an.- dolilwratcly leaving I lliis dillicult siluatnoji. \\« gave the lion. last yrar authority to raiso a 1 million ami a-ludf for jtubht) works, bu.. 110 h:w inisivi only a |<ortion of it—l don t know how—bv icmpora.ry advances. Sir JoK-pli Wanl: Wi- will son what em Kontkirful financiers can do. Vf.ll II iiuiko a moss of it. , Mr Alien: I don't think you have treated fairly t'e; man who to 001110 after you. K'ir J. G. Ward: Yes, I have. Mr Allen said tho l'rimo Minister had mado no provision for renewals of loans after Mr.: Cli 31, and hud left little inoro than £5)000 in l.ho Public Works l'tiiid. Sir-1. i'.-Wai-d: If 1 had raised tho loans you. wou-.tl havo blamed mo Mr Alkn: No, you must tako tlio respo.ii•sibiliiv for what vo,: Isavo done. .Mr Allen ;:<l<!v't| (luit times liad l<eon fairly jiixisporoiu in EngLiml of hit/.', ami tho Prime Mini.-tor siioithl liavo taken aovawage oi this to i.-iiso the loan; but, lliofo were now signo of a hugn c<nl strike in Ih'itain, ami it might, tr,' difiicul', to Uoat the loan. Mr All-.n went on lo n-piKliato tho hlalement. made by tlio Prime Mi;ii-:t.er that umhio ililli.ojio.i was being Inouglit to Inttr with a vi'.'w to inihioncing vates in_ tho 10 (oiil'douoo division, lie ki;ov.' oi no sue.h j liii,':-g oil his side of tho Ilollfo, but ij what ho heard was li'.ie llicio wore such things going on on tho oilier tado. Mr I^i-urenson: Well, out wii.n il. Mr Allen: You'll get. it In- ami bye. ( Mr Massoy: Y--U will (ret it v.lion tho tiliio iv.misi. Mi- Alle.it: If there has boon inflr.on:o al :<J| il. luis <o::io from tboir side, not. from our-', and there are momliers who could teli tli-;> v,i,oie Ei:iry.-iO|i|/Mtion *' Hoar, hears.") So lio hurled tliat charge back to llio oilier fide of 1.110 Iloiiso. 110 nove.r ki.ew of six-.h things as were Ix'ing <!onc now—not oven iu tho old days. It was a ifreat pity tliat mmnlwis woro not free from all this kind of influence They should sot their faces directly against, anything of that naturo, and' lio hoped tliat yfler the division a stronger, a. licttor. and a more self-reliant policy would carried out in the inlerostr- of tho cou.ntry. Sir .1. G. Wanl adinitl,"<l that, there was only £59,000 in ill" Public Works Fund, but th<ic woro authorit'/.s. to borrow £1.709.000. Mr Allen: Yes. lint have you tloatod the loan ? Sir Joseph Ward: lias money always to 'do got by loans'' He adde.l thai, lie w.m leaving the wuntry in :: sltoiiL'.'.r Rnamiul jwsiiion than evor Ix-fovo for fear of (ho bltimlei'iug ncklo?s finance of the member (or Hriico llirougli ignoranoo.—ffxiughlor.) The puymicit. of conimifisions io bpjkers ;iu<l tho Haul; of Eugkmd was not vuuiseal. Mr Allen reixst!<.tl his statement, that tho Government was making it very difiicuft. for llio men wlio came after it. to provide fund-.; for public works after March 31. It would I'C es|>eo'eilly difficult if tho Ki.-iks '.vcix> then as fliorl of inonev as t.liev were now. On Ihe motion of Mr Payne tho <lebalo was adjourned' a few minutes licforo millnighl. Fobruury 21. Tim debato was resumed this evening. The galleries wero again crowded to llie limit, of their capacity and many jicoplo were unable to obtain admission to (ho Clmmlw. Having moved llio adjournment of the debate 011 the jirevions evening, Mr J. Payne had the lir.it right to speak, but ho did not. rnsijoud when his name was called, a-ud tho. livst speech of tho evening wan delivered bv the Hon. J. A, Millar (Minister of Railways). Mr Millar s?.id that before dealing with soino of Ihe very terrible charges made against Ihe Government he would like to congratulate the mover nutl tlio sKontlov 011 tho admirable sp.vches that they had made. Yory liltlo attempt had been made to reply lo those spoxhes. Deeds tpoko louder llian words, and ho would show llvit tho Opposition jiaity had ojiposed nearly every nit of Liberal legislation in tho j>usf, anil ho would jirovo i|, out of llioir own mouths. A now generation li.nl arisen Mr Massey: Which knows not ,lnso|ili. Mr Millar said that, the new generation did not know what, had been don- in iinasi. The Loader of the Opposition in his iireliininary roinark.-i had said that he was not of llio hack-down party. 110 (Mr Millar) promised to surprise him before ho had done. Mr Mi/soy: Tliinl; of your own record. Mr Millar declared lliat ho wan not in the least worried about, his own record, lio could look back lo 1891. when Ihe coiinlr.v hail been rodurod to a lovely slalo by a Coiiservuiiv.* Ministry. Mr Massey: You have a joading member of it llioro on your loft (indicating tho Hon. 'I'. Mackenzie), and another on your right (indicating Sir James Carroll).—(Op|x>si!ion iaughter.) Mr Millar con! muni lliat when the Liberal jMi'ly first look olliw it had tlio utmost difiutllly in getting progressive legislation through at all. 110 reniemberiil how tho lion. John M'Kenzio was opposed when ho tried lo reform the land legislation of this country. Mr Massey: You have repealed his legislation. The Hon. T. Mackenzie called "Order" to somo Opposilionists who wore interject--1 ilijr. The Speaker: 1 must axk llio Minister of Agriculture 1101 to a.-siinio ihe functions I of Speaker of the House. 1 Tho lion. 'I'. Mackenzie: 1 don't intend lo ;is.-iiuu> tho functions of Speaker. 'file Speaker: I must ask llio lion, gentle- - man not to interrupt, or interject. Th;i Hon. T. Mackenzie (peremptorily): ■ Well, don't let them interrupt. , 'file Speaker: Order. 1 call upon llir . lion. Minister of Agriculture to withdraw | that remark. It is a rolleclion on the 1 j chair. The Hon. T. Mackenzie said he would I withdraw his remarks as it was contrary t( . the rules of Ihe House. , Mr Millar d'olam! thai tho last election . j campaign was 01:0 of the diriioq over con !: dueled iu lira country. The Lc:ulor nf tin . | Opposition in a ipiocli ;it ilasliniis liai: II said that llio Imposition parly alway.- , | jilayod the game and never hit below lli. 1 ! I*'lt. j | Mr Massey: Hear, hear. , 1 Mr Millar: 1 ask you lo say in youi [j jilace lioie what you meant to convey whet . I vou told the people at Pukokohe tliat >01 , i had only clean hands are! no roads or rail . j ways to nll'or? . Mr M.i.-:sey: Am 1 aiiowed to reply tf s this, Mr Speaker, bceauso I am quite pro 1 jiaivd io reply lo it with tho creates r I pleasure. j Mr Millar added that al Oamaru M . 1 Massey had said that- ho wanted clem j! administration, and the inforomo intendei , | lo bo conveyed was that llio present occu 1 panls of tho Treasury liouchcs had un ; clean hands. And vol in IS years M ; M.i.-.-ey had not proved a charge agains ' lliem. 'I'hough the Goveriiiuenl hail no ], known tint ihe lline <lmrgc-.s wore coniiiu '. on 1 very liio was produce;!. ' ; Mr Ailcn: Tho liU's were iinpeifecl. ." Mr Millar Slid lliat the liles wore as th liovoriimem trot them. i Mr M;;.-<cv: W<- cm sly thai lio! nil ll:, I d<xi-me.':-s weiv ihcro * ! Mr Millar: If jou say lhat ali ihe docti '' i iiienl,-. were nol there vo:: imply t'mit 1!: i I'.e.i-.is of departJiK'nts too!; ihe ilocitnicni •' jolt. 'j j Mr Allen: No; wo slate f;<i-. '' j .\lr Millar a.s.-o.'.U\| that tlio ttp| :>s:ti.> '• | inid po'.cd no charges. ||* nie.iiil>:-r.-. iia ;;! dealt in noiJiin,: bin innuendo, a.-nl th , I imsilion had <miii ■ lo llii.s: that 1:0 m,\ ls with any f.'K-ivsy'.vl would ix'tnain in wihii Mr lline: Tiio |iubli.' judmsl you, > Mr Millar: Yes: ivi lit-;.—(1.-anviiiei-.) 11 d that ho was wing lo show w!t;i ,f I osinion tho fjcader of tho 1 'j>iso.--ition an i: 1 le.iriim; uu'tnlwrs <'f his party now in :)] d I Hoilv bold on such matters as old-age pc '• tioos, lands for selt|c:;:ont. u.id advanci |t to settlers. Hv way of iullilling iii> proillis I 5 Mr Millar (|iiotevl o.\tc:;sivolv :n>ni llausar "I wit.ll a viow lo slitting thai Mr Mass- '• I and other.- had oppowd 11-o luiaitiuoai 'S | nitiiioil. Mr Allen had sa'd rtcoiitlv i | Ihe country that tho Opposition would m '■ j icpea! till- C'M :ig. Portions Act. I,and l". 111 Soit!oii;.'U!s Act. or Ailvano;. lo Settle st j Act W inch \i\.- the back-down jwrtvV io | An Oprosiiicv] Mcndw: Ai.-. tho sin >f I on the Treasury benches now: is I Mr Millar: Th- 1 suue ine'niiei's arv ov, •y I there, lie added tiut li:.sy had tJiers si ! vivos t'W Liberals. I '.11 it had Ken s.ii a j that if one tcok ott t*>> new hovsv <in' is ihcro would bo-the sa'no old "national Ii- j '.inderr.oaih. Tiiei,- former lauler i.«'- W t. liani R'.isjell) had to'd the;-.-, lliat alth<--.;; ie thev were so aiixioa-; :o get into o'1i ( lit tiiev lira-' ::ot for::e; ;ho old tra<ii:ioi •i- and principles of liici- pa:;\. |{ l% vi- tlul ti'.cy should U> judged bv thoir .ictioi ,r. —not bv talk.—(Opi^iticn "Hear. Ikvits. no Mr Massev: Ois- o: vot:r supp<uloj"i call' lit you gingerbrciul arisiwrats. S4 A MoJulw. EloK.int languagv;.

Mr Massey : It was u«d by one of jour- ! pr sylves. ; pi I Killing willi tho question u( the debt. Mr' i!, Millar said that mendx-i-.; opposite lni'L j voted for nearly every loa.'i. What was ilinj p. <.uim' cf liic boriowiug? 1"Jvo (jtivorrificut. j f.ving ili.i [nopta iiniluly charged, had trot, j p. permission to usu tho credit- of country i di Ki hetieii:- llit-ti). Wlicli llif Liberal party : 11, tcuk oliice in IWI mrv.ey at 5 ]x>r cent. was ; Itliarilly heard of. Who pawed the Aiivaucoit In to kit tlo.s Act? , r J" Mr Mawv: Wlin opposed it? \ou 'lid. pi .\lr Millar: I don't, know lhat I did. ic -Mr .Massy v: Hut 1 do. Mr .Millar jiavo further figures lo show n, t.iic effect of tlx- advances to settlers in reducing the rato of interc.<t on hrfow and during ;i few years after ItSJI. Did the other side do anything to hriiir d< down tlio rato of interist when thoy were S in j.oivc-r _ (' An Opposition Member: Wlint has tint ; it got (o do with this House? " Mr Milliir: The same party is over t-he.ro. I -(" No. no.") Tliey have never deviatrd I one iota. " A Member: I thought they were the back- el down party? I " Mr Millar: According to tilio meinlwr tori tl Hruw tliey an.', but they are tho same party, j t> Was there ajiy proposal for advances to sol- j j 1 tiers or advaiiors lo workers before this j " Government brought it in? I " Mr Miis-sey jnoiitioiiotl the proposal <if ■ jj .Mr Mariwlrew, which, lie K'.i'l, wis opjxv-ixl » by the party now in power tuid defeated. 11 Mr Millar'went on n. give details 01 the t reproductive loan.-', and charged tlio Oppo- jsition with never having given details of 11 how ilits monov whs invested. Mr l'raser: We have done so. " Mr Millar: No. , * Mr Kr;vser: Ye;: over and over again. !' Mr ii. Ilealon Rhodes alro indignantly 11 denied Mr Millar's statement. 1 Mr Millar said it was not fair to blame the ! : Government for over-lwrrowing in the face 1 I of thi' reproductive loans he had reform? [' 10. lie challenged the Opposition to name «' any work on which money had been . wrongly spent. He. deprecated also the criticism in regard lo the taking away of 1 Ihe Olivers of Parliament. Ho challenged 1 the Opposition to name anything in which tlio Government had us!ir;>ed the rower of . l'arliaiuohl. , .Mr Massey: There is the Customs tariff, in which the Minister is allowed to.mnko alteration:'. i Mr Millar said no tarili in the world could go into all details. , Mr Massey. No tariff ill tlio liritish do- ( minions gives power to the Government to tin' extent that ours does. I! Mr Millar then referred lo the Dread- i j nought pill, on which he said not a penny , had been spent till it had lieen authorised , , by Parliament. I Mr Allen: We could not go haek on v.hat had bet n done by tile Prime Minister. | Mr Millar said the Opposition were such , strangers to the truth that they did not know it when thev hoard it. Mr .Massey asked if such language was | ill order. Tlw Speaker '.aid he did not think there was any objection to the language in the general sense in which it had been used. Mr Millar went on to refer to an alleged 1 statement by Mr Massey that lite civil ' serviee was corrupt. •Mr M.-.ssey: Not as a whole. What 1 I did say was that impro]ier appointments had lieeu made. ' Mr Millar: Well, why don't, you toll us ' what I hey are?' ; Mr Mas-ey: You give us a list and wo'll I soon show you. ? Mr Millar (warmly): You can get the . whole—lock, stork, and barrel—from the > Dominion Oliice, for we know the men who • go '.hero. Mr Massey: I am not i:t tho. luil.it of lining fiiere. Mr .Millar: W<! are acquainted with the i Dominion and the men wlm go llicrc. Mr Allen: That's a serious charge lo i mailt! against lite civil service. Mr Millar: 1 make thai charge, and I r can prove it. because 1 know the men I who go there. In conclusion, Mr Millar ' referred te tho prosperity of New Zealand ' since the l.il>eral party came into power, r There, was an old saying that a corrupt tree could not bring forth gootl fruit. If t they could show, after 20 years of their 1 administration, a Dominion unsurpassed by » any other part of the world—the workers '' and farmers more pros|)orous than ever ' they were before.—then they could show !! that they hud dime absolutely gootl work, ■' ami they had done it in spite of the opposi- ! tion of those lion, gentlemen who wished >' now to come on to the Treasury benches. > lie could show where the llovcrnmoiil lintl 1 taken away the privileges of the - few. Inn they had given them to the iitiiny, tiil thorn was a greater 1 equality of the wealth of (ho people thim there w.i. m any country except 1 France. During the course oi his speech n Mr Mdlar remarked thai time was going r on. and he coul-.l not say all he wished to; '■ but he added: " I may have a fuller opportunity anil a wider midienco llutn I liuvo at the present lime." !l Mr Millar's enigmatic reference scented • to_ pttz.de memlK rs «. little. Its imiwrt may " pe'iiiaps he Mirniiswl from Mr Millar's cony iluding K'tnarks. "If," he stiid, "it is in I lie inlet est 3 of our party, I, like my r chief, will hand ill my resignation. If it ■ will be of any service to the party it can 1 ha\o it at any lime. 1 have no desire lo !l retain oliice unless f can do ronio good for the iwrtv. and can do it with its supiiort. c 1 have had a good spell of party life, and 0 if in the intere-its of the party my clear'J ing oi't. will dn any good I am prepared to ' do i|ttit« tlio same tiling as my ehicf.— " (Appjuttse.) i'lflc.!!! minutes were occupied in a discussion iu I he form of personal exphinalions between -Mr Miilar and Mr Massey „ regarding the manner in which the latter had voted it|«u tho advanws to settlers ami ii|v)ti tlie old-a-go |;eusiott selteine?, Mr Massey said Ihut mosl. |«xiplo understjr.od his |X)sitiou in regard to the former '" s mutter, but the Minister of Kailwavs had . cliowii lo revive the old story. When ho " lirst stood for Parliament he was pledged j on every platform to oppose wholesale burrowing, and when it bill was introduced proposing a loan of three millions for ad- : winces to s-ettlers he fell. thai. it. was his duly In oppose that loan. lie explained lr his position tlien, and suggested that lnirK towing would lie avoided by utilising I lie Post OfJ'n\- .'■' livings Hunk dejiosits. Mr . Massey said he had supported every Ad- " \a:tces lo .Settlers I'.ill introduced simv that " time. The charge thai ho hail once opposed an Advance? to Keillors l!:ll was t.he " only |K)int that could he made against him. 'j Mr Massey o-vpliiittt'd the manner in which "j lt<! had promised a sysiitn oi enabling ivorktrs to build homes for themselves. That wits in 1936, and it had been opj.oseil '' by every member of the Government party except the lion. T. Mackenzie, who was then ill opposition. Mr Massov conlr tiaditted the statiineni. that ho had voleil ' !1 airainst rhes liisl. t l!d-:i;;t? TVnsions liill, II 1 which was befoie Parliament in 1886. In 1931 he had op|iosod a bill |M'opodng a loan (if £2.00G.1XW for advances to settlei? at lhat lime ti»::v v.as f.750.(fc? '* available, and he arguiil that, there was no necessity for a further loan. Mr A. 1.. Ilerdnr.iu was the next speaker. Referring to the exrhanges that, had just l ", taken piaco lielwivn .Mr Massey and Air Millar, he stated that the latter in 189-1 "■ ili.l not record his vote in the division ,'m I. tile Advances to Hetllers Hill, but remarked in a speech u|iou that measuro: "I was '•'! retcrned to the llouso opixwed to a Imrrow--1 inu' jiolicy. and l_ intend lo keep mv pledge '• u ' in that respert." Mr b'isher: Was ihat the same Mr , Millar'.' °| Mv llerdman id iht:t it was the ume , I Mr Alillar. The Inner had said in 1824 i tli.it he e.bjeetod to suing to the I'.onr.oti ] money-lender beeaiu l it meant secnritis: ' o:ie and .i-hali millions on mortgage. Mr Millar approved of the principle of the "* measure lAdvances to .Setilers), but did tie,: approve ei the means by which the I'olonnl Treasurer projused to carry jt into cITk-i. The lion, gentleman did not re- , cvird his vote iu favour of tiw bill nor again't it. Tliii< it a|-ponivd that in 'A" .1912 Mr Milkir held one opinion althoni;h iu 1894 he had held an opinion directly contrary. There mtitml to ho a. toJidency, with apologies, for the Government to relv on what it had done iti its youth. I;lt What did it- matter to the House what the I: o tlnvermnerit Ind done in the past, or even wjiat Mr Millar hud done in the j^i.-t! Wha' the representatives of tho ix-ojile lmd ,' M to determine was whether the Government 150 i wa- worthy of the cididoiite of tho people. ,ri ' I jiidge.i i'v its rrcent jwliev and wtioin ;, . v 'Tlm- tl-'iverntnent must be judged in litis :l . u j tie r,inlidel.ee HH-.t'')!) 'Hit upon its VOtltll '•'< j an ! its da\» of vig-e'.iv, but upon its lielot j oivjm! old Tn.- i.oti. pontleman who '"f ii.id ins: sp.ken migin a> well have rut.:! " s 'that hon. members iuid no right t.. vo:e I against the Governnioiit because faptain "w I'oek first p!a:ni'd ::c!it'vs in New hind. Ii would he just n* tvotl it reason--tor everv bit as gaud **.;e argumer.ts Mila'.- vanwl hy the 1" r. • geiillornan, Ii dii] li-l not matter whit l::'d occurred in the pa-t. vh Tne Gcvoniieent had not manaved ih" -" ! rail'.vays saii'factoriiv. and it had shuffled ! ove- 'tli.» la:id ou-'stion It had not d vU niih the pnbli • s-rvico. i: ] ;a ,l no , ~i,-.,l v .-:t;! tbr- Native ltntl i|i:e;ti'.|i. ] and i; h.nl net ai.mini-teivd tho p;:'>'ic ~f ;od | ii-.ii's i>: iliv c>:-u:;tiv they s!i e.dd b.iv, vi< I ive.-i I!i:it.ag\-.1. '!S:e Mim-te- of l!ailv..iv,j V.id said thi:t he did not ix long to i!-,< I'-.l j " partv " 11-? belonccj to tin p.-irtv which luwl brot.Hit down the t'o 1 vcttior'i — one of tlio Jucsi ikiioujonft

:v?pnsleio:is, ami dogrr/ling documoiiteover ma >!a<vil in the blinds'of a represenliitivi: t-f tig; he Sovereign li.-n A Govfrur.'.eut Member: From a Tory t.-u Kent of view. an -Mi' lierdiiian: Not at all. Ho wont, on ij]. " stall, that upon one occasion Mr Millar I )n | !icL-ti<-<| himself in ftivour of terminating he SS9 years' lea'v linou the death of ilio ] )( > fssty. This iiK'.yil 'jMit, ;io iiLiitl/or now |j| laid iho wife or childt'oti of the lessee uiglil have worked, they wore to lx> <le- ff j nived idjrollltoly of any interest in tli.A caso on I he death of t.he Ic-.ioo. A .Mohilkt: In what vcar iviia ihat speech j i.adey ' Mr llerdman: I can't 101 l you t.hat. Mr Massey: In 1905 Mr lloulmati jaitl thnl instances of "Kick- | lown" were to lie found in the Governors ' Spivclt. 'Phc Goveniineiit had ct>nce*ti'il w ilm fre<-hold. This bt.t! Iv>.mi dono not. only • in Iho Governor's .Spt< v .'h, but previously ill the Ti-md fs't I lenient Fijianc-! Act. The Prime Minister: Not Crown lands. . Mr llou'tman: Wl.at dilferonoc doe.-i that itvako? The Govonitiient had always docinred for the leasehold in days goti.' by, but it. had gradually drifted .way from the old policv. atid had kicked <'owji. When () | the l.and (jotnlniiiont Kinaiiro Dill wan liroitght down the CfOVorntiK'nt olvintlonod jl, it; old pretentions for ever. Very tardily llw Gove.rnine;il- had come to the conclusion ' tlsit. tli-5 Council should bo '.e-----forinott, I hat- tho Niitivo lands should be f mom spwlily settled, and that somu exemp- \ ions s!k -.il<l h,- gr.vntcd from the income tax. Tho pmplo had doclansl on Dewni- ; ■. her 1 and Drwmbor 14 that they di<l not. i v.-anl. tli,. Goveniment. Now it «;is tJio j J; <hity of th<> Govcr;imeiit, having found cut I what the |,wplo wsuiUnl, to give it In them | by removing ih«nselvos from the Treasury | bi'iKii:'.'. lie invited members to oxaminn i iho ooniHcUoiis oi the Govoniment wit-It I propa-als for lot-til government reform. A j i lull had liecn liroughl dov.'.'i ill hist, but. how iu tny years hud it taken of ptviii'hoi and proiSNals iterated and reitentU'd in t | Goverr.-'ir.-' Upcechrs to obl.vtt 1.1 ii.; bill? I.'i 1693 the Government, lirsl prouii-ed lo take, action, but luilhing had lioeii <lono iiMitil 1912. Mr Kll: Thai is not cornct. Mr llerdiuiiil ftiid that he had. rpioted jj from Ilatifard. Ha believed thai a bill had been circulated on one occasion and sent o to the local Indies, but nolhing had been done. Tito Opposition hud tlecliircd-ami lie believed that .'lie people had declared— that lilt! Government was borrowing too fast; that it had been reckless in expenditure of public money; that it had backed down nml slutlKnl t.nd shilly-shallied 011 '' ll! laud tpiestion; that the public service was in a state of discontent; that tile raihvays hud bi'Pii mismanaged; lhat the railway servants were in a state of ilia-onlont; ami lli.it tho Native land question had not Ixm-ii grappled with and solved as it shoukl have been. Tlu-sn were the tptostions upon which the Government had l>cen judged, , nut upon things that were done in 188-1. •Mr Jlerdman said lhat Ministers bad do- ' libenitely usixl public money for the purpose 1 of keeping themselves in power. That v-'as ( enough to damn tlio Administration in any ' Hritish p-.nt of the world. There was the fact ] t-luit money was voted lioforo an olrclion , iuid never spent, «nd ns that had occurred , time after lime tho only possible conclur.ioti was that the men on Iho Treasury benches had broken their (rust. Without 1 ; hesitation he dr-clarod thai eppoiut-mcnts ' were made lo tho public service as tho I result- of ]>nlitk\i! inllurticc. Speaking at I a dinner of Iho Civil .Service Association in \ Christchureh iu October, Mr .1. lteid said : that nppiiintn'ient.s were made which t-aused men to blush for the people ros|>onsible for them. Mr Uusseli; A junior clerk. Mr llordmnn: i'crh.ips he was a junior chirk, but. he no doubt know more than the member who interrupted. Mr Herd- - man quoted an instance in which a man had i>ecn appointed to a position as a , typewriter expert, but afterwards it was found that, he Ind to be instructed in the operation of a typewriting machine. After three years anil a-lialf the Government had at last brought down tho civil scrvice classification. Tho*,! were some of the reasons why the people had voted against tlw Government, and not because of the manner in which certain members voted years atto. Mr Herdiiian said thai the imprudent and ; dangerous lsurrmving policy of the Government had taught tlio people lo lx> extravagant and improvident, so that borrowing would have t;> be continued until no more money could be obtained. II was time lli-.it the people learned to be self-reliant. lit seven years ihe actual expenditure of the Dominion had increased by over £3,303.N0, ttntl there «»* no justification for such an increase. It ahiolutcly convicted the Government <if reckless lintiitt'o. Mr Payne: It does not. -Mr lleidi'!.:ii: When von have been here long enough you will 'understand that it dofls. Mr l'ayn»: Tlio population has increased pro rata.—(l'/atighlcr.) Mr llerdiiiiin; Don't make silly observalions, lie v.-.ts confident tlint the railways were as it result of the manner in which predecessors of Mr Miliar had expended Imrrowed monev v.-herc Iho | crqx'riditurc should have been Iwne bv the system. The niatiiigeincnt of the niilv.-.tys would never be satisfactory unlil there was tin expert railway man at the brad of the department., Mr M'Yilly w;us no <|oiib; an excellent chief el'.-rk, but Mr ltonavno diil not take much interest in the 'general management of the railways, while the •Minister, industrious and capable as lamight he. could not administer the syfteni properly owing his luck of exprriciu'e. As an illustration of what tlio GovernI mont could do, Mr llerdman said it conld ignore the strongest recommendations of a parliamentary conimiltcc. He mentioned Ike case of Mr Hugh Jl'Lean, who had been unable to gel. tedrrss from lite Goverr.meiil, although parlianx-nUiry committoes Imil twice reported strongly in favour of his petition. Another Mr M'Lcan. of tsouthland, ]X!titiotu>d for relief on account, of the burning of his hay slacks. A parliamentary (Kiimnitlee reported unfavourably, but this Mr M'Lcan got relief. Presumably ho was ,-l 'persona grata with tho Government. The pioplo showed at the elections that I hey desired a Government ixis.'c.viing liionuess, courage, and strength, and he believed that never in the histoiy of the country were ,'ucli oiiahtics iiiore ntjt-tled than thry were 10-tla.y. The Government had gradually lost sight of the fiindaiuohtai |ii-incip!e s that, should inspite an Administration. It should endeavour lo sec that justice was secured for every nu'.n, and that the wl:o!o of the legislation should lx directed to securing for the people of the country u higher state of civilisulioti, The Government had mismanaged the railways, muddled the pttblio works, refused to opc-'i lip' lands, obtained money recklessly, and spent it recklessly. Il they got another Goveinmuit, as ho was sure I hey would, there would be a Ik tier slide of all'nits all ! over the country. People wore afraid to invest money because tliey had lost confidenc" in the Government. They had it on th<\ highoa't authorities lhat thtre was a. , want o[ conlideuci- on the part o( itivestors. Was that- a good_ result oi 20 years in power? Tho ehx-lion had not been won a-j hud been stati-d, bv inmtendo and misreprisen'talion, but by putting before the , Jn'ople of Now Zealand 11-.i- truth, ai.d nothing bul the truth.-- (Applause.) .Mr G. W. Uusseli ijuoteti from the I''-ib- | lie -Works Kstiniates ;1o show 1 hat the vote., i did not Uncinate according lo election . vea iv.. . Mv Hei-diii.in: Hut what was expi-mied? Mr liusscll deprwited Mr llerdtniin's • criticisnis of the civil service as being uKiiitd when put forward us grounds for > ejicling a .Ministry which had promoted I ligiflaiinn that hail put New Zealand ill I the forefront of civilisation. Tho |Kilitiei.l ; barometer had altered during the la.s| few r days. The smile of the Opposition l.eador > i was dillciein.—(r.aie.lhtor from Mr I 1 Mussel.l It. was tragic now.--(Laughter.) * | Mr Mavev h:;d th.iitght siieer-:- was about > ' lo ciown his eil'orls, but it now appeared - ! to Iv as tar cIT as ever. .Speaking of Ixir- !' j rowing Mr Russell r aid thcie mind be not ; tiiuict:;>u iu the borrowing for railways ami I | laiids s-ttleil'.ent. as the North Island was r far fri'ie. I ailed or clo-o'.y . s-ittltd. Il the Op|K sit;oit had beo.i in oliice ) : during til'.' last live years v.li.it part of that . '• borrowim: would they have refrained from, t! and how would they have helped the settlei mont of the coin-try without borrowing; I Ciitieiiiug the -spocli of illte leader of the I Opposition, he :aid Mr .N'ti'.-cv would i:ot t rep -al any legislation pi.ssed by the l>i- . vorntiienl. Mr Mtu-soy: Any I>*»oiicy?nt legislation. s Mr Rtuvvli: It's all ho::oficet:t. ' : Mr Young: The Mcond Iwllot. Mr Uiisscll: Ti'.a: will not need rei-'sd- " ing. It <lead already. Ho declared th'.t '• tit.- ivx-ole had lce:t deceived by miirepre--0 soutatiotis When sotpe of lit? Government n siip[!o.t-'rs t ,; ok lo the platform the torn-jv-rary adv-intas-o piinetl by the Opposition l' wo;t'd dif.ippc;tr like the early cloud and j the ir.orning dew. Coiuiidoriitg the purf< r v.i;-(h tho live million loan had r ; Ken raisv.l it argued a lack of pan-ioli.-m 1 o:i the part e.f the Opposition ni"in!Kre v.hen the-, srii-l ti:al tho loan had l'-'f-:i a fai'r.iri. Tho Leader of ti:- 1 had j claimed that hi* tiartv had o::or:t:o'.islv inf'. crran-d. and thai thi- wvs iho an.-wor of ll'.o (\'Uti'..ry M the i|tii-tions a.'idrcosl to ,- s it. In p.!rt the result of the oleciions was due to a lack of organisation on tJte part , , of tl*> voters. Tho of tl«r,. Opposition wtis largely due to fhaineftil kittuoiidw, s'svndorous, lying sU£tf*tionx.

■id wickcti fafashoralP, studiously circulated siinst- mil' iii.ui. 'Lite wmpaijjii of calumny •id Lrjfuu three .ware ago, when ****■> t<!c " iiiiin crv wtui ratswd in various ijnarli'm, mi ixutiitiltirlv in Ibu-din. lAiUowmguii int «ai.-fl ih« iJluck rmnplikt hud hlu-red ■ lit nw l);ic!;-l>li.i'K.s anil every whefu Unit iovornninit oimMaUs had row tlu '>' lau wnl tlui diarg.-s (.lint i-iwu.ited from tin: lluck Pamphlet. .Mi- lllmilw: What hve wo go to do j it.ii that: , „ . I .Mr Kti.-sell eliiLT.cl that the I'rirao linistcr, though ho had his fault*, s-tood cad and .-Imtildurs ahove any <»' l ' or " la " ~ iln- JtrilL-li Kmpiii! as a I'c-simaslcr-vneral. 110 was a giant m this country, j lad tJ:-.« Opposition olf.wl u Kuuiidale for j In: .Speakership and given tho Government, j li.- vol -s of Mil- ArUiur Ouinni-si and of ' ilr Wilton! thi> majority of tiic Opposition i-oiild vanish; hut whatever happened iho iarty was readv to meet its npjionciits l»oro'ihv people iit ;.ny lime—lOpjicsilimi audit.'!-.) Mr Uiwkll gavo n mimhor of iisiamvs which ho declared oonipriH'd the- I -Btnpuig:i of taiiuiifly awl abuse _ j Alv (J. M. Thornton: I'Vom your side. J Mr Ku:»!l adii-'d that tlio true Lik-rals: >f tin- liovwnmoiit parly did nut desire p) ; ■oi> a division from the Labour party, whiuii ■ 1.111 always been an integral jxul of th« j .'•ovf rnimint parly, and which hail always | iiorki.il in tin- in'lnrcfts of tlio winkers, j Mr Al.uvcv absolutely dollied .Mr Rus-! k-11's ftati'inVm that the Opixvition wroj ipijofud to tho advances to workers, lie lias the first man in tho Houso to advocaki it. Mr Miis;<-y tilwv objected to a vcftwnco In- Mr liiuiell' to tlio Opposition being- connected with the Hlttcl; l'.-ttiphlct. Air Russoll: No. 1 did net, Mr Alasfoy: Then why did you mention it'r Why did you brL-w; it up? Air Uhodts: Innuendo. Mr Ikisfnll furlhw txplaiiictl that, thoush Ik- did nut diarge the Opposition with civ-[.-iilatintr the pamphlet, \ha fart that'it. wpj [■inf.!:ii<\l liel|Jed to givo the Oppwirin. the °mal| accession of stTcngth they li.vi gained. Air Ala,-..-ey also denied emphatically Mr HusHl's .sU-i'ktfiK'iit thai (bore was a speechnvjkwif fa:.-!ory in Wellington for Opposition camli'.hles at tho hist clrctidii.—fTlear, !mmr."| 'I'lie House ailjniirncil at 11.20 p.m. 4=ll 2.20 p.m. Thursday.