THE PRIME MINISTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 23

THE PRIME MINISTER

CO\I PLIMENTARY I?AN QU ET AN IMPRESSIVE FUNCTION Hie complimentary dinner tendered on the 6tii by the citizens of Dunedin to the Prime AltnisUjF, the Right lion. >\ . I'■ Ma osey, proved to be one of the most- brilliant functions of the kind yet organised in this city. It is not often that representatives of this city have opportunity to honour the Prime Minister, and the occasion was availed of iti a manner fully worthy of it. The dinner was given in the spacious and beautiful Tudor Hall, which proved in every way most suitable for tne requirements of the evening. The gathering had been thoroughly and efficiently organised, and some ?20 gentlemen sat down to the tables. They included city councillors and representatives of all the professions, of local bodies, of commerce and industry, and indeed of every interest in the community. The Prime Minister arrived at 7.20 and the orchestra led in the hearty singing of "Tor He's a Jolly Good Fellow.’ At the principal _ table with the guest of honour, were his Worship the Mayor. Mr H. I*. Tapley, who presided, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Fir \\ alter Buchanan, and his Honor Mr Justice Sim. Among the apologies announced were ones from the lion. C. E. Star ham. the Hon. Mark Cohen, the Hon. Sir J. R. Sinclair, and Messrs T. K. Sidey. J. M. Dickson, and J. IV. Munro. M.P.’s. A sumptuous and admirably served banquet was provided, and at intervals the orchestra discoursed bright music. The loyal toast, which was honoured with fitting enthusiasm, was followed by an orchestral selection and the quartet, "Come Where my Love Lies Dreaming.” by the Idlers' Quartette Party. As an encore number thev gave "Swanee River.” The toast of “The Guest of the Evening,” was proposed by tile Mayor. He expressed his .sense of the honour and privilege coming so early in his term of office of presiding over such a great gathering to do honour to their illustrious guest, the Prime Minister. He also had the privilege of proposing the toast of the evening When six days ago they learned that ihev were going to nave Mr Massey with them, it was felt by the citizens that, in view of the long service he had rendered to this dominion and of the high jiosition that he occupied in Imperial affairs, that it was fitting that they should take advantage of the opportunity of this visit to mark their appreciation for tile great work that he had done for the dominion and the Empire.—(Applause.) This recognition was due tc f any man who had held the highest office of the Ijtate, without regard to party differences, and so that assemblage was of a non-political character. —(“Hear, hear.”) They were there to do honour to their Prime Minister who had served them so faithfully and well. His Worship then went on to trace Mr Massey’s career, which he described as extraordinary. Whatever party they represented they must sympathise with Mr Massey in the various unpopular actions that lie had had to take. He know that the majority of people recognised that the action that Mr Massey had taken in connection with the war had been absolutely for the credit and the future prosperity of this country.—("Hear, hear,” and applause.) Mr Massey was known not only in dominion politics, but was recognised in Imperial politics.—(Applause.) He had represented New Zealand in the Imperial Conference and the Peace Conference, tie bad been decorated in France and Belgium, and earlier he had been selected as a Privy Councillor. Perhaps many of them might not know that early in his life Mr Massey occupied a position in the South Island.—{” Hear, hoar.”) Mr Massey at one time thought farming would not suit him, and he booked a passage for Fiji, but by good fortune for this dominion the speaker believed he got the measles. —(Laughter and applause.” For that reason he was prevented from goiim to Fiji, and the result was he drifted down to the South Island and got a job on Mr estate at Longbeach. The speaker was told that Mr Massey was a splendid hand in every deiKutment he took up.— (Applause.) He had also learned from Mr J- C. N. Grigg that Mr Massey in his early days displayed his great gift for leadership. If there was any trouble with the ploughmen or farm hands they referred it to Mr Massey, and he settled it in a satisfactory way. Goodness knew where Mr Massey might liave drifted if he had gone to Fiji. He might have become King of the Cannibal Islands.— (Laughter.) He drifted back to his father's farm, and he evidently impressed the residents of . the district in which he lived, for one dav he had handed to him on the end of a pitchfork a telegram asking him to stand far Waitemata. —(Applause.) It would be su[>erfluous for nun to say more with regard to Mr Massey's sterling qualities. They desired to assure him that they appreciated very much all he had done for the dominion —(“ hear, hear ”)—and recognised his honesty of purpose in everything he had put. forward. —(Applause.) They trusted he would be spared in good health for many years to govern tJie destinies of this dominion. —(laud applause, followed by the singing of “ For He's a Jolly Good Fellow'.”) Mr S. G. Angell sang with fine effect “ Who Is My Friend?” Tile Right Hon. (Mr Massey, in rising to reply, was greeted with cheers and the hearty singing of “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” He thanked the Mayor for his flattering remarks, and to the'citizens he expressed his indebtedness for the very enthusiastic and cordial manner in whioh they had responded to the toast. It was necessary, he said, that he should correct one or two of the Mayor’s statements. It was in 1870 that he landed in Auckland, but, his parents bad then been in the colony for right years or so. His grandparents had insisted on keeping him at Home to allow him to further his education, and as a result he passed several years at a secondary school before leaving for New Zealand. It was true that at one time he Ivooked a passage for Fiji, but he was not attacked by measles, but by quinsey, and as a consequence the vessel nailed without him. later on he went to Longhoaoh, in Canterbury, where he spent three years, leaving there when lie was 20 years of age. He congratulated the Mayor on occupying the position of the chief citizen of Dunedin. —(Applause.) Dunedin was no mean city.—(Laughter.) He had been pleased to learn that Dunedin and its district of Ota^o

were perhaps more prosperous to-day than they had been for many years. —(Applause.) It would appear that by means of irrigation Olago was coming into its own. —(Applause.) It was a peculiar fact that a town or a country did not always realise the changes taking piace in its midsl, and he had no doubt many of his audience would be interested and instructed by the figures lie wished to place before them with regard to ihe progress of New Zealand in the last TO years. He would compare the year ended March, 1913. with the year ended March, 1923. The population had increased by 209,993, and now stood at 1,271,741, or an increase of 20 per cent. "1 he total trade in 1913 was estimated at £45,009,434; in 1923 it was £82,524,283, an increase of £37,514.849, or 83 per cent. Imports showed an increase of £15,013.445. or 63 per cent. The exports in 1913 were valued at £23.047,293, and in 192? at £45,548,700 an increase of £22.501,404, or 98 per cent. The product of wool in 1913 was valued at £7,105,483, and in 1923 at £11,882,463, an increase of £4,776.980, or 67 per cent. Frozen meat: 1913. £3,909,569; 1923, £8,387,463, an increase of £4,777,899, or 115 per cent. Butter: 1913. £2,088.809; 1923, £9,041554. an increase of £6,952.745 or 333 per cent. Cheese: 1913. £1,680,393; 1923, £4,685,850. an increase of £3,006,457, or 179 per cent. Apples and pears: 1913, £4979; 1923. £65,732, an increase of £60,753, or 1230 per cent. Wages in manufacturing industries: 1913, £5,572.270; 1923, £11,519,975,. an increase of £5,947.705, or 107 per cent. Telegraph and telephone: 1913, 88,897 miles; 1923, 278.498 miles, an increase of 189,601 miles, or 213 per cent. Telephone subscribers: 1913. 32,252: 1923, 82,458, an increase of 50.207, or 156 per cent. Water-race irrigation: 1913. 33

miles; 1923, 247 nines, an increase of 164 miles, or 198 per cent. Swamps drained : 1913, 30,010 acres; 1923. 172.358 acres, an increase of 142,348 acres, or 474 per cent. These were figures worth putting on record at such a gathering as the one before him, composed as it was of representative people of the city anil country. —(Applause.)

Touching on the finances of the dominion, Mr Massey said the depression following the war was now happily a thing of the past, and the future was in our own hands. If the people would only apply lhemselves to their work with the energy and determination they had shown in the last two years, all would be well. — (Applause.) It was the intention of the Government to reduce taxation as far as possible. Parliament bad already agreed to a reduction of taxation on the smaller farmers, who were being taxed on mortgages. In 1921 a rebate was given of 10 per cent, on land tax and 5 per cent, on income tax, and last year these taxes were further reduced by nearly a million sterling. This year it was proposed to still further reduce taxation by two millions, whioh would mostly come off land and income. The maximum tax was now 7s 4d in the £, and by the reduction proposed it would come down to 5s. —(Applause.) Such a reduction would mean a great deal to the people. The Government was out to work for all classes and to endeavour to do its best in the interests of all, and the reduction in taxation now proposed would benefit every section of the community, from the large shareholder in a bank to the man receiving 14s or 15s a day. because there would come about a big drop in the cost of living and an increased demand for employment.—(Applause.) There were many financial difficulties to deal with yet. The Government had now entered on a seven-year period, in which it had to make arrangements to pay off or renew no less than 66 millions of the public debt. Tffie first year was over, and an arrangement had been made to pay off eight, millions, while this year the arrangement was to pay off nine millions. It was absolutely necessary to keep the eredil of the country up to the highest, and the Government was not afraid to face the people either in the Old Country or in New Zealand. —(Applause.) Referring to the Advances to Settlers Department, he said the Government wa3 in the happy position that it was not short of money, and as far as lhat money would go it was his desire and intention to deal out even-handed justice to every part of New Zealand.—(Applause.) For' some time the department could not lend more than £IOOO to workers or to settlers, but the amount was afterwards raised to £2OOO, and he proposed to ask Parliament to further increase the amount to £3OOO. With the money now available

A Voice: We will get our post office.—(Applause and laughter.) The Prime Minister: That is a Dunedin interjection, and I do not find fault with it. If 1 asked, W ill you have vour post office or your new dental school, what would you say ? A Voice: We’ll liave them all.— (Laughter.)

The Prime Minister said he would not quarrel with anyone. Proceeding, he reverted to the proposal to arrange for the nine million sterling falling due this rear, and said the money was in sight. 'The Government had entered on a new era, and he hoped to make arrangements so that the sinking funds whioh were always coming in would be used for the purpose of paying off the dominion’s debt instead of being held, and, to some extent, locked up for other purposes. His ambition was to build up the capital of the Advances Department to 20 millions, and the capital was not far from that amount now, because there wore 17 millions in use to-day loaned out to public works, settlers, and workers all over Now Zealand.—(Applause.) He thought that, from what he had said his hearers would recognise that the financial position was good. It was not a time for squandering. (Applause.) Matters must be handled very carefully. It was very satisfactory to be able to state that recently a loan of four millions was raised in England at 4 per cent, at 92. and he was hopeful that when New Zealand went Home for more money it would get it at

Speaking of the Imperial Conference Mr Massey said it depended on the New ’Zealand Parliament whether he went Horn" or not, but he believed Parliament would say that the Prime Minister ought to go. (Applause.) He was prepared to do hi s duty to his country and to the Empire either in New Zealand or on the other side of the world as one of the representatives at the Imperial Conference. —-(Applause.) In the course of further remarks, the Prime Minister dealt with the decisions of past conferences, and emphasised the fact that the people of New Zealand stood for a united Empire (applause) ; they stood for unity of Empire, not altogether in the interests of the citizens of the Empire, but also for the peace and prosperity of humanity. —(Applause.)

With regard to the defence of the Empire, the statement had been made that it was intended to establish a naval base at Singapore. This was one of the gates of the Pacific, and the British Government were entering on that undertaking to protect their fellow citizens in Australia and New Zealand. He believed that it would have been impossible to have won the war without the assistance of the dominions, ff lie Empire could not exist without the navy. Let them just think what would happen if bv any chance the communications throughout the Empire were cut. The Empire would he done. There should be a sufficient navy to maintain communications whatever came along—(applause),—and who was going to maintain it? He knew the feeling of New Zealanders perfectly well, and he believed the time hail come when every dominion of the Empire ought to contribute to the upkeep of the navy.—(“Hear, hear,” and applause.) We had fondly hoped that the Washington Conference had put an end to competition in regard to sea power. It had not. He was not blaming any country in particular, but one of the countries that was supposed to he a party to the agreement had refused to ratify it, and in consequence other countries were hanging hack. Britain was the only country that had acted up to the letter of the aarrangenient, but he did not say that, they had made a mistake. He thought it. was going to work out that the British navy was going to be up-to-date. He wished to call attention to the- fact that it was necessary tor us to keep sufficient. ships to maintain our trade routes, and that it had become the duty of the different parts of the Empire each to maintain its share. —(Applause.) Turning to commerce, the Prime Minister said Ui it our prosperity depended upon the prosperity and purchasing capacity of our best customer, which was Britain. Britain was looking round for directions in which her trade might, be increased, and one direction was the Empire. They were trying to think out a way by which the countries of the Empire would give preference to each other against outsiders. Why shouldn’t they? If other countries closed their doors to us were we going to go on for ever allowing them to come in.— (Voices: “No! no!”) It was an extraordinarily difficult problem. He had not forgotten what took place in the time of Mr Joseph Chamberlain, and what was likely to take place again if ar r similar proposal were made. A resolution in favour of Imperial preference which he proposed at the Imperial Conference of 1917 had been agreed to. and it was law, but the working out. of the details was where the trouble came in, and it would take a great deal of working out. He had been t,h in kin <r himself that an arrangement might be made by which the different countries might be able to subsidise the freight .carrying ships so that in that way citizens lof the Empire would have an advantage over citizens of other countries. —(“Hear, hear.”) Mr Massey referred to a successful campaign in England in which he had taken part to raise £1,000,C00.000 for carrying on the war. Who would have dreamt i-efore the war that it would have been possible to,get together £8,000.000,080 for the purpose of carrying on the war? And yet Great Britain did not feel it to a very great extent. With regard to our debt to the United States, he pointed out that France and Italy—and they were great countries which no believed would eventually pay—owed us very much more than we had borrowed from the United States. Speaking of reparations, he said we were coming to accept the idea that we would never get anything further from Germany, He did not know whether we would or not, but he knew that Germany caused the war, that she was defeated, and that her territory was unharmed. Were they going to escape with nothing in the way of reparations?—(Voices : “No!”) France might have been a bit rash—he would not like to express an opinion—but he would say honestly and candidly that in what was taking place his sympathies were with her. ' (Loud applause.) Although tilings did not look well at present, yet he hoped some arrangement would he made under which Germany would have *to pay. According to the arrangement made a! the Peace Conference, Germany owed us £28,000,000. How much was it worth?—(Laughter.) He thought he would be justified if he got an opportunity of selling- it for 10s in the £. — (Laughter.) 1 hat was another matter that would be dealt with at the Conference. Mr Massey touched next on immigration, and said that if our prosperity was to continue we could absorb quite a number of thousands annually of those people who were compelled to leave because Great Britain and Ireland were too small for them. If we got the right class of people,—and our Immigration Department was particularly keen we could not get too many of them.—(Applause.) More important than capital was energy, industry, and honesty.— ( Hear, hear. ) We did not want to follow the example of the United States and of t anada. for he had seen what had taken place there. 1 here were plenty of good men among the coloured races who would make goc-d citizens, but we had to be careful to keep the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic race in New Zealand as pure as possible.—(“Hear, hear,” and applause.) V r e had to look centuries ahead. Our pioneers had laid the foundations of a great nation, and he believed that in time to come this would be a gloat country, and its people a great people. —(Loud applause.) The Tdlers’ Quartette Party sang “Annie Laurie.”

In proposing the toast of “Parliament ” Mr Just ice Siin spoke very briefly. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart had a rousing reception when he rose to resnomi. There were protests when he suggested that he should escape his speech as had Mr Justice Sim. Earlier in the evening Mr Massey had remarked that, that was probably the heart of his (Mr Stewart’s) constituency. He had replied that, that was the Tudor Hall, and that the Stuarts had always found their way into the hearts of the Tudors. —(Laughter.) He was very gratified that the citizens of Dunedin had given Mr Massey such a reception that night, and that they had had the privilege of listening to the last great parliamentarian he expected to hear in his lifetime, Mr Stewart paid a warm tribute to the Prime Minister's management of the Government in the House. He and Sir William Herries had the greatest knowledge of the whims and characteristics of the House of any men the speaker had known. Mr Massey had had a difficult and arduous political life. It had been remarked to him (Mr Stewart) in the north that “Old Bill Massey’s been going over the hurdles for a long time, and I’d like to see him have a stretch on the flat hefore he finishes.” ITie speaker concluded with warm thanks to those pie.

sent for the way they had received the Prime Minister —thanks on behalf of his colleagues. Sir Walter Buchanan was received with three ringing cheers. He declared that Mr Stewart was the pride of the House and should be the pride of New Zealand. —(-Applause.) Mutilated in his youth, he was yet as full of pluck as an egg was of meat. —(Applause.) There was never a complaint from min, and no man received more attention when he rose to speak in the House. His reception in that respect was invariably similar to that that had been accorded his illustrious father.—(Applause.) Sir Walter went or. lo say that; he had been 69 year a setller in New Zealand. It had been a hard life, but through much of it lie had been proud to be associated with Mr Massey. He-had prophesied that Mr Massey would be Prime Minister, and the speaker was aho proud that, in a humble wav. he had played a part in getting Mr Massey to show his colours as Leader of tiie Opposition in succession to the late Sir William Russell. In conclusion, Sir Walter declare 1 that Dunedin should be proud of itself for giving a reception like that to such a noble man as Mr Massey. (Loud applause.) The Hon. G. M. Thomson, in the course of his response, remarked that. Mr Massey was the only man to retain the position of Prime Minister from the outbreak of war to the present time. He (the speaker) belonged to the House that, was supposed to be composed of “old fogeys” who did no work. It was not that they did not work, but they did not sneak (o Hansard. He thanked them heartily for (he way in which they had drunk the toast of both Houses. — (Applause.) j tie toast of “Tile Mayor” was proposed by Mr Massey, who stated that great men had occupied the mayoral chair in Dunedin in the past. He hoped that when Mr Tapley vacated the mayoral chair that iiis public life would not end there, and that he would hare the honour of welcoming him to Parliament. —(“Hear, hear.”) In his response. Mr Tapley remarked lhat if ho ever went to Parliament he would not wish to follow a better leader than Mr Massey. Three more cheers for the Prime Minister brought a memorable function to a close.