THE PRIME MINISTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16243, 28 November 1914, Page 3

THE PRIME MINISTER.

SPEECH AT IIAWERA. (Peb United Pkess Association.) HAWERA, November 27. Mr Massey mldrawid a very largo public mooting to-night—prolmbly the lurgeet on record in thus town, The Mayor occupied the chair. The. meeting was at time«s interrupted by a noisy minority, l>ut 011 the whole the Prime Minister had a very good hearing. Mr ivlassey dealt with (lie criticism of the Government., and clearly showed that it had carried out its pledgee in tho past, and (hat for tho future (lis policy was broad, progressive, and comprehensive. He spoke generally on tho lina; followed in his previous speeches. Referring to the Huntly disaster, Mr Massey characterised as utterly unwarranted the statement that tho Government was rer.poneible. At tho time of tho wreck of the Penguin no one ever thought of attributing it to the Government of that day, and there was 110 more justification for associating tho present Government with the Huntly trageoy than there would have been, of connecting the wreck of tho Penguin, with the action of, or inaction of, the Government of that period. lie quoted section 58 of "The Coal Mines Act, 1908," to show that a mino inspector had complete authority to suspend work or close a mino which in his opinion was dangerous to tho workmen. The law otherwise provided for the regulation of conditions generally under which work should be carried on, especially ivith regard to the use of safety lambic, caution boards, and signals. 110 also quoted the opinion of the Solicitor-general to show that under these and other provisions of the statute inspectors had full authority to suspend work or close a mino altogether until satisfied as to its safety. Tho Prime Minister also quoted a letter written to him voluntarily by a former inspector of coal mines on the West Coast, who also referred to section 59 of tho Coal Mines Act as giving any inspector of mines who had confidence in himself all the powers necessary to close mince or otherwise, without consulting anyone. The Prime Minister contended, therefore, that the law as adjusted gave to the officens of the State full power to do whatever was necessary to deal with dangerous conditions in coal mines entirely as he thought fit. Under these circumstances it was not only grossly unjust, but absurd, to epeak of a Minister as being responsible. He then quoted from the report of the Huntly Mining Commission sections 10, 11, 12, and 15 to show that the responsibility for tho accident could not in any way be placed on the Government. Tho commission tound, inter alia, as follows:—"Tho inspector of mines is a careful and competent officer, zealous, and conscientious in his work, but was remiss in not exacting strict obedience to his orders, and ho committed an error of judgment in not insisting on safety lamps being used in the mines after the accident to miner Kelly. The inspections by tho workmen's inspector were infrequent and' valueless. No inspection was made of bords 4, 5, and 6 of section 5 (old working) by any person on tho morning of tho accident before the workmen were permitted to enter. The door at tho end of bord 6 of section 5, whero it connects with tho working part of tho mine, was not locked, nor in any other way securely fastened. If there had been no neglect in respect of the matters mentioned in tho two preceding paragraphs tho disaster in the mine could not have happened." Mr Maseey added that he had no desire to prejudice any person, privato or public, or prejudice in any way any prospective proceedings in tho' Supreme Court, but he asked his hearers to consider whether after tho statement just made it could with any approach to justice, common fairness, or common sense bo said that the responsibility for tho Huntly disaster could bo kid at the door of the Government.—(Enthusiastic applause.) to the strike, Mr Massey contended that the Government bad done all that was possible to limit the area in tho first instance, arid when this failed the parties refused to accept the proposal to refer tho dispute to Mr Justice Williams for arbitration Then when the strikers got out of hand the Government took tho only possible oourso in asking assistance from the farmers to uphold law and order and release trade and shipping from the hold-up of the Red reds. He justified this course, and accepted full responsibility for it, and said that under similar circumstances he would again taico similar action.—(Applause.) The llu T now amended by the Government ieduced to a minimum the chanco of furtlior strikes.

Mr Barton moved, and Mr Quin seconded, a vote of thanks and confidence. This was met by an amendment proposing a vote of thanks.

i amidst eomc uproar, declared the amendment lost and the motion carried, ana the meeting- broke up with party cheere and counter cheers.

WESTLAND. !Peb United Press Association.)

m . t e j November 27. r i ■ ,°"°n continues his very successful political tour of Wcstland. At ICumara ast night a very enthusiastic meeting was held. Mr Benyon, J.P., occupied the chair. Ihe speech was attentively listened to, and at its close questions were asked on the Bible in schools and an alleged scandal in connection with the removal of Government officials from Juimara when the Reform candidate was announced. The meeting ended with great enthusiasm, and with confidence m and cheers for Mr Seddon the Liberal Party, and Sir Joseph Ward '

NOMINATIONS. (Peb United Press Association.) HOKITIKA, November 27. Mr Seddon was nominated for tho Weetland seat this morning. OTAGO CENTRAL. Messrs R. Scott and W. A. Bodkin have been nominated for the Otago Central seat. MASTERTON. (Peb United Press Association.) MASTERTON, November 27. Mr G. R. Sykes was nominated for tho Masterton seat to-day. A resolution was carried unanimously at, a meeting of the Amalgamated Society ol Carpenters and Joiners (Otago branch) in the Trades Hall last night—"That we recommend our members to support and vote for the following candidates at tho forthcoming electionsDuncdin South, Mr T. K. Sidey; Dunedin West, Mr J. T. Johnson; Dunedin Central, Mr J. W. Munro; Dunedin North, Mr A. Walker; Chalmers, Mr W. D. Mason. MEETINGS TO-DAY. Brighton, Henley, and Kuri Bush.—Mr G. S. Thomson. Otakau and Hooper's Inlet.—Mr J, -M.

Dickson. Purakanui.—Mr W. D. Mason. Hillgiovc.—Mr E. P. Leo. Outrain.—Mr R. Scott. Moonlight and Macraes.—Mr W. A. Bodkin