THE POLITICAL ARENA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19196, 12 June 1924, Page 8

THE POLITICAL ARENA.

MR HOLLAND AT MILLERTUN. A PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS. (Per United .Pbess Association.) WESTPORT, June 11. In the course of a pre-scssional address at Millcrton last evening, Mr H. E. Holland. M.P., indicated that in the forthcoming session the Labour Party would offer determined opposition to the Legislature Amendment Bill and also to a reduction in income taxation pending the restoration of the wage standards in and out of the public service. He strongly criticised (he Government’s action in altering the hours of the railwaymen after (having agreed to send all matters in dispute either to the Arbitration Court, Parliament, or a special tribunal. Ho declared that when the Government barred the railwaymen from entering into an industrial organisation with other workers it was dishonouring the Prime Minister’s signature to the peace treaty, the vital labour clauses of which gave the workers oi every country which was a member of the League of Nations the unrestricted right to organise. He warred his hearers’ that the attack on the 44-hours’ week would not stop with the A.S.R.A, but would be extended to the locomotive engine drivers and others now working 44 hours. None of them would be safe with the present Government in office. Mr Holland expressed the opinion that an election was hardly likely this year, but he warned them that Labour must be ready to enter the field at the shortest notice. Referring to Mr Wilford’s statement that it rested with the Liberals to say whether there would be an election, he said that the Liberal Parly had certainly saved Mr Massey from the Labour Party’s attack on numerous occasions, and there did not appear to be any reason to anticipate the Liberals would act differently tnis session. The assumption of office by the Liberals as a separate party was an extremely remote possibility. Mr Veitch’s Gisborne utterances seemed to indicate that the Liberals wore ready to join the Reformers, and even to drop Mr Wilford in favour of Mr Coates if only Mr Massey would stand aside, but if by any accidental turn of the political kaleidoscope Mr Wilford’s. Party should become the Government it followed that the Labour Party would be in a position to lay down the conditions on which" the Liberals would remain on the Treasury benches, at anyrato until Mr Massey’s followers should rally to Mr Wilford’s support. Mr Holland was accorded a vote of confidence. •

LIBERAL PARTY’S CAMPAIGN. ADDRESSES AT ASHBURTON. (Peb United Press Association.) ASHBURTON, June 11. Messrs G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) and J. . A. Maepherson (Oa.maru) delivered addresses last night on the aims of the Liberal Party. Mr Forbes said ho did not think that members wanted an election, but he would not bo surprised to see an election before the full term of the present Parliament. Mr Massey was being kept in power by three members, who were afraid that if Reform were turned out Labour might get control. No partv in a minority had the right to govern a country. ’ In England the Liberals did not mind Labour carrying on so long as it did not attempt anything conflicting with the ideals of Liberalism. Mr Baldwin, unlike Mr Massey, recognised a virtual defeat, and stepped down. The New Zealand Labour. Party had 17 members, and if the party obtained sufficient representation to run the country it was entitled to do so, but if it tried anything against th© interests of the country it would not remain in power long. Mr iMacpherson claimed that the Reform regime had been barren of progressive legislation. It paraded Liberal legislation as its own. The following resolution was carried:— “'This mooting expresses confidence in the Liberal Party and its leader (Mr Wilford), and hopes to see New Zealand once more ..ucr in© old i.ioeral flag.” MR WILFORD’S TOUR. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 11. To mark the conclusion of his northern tour. Mr Wilford was entertained by the executive of the Auckland branch of the Liberal-Labour organisation. In an address Mi* Wilford said his tour had been most successful. There was no difficulty in finding candidates for the Auckalnd seats at the next elections, but no announcement would bo made at present. THE REFORM PARTY. MR MASSEY AT WANGANUI. BIG GATHERING OF SUPPORTERS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI. June 11. The Prime Minister (Mr Massey) called in at Wanganui this morning en route to llawera, and he was welcomed by a very large gathering of Reform supporters. Mr Massey expressed surprise at the big number present. It pleased him to find that the people of tho country were taking a keener interest in the politics of the country than they had in the past, for it was on this interest that the prosperity of New Zealand depended. Referring to the next election, Mr Massey said that he could not ssy -when it would eventuate. Supposing the Government were defeated, a Government under Mr Wilford or Mr Holland would be impossible, he said, and the combination of the two would also be impossible, and neither one could carry on. Mr Massey said that his constituents were the best in the world. Some of them he bad not seen for 20 years, but on a recent visit he found to bis satisfaction that they "had not stopped voting for him. _ Speaking of the recent railway strike, the Prime Minister said that it was a mistake from beginning to end. It was not a strike for wages and conditions, but it was purely n political strike. There was some organisation behind the trouble that had not yet been brought to light, and he did not know where to find it. Ho was inclined to forgive the strikers, for they had been misled and were the mere tools of those who manipulated the affair. Touching On financial matters, the speaker said that the financiers of England had implicit faith in our country. Proof of this was indicated in their offer to lend t;2O 000.000 instead of the £5.000,000 which were asked fdr. They were the best judges of the finances and the resources of the country. Mr Massey hoped that the Australian banks would not dram the money from New Zealand to assist them in their present financial depression At the close of the address, the Mayor (Mr Hone Gibbons) welcomed Mr Massey to Wanganui, and hoped that in the near f.dnre the Prime Minister would pay an nfTHal visit to that city and address a public "'in his’ response Mr Massey congratulated Wanganui on its elevation to a city, and said that as it prow it would become of greater importance to New Zealand. He said that he would visit Wanganui officially at the first opportunity.