REFORM RECORDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13093, 5 June 1913, Page 9

REFORM RECORDS.

THE PREMIER'S PRAISE

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night. A summary of the doings of his party was given at a meeting of the Reform League to-day by the Hon. W. F. Massey. When the Government came [ into office, said the Prime Minister, they found the finances of the country in such a condition that it was imperative that the Hon. J. Allen should be despatched to tlie Mother Country to initiate new loans. If the Minister had not been successful in his mission it would have been necessary to close down various public works, and three-quarters of the men employed would have been thrown out of work. However, he was glad to say that the conditions were now materially improved. They had been able to spend £50,000 in workmen's homes in addition to the advance made to workers. In his capacity as Minister for Lands he had, in the last twelve months, been able to settle 250,000 acres in various parts of the Dominion. In the last few weeks he had completed arrangements for the purchase of a further 120,000 acres, and every settler on that area would have the right to N make the land his own. When the Government came into office, said Mr Massey, they also had a big strike at Waihi to contend with. He was pleased to be able to say lhat at the present time there was industrial peace from one end of New Zealand to the other. , j

Mr Massey referred to the recent threatened strike of marine engineers. The seriousness of the situation at that time, he said, could hardly be appreciated by those unacquainted with the circumstances. One of the Union Company's steamers was actually tied up at Sydney, waiting word as to the result of the conference between the parties, at which he was present as arbitrator. If that dispute had not been promptlysettled the strike would have been the biggest that had taken place in Australasia. As the result of a six hours' conference, however, all isigjns (of a possible strike vansihed. 4 The Prime Minister also made reference to the legislation of last session dealing with the defence of poor prisoners, under which a system would obtain whereby a man not able to employ counsel could receive State assistance.

Another point made by Mr Massey was tlie system initiated for the insui*ance of public buildings. He said that £10,000 was set aside for that purpose last year. The credit of the country had been firmly re-established among the London financiers, and for that the change of Government was partly responsible. For the year ending March 31st the arrivals exceeded the departures by 12,000, and there was also a record in exports from the Dominion. The position generally throughout New Zealand was a most satisfactory one, and there was every Teason to hope that it would continue.

The Prime Minister informed an interviewer later that preparations for the work for the forthcoming session ar« well in hand.

Mr Massey will be engaged in Wellington for the greater part of the coming three weeks in completing the arrangements for tlie session. "Do you anticipate a long session?" the Prime Minister was asked.

"I do not know. It will be unusually long for the middle session," he replied, "but it is what is termed a working session, and a great deal of important business will be dealt with."

In regard to the Government's naval policv Mr Massey said that the recommendations t f the Minister for Defence had yet to be placed before Cabinet, and he was unable to make anv statement at present. In all probability the first announcement of the Government's intentions would be made to Parliament.