MR MASSEY’S CAREER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 23

MR MASSEY’S CAREER.

A DISTINGUISHED RECORD. The Right Hon. William Ferguson Massey, by the length of his service ae Prime Minister and tho distinction of his patriotic statesmanship throughout the troublous times of the war and afterwards, had, with the possible exception of Mr Seddon, become more widely known the world over than

any other New Zealand statesman. Certainly the prestige he achieved at the series of Imperial Conferences that arose as an outcome of the war gave him a position of conspicuous dignity and authority in the councils of the Empire. As is well known in the dominion, Mr Massey was an Ulsterman by birth. There was a French strain in his ancestry', but the Scottish strain was much more pronounced. He was the eldest son of John Massey, and was born at Limavady, County Derry, Ireland, on March 26, 1856. His mother, whose surname was included in his baptismal names, was a Miss Ferguson, of Limavady. He received his schooling at the national school there till at the age of 12 or 13, when he went on to a secondary school kept by a Mi Brandon, who excelled in the classics. It is recorded of Mr Massey that he showed great aptitude as a scholar, and was at least equally successful in games and athletics. Among his early boyhood studies, it is interesting to know, was that of political economy. Mr Massey came to New Zealand m 1870—eight years after his father and mother arrived—having been left at Home to complete his education. His father, who died only a little while before Mi Massey became Prime Minister, settled at Tamaki. At the age of 14 years Mr Massey came out to assist on the farm, which his parents had acquired, and he lived with his people for about three years. He then spent two and a-half years getting colonial farming experience on Mr John Grigg’s well-known Longbeach estate, near Ashburton, after which he went north again, and secured a threshing mill and a farm of 100 acres at Mangere, near Auckland. His affairs prospered, and five years later, on April 5, he was married to Miss Christina Allen Paul, the daughter of a neighbouring farmer. Mr Massey’s first introduction to public life was as member and chairman of the" Mangere School Committee. He became a member also of the Mangere Road Board. In 1890 he was elected first president of the Mangere Farmers’ Club, and when in the following year the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association was resuscitated Mr Massey was made its first president. Mr Massoy did not appear up to this time to have anv serious thought of politics, but several friends began to take notice of his special abilities and to turn his thoughts in that direction. After he had spoken at a small meeting in Auckland at which the National Association was formed iht veteran Sir William Fox recommended him to devote himself to politics. the general election at the end of 1893 Mr Massey made his first attempt to enter Parliament by offering himself as a candidate for Franklin. He was opposed by Major B. Harris (later ihe Hon. B. Harris, M.L.C.), and a very keen contest ended in the defeat of Mr Massey by 75 votes. His second opportunity was not long in occurring, and in April, 1894, he defeated Mr Jackson Palmer at a by-election for the Waitemata. He used to relate how the invitation to contest this seat came to him in the form of a telegram handed up on a pitch fork while he was on the top of a stack. The seat was hotly contested by the Liberals, who sent many of their prominent speakers to oppose Mr Massey, and Mr Seddon himself took a hand in the fight. Mr Massey secured a majority of 183 and entered Parliament at the age of 38. In Parliament Mr Massey joined a little group which included Captain Russell. Sir Walter Buchanan, Sir James Allen, and Mr John Duthie. Before the end of the session he accepted the littlo desired position of Opposition Whip. At that time the Leader of the Opposition, Captain tafterwards Sir William) Russell could muster only 14 or 15 followers. At the election of 1896 the Opposition went back considerably strengthened. Electoral boundaries were altered and Mr Massey stood for his own district of Franklin, whore he was again opposed by Major Harris, whom he defeated by 2184 to 1710. Mr Massey continued to be Opposition whip, this time to a solid party of 28 members, and the Government encountered a great deal of very vigorous opposition in the Parliament of 1&6-99 After the following election, though Mr Meisey’e seat was secure, it being won by him by a majority of nearly two to one, Captain Russell returned with only IS followers. In 1902, after the Boer war, Mr Seddon was returned triumphantly to power, but Mr

Massey retained his secure hold on hi* seat, defeating Mr A. R. Harris, and Captain Russefl came back with the addition of five to his following. It was in September, 1903, upon the retirement of Captain Russell, that Mr Massey was unanimously elected Leader of the Opposition, and during the following recess the party decided to adopt the name “ Reform Party.” Before the next general election the “Young Liberal” Party, consisting of Messrs T. E. Taylor, F. M. B. Fisher, H. D. Bedford, and G. Laurenscn, sprang into existence, and its sensational attacks on Mr Seddon over what was known as the “voucher incident” created a great stir throughout New Zealand. The effect was, however, simply to increase Mr Sed don’s personal popularity throughout the country—or rather, perhaps, to excite a strong sympathy for him —so that the next House contained only 18 members not pledged to support him. That House Mr Seddon never met, his death occurring on board the Oswestry Grange jusfc outside Sydney Heads on June 10, 1906, when he was returning from a visit to Australia, where he was received with the greatest favour and entertained with lavish hospitality. Owing to the absence in England at the time of Sir Joseph Ward, who was Mr Sed don’s first lieutenant, Mr (afterwards Sir William) HallJones formed a provisional Government, which resigned when Sir Joseph Ward returned to New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward did not retain the hold on the public that had been established by Mr Seddon, and at the election of 1908 the Opposition greatly improved its position. It strengthened it still further during the ensuing Parliament, and the election of 1911 carried it virtually to victory. There were a few members whose votes were recognised to be doubtful, but the position of the Government was admittedly so precarious that a session was held early in 1912 in order that the state of parties in a crucial division might be definitely determined. It was only on the casting vote of the Speaker that Sir Joseph Ward’s Government survived, and it resigned shortly afterwards. A new Ministry was formed under Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and on July 5 a vote of want of confidence, moved by Mr Massey, was carried by 41 votes to 33, the majority including one member and three or four supporters of the Ward Government. Mr Massey was sent for by the Governor, and on July 10 his Ministry was sworn in. He himself was Prime Minister, with the portfolios of Lands, Agriculture, Labour, Industries, and Commerce. In 1916, in the exceptional circumstances of the times, he realised the force of the public demand for the co-operation of all parties and he extended an invitation, which the Liberals accepted, for the formation of a National Government during the period of the war. He gave to the people through all those dark and tragic days a very real and inspiring lead in all patriotic, self-sacrificing endeavour. He very adequately expressed the mood of the people in placing all the resources of the dominion unreservedly at the disposal of the Empire, but he showed no inclination to leave the management of Imperial affairs entirely to the Home authorities. On the contrary, he visited one War Conference after another, and made his influence felt with growing power in the councils of the Empire. He was the doyen of the Prime Ministers at the last Imperial Conference. His popularity at Home grew Bteadily with his succeeding visits, as may perhaps to some extent be gauged from the fact that at different times he had conferred on him the freedom of London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, York, Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, and other cities, and was made an hou. LL.D. of Oxford, of Belfast, and of Edinburgh. The Treaty of Versailles, to which he gave his signature, was tho first treaty to be signed by representatives of the dominions. In 1919 the association of parties in the National Government terminated, and the Reform Party was faced at the general election by both Liberal and labour parties. The Government, however, attained the support of a clear majority over both opposing parties in the new Parliament, but at tne next election, in 1922, its majority was reduced to very Blender dimensions. Of recent years Mr Massey has held among other portfolios, the very onerou* one of Finance, and there had been sign* that his constant and unremitting publio service had been wearing out even his powerful frame. At the time of hit

death he was Prime Minister, Minister of finance, Minister of Stamp Duties, Minister-in-charge of Land and Income Tax, State-guaranteed Advances, Valuation, Electoral, and Public Trust Departments.

At every election which has taken place since Mr Massey entered Parliament he retained his seat by substantial majorities, especially during the last 15 years. The following figures show the results of the polling at the various contests for Franklin, which, with the exception ot bis two years’ representation of Waitemata, was his only constituency: 1896: W. F. Massey, 2184; B. Harris, 1710.

1899: W. F, Massey, 2438; W. Finlay Wilson, 1278. 1902: W. F. Massey, 2297; A. R. Harris, 1121.

1905: W. F. Massey, 3120; W. W. M'Cardle, 2165. 1908: W. F. Massey, 2781; J. W. M'Larin, 1594.

1911: W. F. Massey, 3779; J. W. M'Larin, 1816. 1914: W. F. Massey, 4818; A. G. C. Glass, 1890. 1919: W. F. Massey, 4195; J. Rea, 1165; E. Piggott, 637. 1922: W. F. Massey, 5276; J. Rea, 2626. . t „ Prior to taking Ministerial office Mr Massey took a special interest in anything affecting the welfare of the north and of the settler class, and on one occasion. when a combination ot southern members attacked the San Francisco mail services, it was his influence that carried the day against them. At another time, when counsels were greatly divided amongst the Aucklanders themselves and the North Island Main Trunk railway was In danger of being hung up indefinitely while' the question of rival routes was threshed out, Mr Massey’s decided action Sgain saved the situation.- In consultation with Mr John Bollard and Mr (afterwards Sir Frederick) Lang, he decided to support what was known as the central route, which was actually adopted by the Government. Feeling ran so high over the matter, however, that at a mass meeting leld in Auckland it was decided to hang Mr Massey in effigy on the nearest lamprt, and the crowd actually adjourned Queen street for that purpose. Later on, it was generally admitted that Mr Massey and his colleagues were right, and the noisy section wrong. But for their *npport of the central route there is no doubt that the completion of the. line would have been delayed for many years. Some one has said that Mr Massey was transparently honest in his methods of business. Many years ago, on the occasion of wliat was known as “the £4O gteal,” when members of the Lower House voted themselves a bonus of £4O on account of the length of the session, which they were unable to secure by Act of Parliament, Mr Massey was one of the 2ery few members who refused to accept tie money. Mr Massey is survived by his widow, f’ee sons, and two daughters. One of i sons is Mr Frank George Massey, who % barrister and solicitor in Auckland.

Mr Massey was the “father” of the House of Representatives. Having been first elected on April 17, 1894, he completed 31 years of parliamentary service a few weeks ago. On July 10 of last year he completed 12 years of office as Prime Minister of New Zealand, but he would have had to continue to August 20 of this year to surpass the late Mr Seddon’s record of 13 years and 40 days as head of the Government of New Zealand. The late Prime Minister had a fine physique and a big brain. Bluff and hearty, thick set, broad shouldered, of massive brow, open, and earnest in countenance, he was a man amongst men in whatever capacity he was found. 'The good old North of Ireland grit, determination, and perse.verence made their presence felt. He was a close thinker and a hard worker—one who would not allow small difficulties to stand in his way, but none the less a man of worthy ideals, and high principles. Of unimpeachable honour in public and in private life, he was of the type of public man that a country stands most in need of. Shortly after he was married Mr Massey joined the Freemasons, becoming a member of Lodge Manukau, New Zealand Constitution. At the annual communication of the New Zealand Grand Lodge last year lie became the head of the order in New Zealand, being elected Right Worshipful Grand Master in succession to Lord Jellicoe, late Governor-General. On Empire Day, 1923, the Prime Minister and Mrs Massey were given substantial proof of the respect and esteem in which they are held by the citizens of Auckland, where Mr Massey’s home has been ever since he arrived as a boy of 14 in New Zealand in 1870. Mrs Massey was presented with a valuable necklace of diamonds and Mr Massey with an illuminated address and a series of very handsome water colour paintings reminiscent of the different stages of his career, the district in which he was horn, the school which he attended in his native town, the church of which his relatives were members, and the ship in which he arrived in New Zealand.

Many interesting incidents have taken tlace in his public career, quite enough to 11 a large volume, but one is certainly worth mentioning. At the conclusion of the Peace Conference which Mr Massey was attending in Paris a coincidence occurred which might have been awkward for anyone possessed of less tenacity than the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The departure of the vessel upon which he and the members of his family and staff were leaving England and the signing of the Peace Treaty at Versailles by the representatives of the Allied powers on the one side and the Germans on the other, were fixed for the same day and the same hour. Mr Massey told the members of his party to proceed by the steamer, and if ne could not manage to catch the ship, he would pick them up in Canada, by which route ne was returning to New Zealand. But previous to the signing of the Treaty Mr Massey arranged with the Admiralty to lend him a destroyer, and for the military authorities to lend nim a car—the car to convey him from Versailles

to Havre, the destroyer to pick him up there and overtake, if possible, the Mauretania somewhere in the Channel. The arrangements were quite successful. The destroyer carrying New Zealand’s Prime Minister left Havre at 9 p.m on the day on which the Treaty was signed, and at two o’clock the following morning (Sunday) he was placed on board the Mauretania.