REFORM

Southland Times, Issue 17599, 11 March 1914, Page 5

REFORM

Premier at Blenheim MR. MASSEY SPEAKS OUT Government’s Position Explained Vigorous Land Settlement Policy REVISION OF UPPER HOUSE (Per United Press Association.) BLENHEIM. March 10. The Premier delivered a policy speech here to-night, there being a very large attendance. .Mr Massey said that he did not go into any district to attack the member for that district as he never believed in doing such a thing. The Government had put upon the Statute Book valuable legislation for the good of the country. One of the most difficult problems was the financial difficulty. Prior to 1012 money had been very cheap, but after that a sharp rise occurred on the money market in London. Owing to a lOuropoan war and owing also to the fact that many countries, both civilised and partly civilised required money, the supply and demand raised the rate of interest. The biggest difficulty was the, short-dated debentures. In 1011 It was intended to raise a loan, but when the elections went against the party In power they said they would not raise money for their successors. The Mackenzie Government raised money for two years and that was what the present Government had to meet—£B,ooo.ooo had to be found this year, and also £4,000,000 had to he met. They had to raise money for public works, and hat! to send the Minister of Finance Home to get money, and if he could not get it the country would have had to close down on March 31. They had arranged with the agents in London to take the opportunity to raise another loan in order to pay the eight millions, and that loan was placed and subscribed five times over. . The theory of lending to local bodies for their requirements was all right, tint it was impossible at present to lend to local bodies all they asked. ’IaXD S ETTLKM lIXT, Continuing, Mi’ Massey said that when the Reform Government came into power the position was that they could lend settlers £.IOO and local bodies £l,ooo. Xow if security was offered they could lend settlers £IOOO. The Government was doing everything it possibly could to help settlers and local bodies, and was lending double the amount the last administration could lend settlers and local bodies. Everybody, he said, knew that if tic wanted to satisfy the public lie must have satisfied the public service, and it showed that the Government’s policy was good when the railway service was satisfied. Me contended that lus party had kept its pledges, and that the other party had no policy and wont round the country criticising and phlandoring, but gave no policy. As regards the land policy, the position was that nearly 20.000 leaseholders were now in a position to have the possibility of getting the freehold. Many members went into the lobby and voted for the freehold, who would gladly go the other way. He knew them and knew who he could depend upon, but in the matter of freehold tenure they dare not do otherwise on account of their pledges to their constituents. The prosperity of the country depends said the Premier, upon the settlers, and lie was not going to lose any opportunity of placing settlors on the land.

In regard to workers' homes he admitted that it had been in Hie Statute Book before the present Government came into office, hut it only applied to towns. lie thought it Hie best tiling to share the responsibility with local and municipal bodies, and provision would be made for country municipalities to use their funds in buying land for workers’ homes. A Labour leader bad written to him stating that it was the best legislation ever placed on the Statute Hook of the Dominion. He had extended Hie system to apply to country districts. He believed the Hillcrsden settlers would do well and they would get the freehold if they wanted it. As Minister of Lands he had purchased last year 1 49,692 acres of land at Hie cost of £339,600. and three-quar-ters of this area had been settled. Last year he had placed on the land 2200 settlers and sincerely hopfd (hat he would place as many more in Hie present year. T1 (E FRU IT M A RKET. In legat’d to the fruit market. lie said that .South America was willing to take all the fruit that could be sent to her. Fruit growers hud no cold storage and fruit had to be rushed on the market, so lie had asked, and the money was available. for an amount of £23,000 for assisting the industry, and when it was expended he was quite willing to go hack to Parliament and ask for another £25,000. DEFENCE. As regards defence the Premier did not think it necessary to say much about laud defence. They had to lie careful to see that the people had got the value for their money. The country had started and should now riiake up its mind as to what money should be spent on defence. New Zealand had to pay a £IOO,OOO subsidy, and between £IIO,OOO and £130.01)1) on Hie battle cruiser (New Zealand). Site was to have been placed in New Zealand waters with two British cruisers and two submarines. Where were those vessels to-day. he asked. "The time will come," said Mr .Massey, “when New Zealand ships will play no unimportant part in the supremacy of ine.se seas. Australia is doing its duty nobly and well, and New Zealand must do it, Canada must do it, and South Africa must do it. 1 am sorry to sec party politics have appeared in this question as all parties should join together in upholding the supremacy of Hie seas.” STRIKES AND LABOUR. As regards tiie late strike the Premier went on to say that it was more serious than tiie strike of 1906. and the country was fortunate by getting through it without tiie loss of life, lie paid a nigh tribute to the special constables, who could have trebled their number had they desired. He expressed his high appreciation also of the part played by the farmers' wives. "Unionism was quite right and proper, but a unionist had no right to go to another and forbid him from working. The great majority of strikers did not know what they went out for. amt tiie leaders of Hie strike were chiefly remarkable for stupidity and obstinacy. The real enemies of the country wore the agitators, who set ela-ss against class. The attitude of certain Opposition front benches tended to accentuate and prolong the strike. ADVANCED LIBERALISM. He claimed that the Government’s policy was a policy of advanced Liberalism. The most important of Hie reforms was that of the civil service. Now political influence had nothing to do witli the public service to-day. Mr Royil Garlick’s appointment was made before the Public Service Commission was appointed. Mr Garlick was a great success. The speaker did not know him by sight, but ho was appointed for a particular place for a position to which ho wa.s called. The system of a Public Service Board was objected to by certain members of Parliament, because they could not get the Ministers' ear to push forward the claims of their friends. A Bill to reform the Upper House had twice been laid aside by the Legislative Council, but be could tell them that the Bill would be put through during tlie life of the present Parliament. As regards the second ballot, that was wiped off the Statute Book. It was placed there to serve a party purpose, and had proved a failure from the point of view of both parties. If he. could see anything better than what they had at present for election to the popular chamber, he would ask Parliament to accept it. Proportional representation was very well for the second chamber, but not for the popular chamber. • He bad opened works at Picton that day which were part of the South Island Main Trunk line, and would be money well spent. He had stated already that day that lie would recommend a bigger vote being placed on the Estimates next year for the South Island Main Trunk railway. A resolution was declared carried, and a hearty Vote of thanks accorded the Prime Minister for his visit and his able speech, and also that the meeting desires to place on record Us appreciation of the able administration of the affairs of the Dominion by the present Governt,