THE PRIME MINISTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16071, 12 May 1914, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER

VISIT TO NAFIHR. A POLITICAL ADDRISSS. (Per United Press Association.) NAPIER, May 11. The Primo Minister delivered a political address in tho Municipal Theatre to-night before' nn audience ol about 1800 people, and ho received ;i hearty welcome. In prefacing his remarks Mr Mussey said ho proposed to tell thoso present as tnuch as possible regarding the administration and policy of the Government for tho last two years. Three years ago, he said, tho members of tho present Government were before tho peoplo as candidates, and it foil to his lot to put forward a policy of which tho greater part of the pooplo of this country approved. He had told tho peoplo that if they had a majority it would bo their duty to substitute a freehold for a leasehold policy, a«d that-had been done. The moro they heard of tho policy of tho Government, • the more they would approvo of it. — (Laughter.) The Prinio Minister referred to the various Bills introduced in connection with the land question. In 1911 the freeholders were few, and the leaseholders had a majority, but public opinion had changed since then, and the freeholders were now in the majority. He detailed the effects of the various Land Bills introduced since, the Reform party came into power. In the past, ho said, settlers had gone on to tho blackblockß with promisee that roads would be made through their country, but those pledges had not been carried out. Now, however, he had provided that every penny they contributed should go towards the roads until all the roads were completed, and he did not intend to stop there.—(Applause.) Ho intended to ask Parliament for a loan specially for improving suoh districts. Crown lancls were becoming scarce, and since the Government had como into office it had purchased £559,000 worth of land for settlement, and over 146,000 acres' in one year alone. • Nearly all thet land was now satisfactorily settled. He quoted figures to show that 14,399 acres wore purchased in 1911, and 44,446 acres in 1912, 52,098 acres in 1913, and 141,062 acres in 1914. The Government land policy aimed at increasing the number of produoere and generally assisting in the development of the country. Mr Massey also touched on the question of workers' homes, and said he had submitted proposals for the coming year which' provided for the expenditure of £75,000 in this connection. The system of workers' homes came into operation before he came into office, but he -was the first man in Parliament to move the resolution which had become to-day the Advances to Workers Act. It was quite impossible to find all the money required to meet all the applications for the homes,, and he had arranged that local bodies could assist, and he trusted they would take advantage of that arrangement. Referring to the Native lands question, Mr Massey said tho present Native Minister was enthusiastic, and had tho confidence of tho Natives, and they, had arranged that where the Natives had surplus land which they desired to dispose of the Government would 1 purchase it at a fair price. He went, on to give details'of the Native lands acquired by the Government, and intimated that the Government would continue that policy. Dealing with the old-age pensions, he referred to the improvements made in the Act last session. Dealing with railway matters, the Prime Minister said the Government was now carrying out tho construction of lines that were surveyed 30 years ago. It was the intention of the Government to provide better roads and better railway communication than they had ever had before. Among other matters, Mr Massey referred to the recent strike, contending that the Government had, with the assistance of the specials, dealt with it in the most satisfactory manner possible. He dealt at some length (with the financial position before and after _ the present party came Hhto power, and said that if the present Government had borrowed more than its predecessors it was because of the legacies left to it. The way in which tho last loans were subscribed showed what was thought by outsiders of the country's financial position. They would find, ho said, that the country was becoming more and more prosperous. Referring to the immigration of boys, he said the previous Government had arranged for them to receive only 5s a week, wheroaa this Government had increased that to 7s 6d. The country needed more population to assist in its development. Ho also referred to the fact that there had been no inorease in taxation through the Customs, though a certain amount of money had been raised by increasing the graduated land tax The expenditure had had to be increased because better salaries were paid to the railway and civil service employees. In conclusion, Mr Massey said he believed the Government would have tho approval of a very large majority of the people before the end of the year. Mr Massey, who received a good hearing, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr Kelly, tho Reform candidate for the Napier seat, briefly addressed the meeting, and had a very hearty reception