MR MASSEY'S CAMPAIGN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XV, Issue 4088, 14 November 1911, Page 5

MR MASSEY'S CAMPAIGN.

SPEECH AT EKETAHUNA

AN ENTHUSIASTIC AIEETING

(By Our Special Reporter)

Air W. F. Aiassey, ALP., Leader of the Opposition, delivered a political address to an audience of over GUU people at Eketahuna last night. His reception was enthusiastic in the extreme. He was loudly applauded on taking the platform ana again on rising, and his sjjeech was punctuated with applause. Air Aiassey was in excellent form and his caustic criticism and neat epigrams at times created much laughter. At the conclusion of the address a number of questions were asked. It was then proposed: “That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Air Aiassey for his able and lucid address, and that this meeting is of opinion that in the interests of the Dominion the time has now arrived for a change of Government.”

Loud applause greeted the moving of the motion; it was renewed when it was seconded; and when it was put by the Alayor (Air Page) there was a chorus of ayes and only one dissentient voice. Cheers were given for Air Aiassey, followed by the singing of “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” The following are a few points from Air Alassey’s address:

Referring to the Alokau case Air Aiassey maintained that the Government should have purchased the block. It would have been just as easy as to allow its purchase by speculators. There was provision that the leasehold interest may be taken at valuation. If the Government had purchased settlers would have got on the land on better terms than they were likely to under the company. It was one of the worst transactions that ever took place in the history of this country.

Referring to the reception given Hon. G. Fowlds on his return front South Africa, Air Aiassey said Alinisters entertained him in Bellamy's, and instead of footing the hill themselves they simply charged it to the country.

A Voice: Barefaced impudence

Dealing with the system of voting public money, Air Aiassey said one man in his (Air Arassey’s) district went over his head and over the head of the Alinister for Public Works to the Prime Minister and money was placed on the Estimates. He (Air Aiassey) had thought the local body had applied for the money until he was asked by the local body about it. He claimed that no money should be voted unless applied for or recommended by local bodies. There should also be reports by the Public A\ orks Department's officers, and a classification system to differentiate between districts that required money for developmental works and those that did not.

Air Aiassey said he regretted very much Air Hogg's illness, and he hoped he would soon be restored to health and able to take his place in the Second Chamber, where his long experience would be valuable. (Laughter and applause). Air Aiassey combated the theory that the function of the Opposition was solely to oppose. The Opposition had more work to do pushing the Government along than acting as a. brake. (Laughter). The Opposition had done a great deal in making the legislation of the past fifteen years workable, and had only opposed measures that it thought against the interests of the country. He denied as a mis-statement the allegation that the Opposition stood for the wealthy man. The Opposition consisted of plain, unassuming, practical men, many of whom bad given years of practical service to the country for purely patriotic reasons. He came before them with nothing to offer, no seats in the Legislative Council, no J .P.-ships to offer. The Opposition came before the people with empty hands, but they were clean hands. (Loud applause). The Opposition hud to fight the influence ot public expenditure and public patronage. Still he honestly believed there vac a majority of people behind them willing to support them the first opportunitv. The only policy before the country was that oi the Opposition. Ihe Government had no more backbone than an oyster. The Government was no more than a political phonograph ready to play freehold to the ireeholders, leasehold to the leasholders, Socialism to the Socialists, individualism to the individualists, protection to the protectionists, democracy to the democrats, and also aristocracy to the aristocrats. (Laughter'. He maintained, that it was time the Continuous Ministry was outed. It had lost initiative and was becoming effete. In no democratic country should a Government be in office for 20 years. Every Government should have the knowledge that it might be .defeated m a year or two or a month or two. If the present Government had had that fear before them during the past six years it would have been a good thing for them and for the country. Elaborating his charge that the Government had no definite (xilioy Mr Massey said it had made lie attempt to reduce taxation, reform financial methods, it had no land policy, it had made no attempt to deal with the Native land question, to reform the Legislative Council to make it more representative ot the people, to deal with appointments to the Civil S< rvioe, to improve the railway service. or to reform local government. There was no reform of local government because the present system suited the party in power. It meant