WHO REPRESENT THE CAPITALISTS?

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 28

WHO REPRESENT THE CAPITALISTS?

A WARM INTERLUDE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 19. For a considerable time it has been stated thait the Opposition in. the New Zealand Parliament are the representatives of the capitalistic cla^s. That, however, is nowadays quite an exploded idea. If the present Opposition can be said to be the representatives of anyone in particular they are the representatives of the small farmers and also largely of the workers. The parrot-cry that they represent capital waiS stoutly denied this evening by Mr Massey, who warmly replied to a statement by Mr Ru«sell (Avon) to that effect. "The statement," paid Mr Massey, " is without foundation, and is absolutely contrary to fact. I have noh a. single capitalistic or large land-owner in the district I repre-«ent, ajid the same, statement miftht be made by quite a number of the' other members who bit around me." The Opposition party did not look to the interests of any claw in particular, but they looked to the interests of the whole country, and they had on every occa^ion done their level best to uplift the ma^sss. "If anyone wishes to knowto which side of the House the capitalistic 6id2 gives j-upport let him look at the li'-t of gentlemen who used their capital lately for the purpose of propping up the Government organ in Wellington."' Mr Laurenson asked the Speaker if this was a personal explanation. The Speaker ruled that Mr M.i=sev had digressed somewhat in hi" latter remarks. Mr Russell «aid he had had considerable political experience, and he knew nothing to caut-e him to alter the opinion he had expressed. " The directorate of The Dominion, who support the hon. gentleman, gives ample proof of every statement I have made." Mr Massey : " I have only to contradict fhe statement, and that it i.« absolutely contrary to fact and unworthy of the member.-? who made it." Mr Ru»ell said, as regards this last remark, that he was <?orry he had trodden on Mr Mas c ey"s tees. He was sorry that Mr Ma«-=ey h.vl allowed his feelings to lMrav him into tin ■expna-ssion which he felt sure he would regiet when he was in a cooler spirit. He was informed that £50.000 kid been supplied by leading capitalii-l* of New Zealand, which was to laot The Dominion for three year«. a.nd that the whole £50.000 was expended before the three years were up. and they had to put more into it to keep the paper going. Mr Ma.^sey: "I don't think it is necessary for me to contradict the statement. I think that the House will take it for what it is worth." Mr Ma<v=ey added that in the past hi? party had met statements like the one to which he had objected with laughter, but he meant to contiadict them for the futtne. "When statement* of that kind are made," ho said, " I am going to «tand up in my place and put them right. I don't want to Han«ardi^e this to-night, but there is a list of the capitalL-ts who have used their money recently at the request of the Government for the purpose of propping up the New Zealand Time-."