MR MASSEY’S PREMIERSHIP

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 22

MR MASSEY’S PREMIERSHIP

ENTERING THE TENTH YEAR. A RECORD OF PROGRESS. WELLINGTON, July 9 10-morrow (Sunday) the Right non. \Y. v . jttassey v, ill enter upon his tenth year °i office as Prime Minister of New Zealand and fittingly enough, Cabinet, sitting- in Wellington on Saturday, sent him a special congratulatory message upon his successtu ‘ admnnstiution of the affairs of this dominion during the nine strenuous years that have marked his term in that capacity. New Zealand in the past has had several capable _ and public-spirited men, imbued witli a high sense of patriotic duty, at the lie-id of -iffaiis, and one oi the most capable is the Prime Minister who i s now ably representing- the dominion at the Imperial Oouterence. When Mr Massey termed inlust Ministry on July 10, 1912, there seemed to be a general feeling that those who accepted office under him, being- wholly new to administrative duties, would have difficulty in justiiying their appointment, bur. supported oy men like Sir Jbrancis Bell hu- James Alien, Sir William Merries, the lion -, A. L. Herdman, Sir William Fraser, and his other colleagues, the country soon came to recognise, despite the somewhat acrid criticism of the Liberal press, and of the displaced Liberal politicians, that the Reform Government was at least as good as its predecessor, and that this country's affairs were safe in Mr Massev’s hands Succeeding years have justified” the conclusion then come to. Reviewing the legislation that has been passed since 1912, it must Le conceded that most of it has been of a high order, and that in many rfleets it compares inure than favoumbij 7 wna Uio Liberal enactments of tlie contmuoils administration ai the previous 20 years. The country has to thank Air Massey for restoring the freehold principle to the land tenures of the dominion, tor liberalising the land laws in the interests of the small settler; for removing i fie public ser vice from political control. For 2d years the up-pom imeuts to the Legislative Gounod had Is- i] coiiiiiicd almost wholly to supporters of the J.iberal Baity. With a view to placing that branch of the Legislature on an elective basis, Air Alussey refrained from making any appointments to the Council other than that o f its leader, iSir I rancis Bell, until the refusal of its members to pass legislation in that direction compelled him to make additions to its membership- In doing so lie introduced a new departure into tho politics of the country, for lie included political opponents among those called to the Legislative Council. So far from fulfilling- the expectations of those who declared that the Reform Government would undo the work of its predecessors. Air Massey’s friends hold that he has improved upon the legislation of his predecessors. The Reform Administration has shown praet ical sympathy I with both the worker and the settler, bygalvanising into fresh life the workers’ home policy, and by increasing in the prewar period the limit of advances to settlers from £SOO to £2OOO. It has remodelled and liberalised the pensions .scheme, reduced the old age pensions limit from 65 to 60 years iu the case of women, increased the veterans and widows pensions, and in other ways enlarged the scope of the original scheme. Ir is scarcely necessary to re -apitulate the many measures by which Air Massey's Gov. eminent has raised the rates of pay, and improved the conditions of service in tlie railways, post and telegraph, police force, and in the public service generally. Nor should ii be necessary to speak of ib» industrial legislation, -providing increased compensations for workers, enlarging tlie right to recover conipi usntiou for damage, and extending to employee.-: of the Crown the rigid to recover t ompen- -it ion from which thov had been pi -\iously debarredA great believer himself m thrift, industry, and enterprise. Air .Massey lias cou--a-ieuuy advocated the principle that every veiiou of ihe community should receive its lair share of the community’s earnings, in proportion to the value of services rendered uid as one step in ibis direction he and ais oolleasuca liavo twice raised the rales

of interest payable on deposits in ihe Post Office Savings Bank. On the educational side, in both tho priman a.-id secondary departments, con-sidera-ble improvements have been made in the Suite system, so that a capable child may now pass rig at through to ihe Ui;:-ver-dty at little or no expense to i's pawn s. In other ways, moie particularly in Lis leaders p d - weopl. - ... .... ihe dar . and trouhi sou-e y--ars o ifie war. and in the work r.i repinatioii, ami alter war uconsrruction, Mi Ah,.--,. i;as proved li ne.,-it !to be* an j-isona- -.on i,- tlie couinrv. J-,-m ver faith in the jusiiee of the came to v.nvh N -v Z-ca-ir.i d in <■■ mmou v ith tiu j- 31 of the Ei upi j ■ stc ,d committed, and by liN sturdy faith iu the genim of ihe Br tisii race and his ■ eitaint . of I; - ultimate- iron:- .!;. lie has tom,- t > Le n- .-.u ,I- ■ [ n.s oil a- «.f the leaders of Umpire. His service.-; u- a liieiiib r ot the W ar Cabinet, and at tlie Be ace Gomerei;'e, have lvecn warmly commend d by thorn who v.i r-j iu a position to judge of their value. Whatever his faults may be, and he would be less ihan human if he were without them, even ins politic il opponents admit that Air Alassey has r sen to his opportunities as few men are capable of doing, and that he has piloted the country through one of the most trying periods of its history. He has set a worthy example by his unselfish fidelity to duty, and his untiring zeal in furthering the interests of New Zealand and of the Empire. EXG L T S H CONOR ATI’ L ATI< )N S . LONDON, July 9. Air Massey has received many felicitations upon entering his tenth” year of premiership. Air Lloyd George ineisted upon being photographed with Air Aiassey at Downing Street.