THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 60, 12 March 1913, Page 8

THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY.

A MIXED RECEPTION AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(Per Press Association.) Christchurch, March 11. The Prime Minister addressed a large audience in the Theatre Royal to-night. The building was full by seven o’clock, and when the meeting commenced there were as many outside as there were inside. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland) presided. When the curtain was drawn up pandemonium reigned for several minutes, cheers and groans alternating, until Mr Holland rose to his feet. “I want to say,” said Mr Holj land, “that there are a great many I people outside, and if you don’t want 1 to listen you can let them have your seats. I appeal to you to give Mr Massey a fair and impartial hearing, and to uphold the name and reputation of our fair city. I will now call upon the Hon. the Prime Minister to address you.” (Cheers and groans). Mr Massey, upon rising, was greeted with further cheers and groans, but they soon died down, the Prime Minister smiling heartily the while, and waiting calmly till the noise subsided. “I thank you,” he said, “for the very hearty reception you have given me. The Mayor has suggested that you should give me a fair hearing.' Let me tell you that I am going to say to-night what I came here to say.” (Applause and a voice: What about Waihi P). I spoke in Waihi and 1 got a fair hearing in Waihi, and in every other centre I. have spoken in. I am going to make a policy speech. The public have now had! eight months’ experience of the present Government, and a huge majority of the people say (the rest of the sentence was lost through interruptions). The Mayor again appealed for order. “A lot has been said about a square deal,” he said. “Give the Prime Minister a square deal.” (Applause.i

FINANCE. Mr Massey, continuing, said: “We have had numerous difficulties, financial, and otherwise. Our financial difficulties caused our Finance Minister to go Home. I am speaking of the legacies left us by our predecessors—the short-dated debentures, which, in the case of the loan last year, meant that the whole thing had to be gone into again. The policy of the present Government is to spend loan monies in a manner calculated to bring the greatest benefits for the dominion and the people of the dominion. We are giving local bodies money at the same rate as it cost us to get it. That is what I call a square deal. Let me refer to some of the canrads sent round the country prior to last election. (Applause.) One of the best financial barometers is the Post Office Savings Bank. The deposits now exceed the withdrawals, and we hope that the money will be cheaper. (Applause.) Mr Allen deserves to be congratulated upon the success of his mission (applause) i and the country deserves to be congratulated upon what he achieved. It proves how well the country and its Government stands in the estimation of those at Home.”

Mr Massey then dealt with the £5,000,000 loan, which he said had cost £4 12s per cent. The loan of last year cost £5 2s 8d per cent. “The loan we raised a month or two ago,” he said, “cost us £4 5s 6d per cent. That proves that it was easily the most successful. It speaks well for the Government of the country.”

THE SOUTHLAND LEASES. A voice; What about the Southland land transaction? Mr Massey (laughing): Yes, what about it? Who is on top now? What did Judge Williams say? A voice: How much did you pay him ? Mr Massey: Such a remark is a disgrace to the city of Christchurch. Judge Williams is a man whom we hold in the highest respect. (Applause.) Proceeding, Mr Massey quoted figures in regard to finance. It was necessary for the people to understand how prosperous, from, the point of view of ordinary revenue, the country undoubtedly is.

THE DEFENCE ACT. “Now,” he continued, “I want to talk to these military people or antimilitary people, We amended the Defence Act last year and a refusal to take the oath was met with a fine, which if not paid was followed by imprisonment.” (Cries of “Shame.”) “The Act was altered, and instead of imprisonment the penalty was altered to military detention.” After some interruption and interjections, a section of the crowd sang “Pule Britannia” lustily. The Mayor again had to appeal for order. THE LAND QUESTION. Mr Massey, speaking on the land question, said that authorities the world over agreed that the freeholder was a greater asset to the country than the leaseholder. There was no unearned increment. Where was it if they had to wait 999 years for it? They had given the l.i.p. settlers a square deal by enabling them to acquire the fee simple of their holdings. He believed that the Reform Government’s land policy had been a good thing for the settlers, and was a good thing for the country.

Mr Massey then proceeded to refer to the Southland land transaction, which he described as an Opposition mare’s nest. AVAIHI AND REEFTON. Mr Massey’s references to the Waihi and Rpefton industrial disputes were punctuated with frequent interruptions but in the end the Mayor’s appeals for order were practically acceded to, and the speaker was given a fairly good hearing.

COXCfLTATIOX AND ARBITRATION. Mr Massey foreshadowed amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which he said the Government would stick to and endeavour to make perfect. AVAR VETERANS. Mr Massey’s references to the provisions made' for Maori AVar A’eterans and widows find orphans were greeted with hearty applause, aiidfthe address concluded aVrtid loud cheers and clapping that drowned the'grdans of the opposition sAfrtion. MOTION AND AAIENDMENT. Mr H. D. Acland moved: “That tide meeting of Christchurch citizens thanks the Prime Minister for his address and expresses confidence in his administration.”

Mr F. Cook, 'a socialist! and antimilitarist, nfoved as an" Amendment: ‘That this hnteting of I Christchurch citizens has ho confidence'in Mr Mas- ' sey or his brother Ministers, and expresses its dissatisfaction at his whole policy, as being against the best interests of the country, and that wc be Hove the Government’s land policy is in the interests of the land-owning classes.” The amendment was first put to the meeting, and then the motion.

A great many held up their hands for each, amid cheers and groans. The Mayor declared the motion carried, and the meeting closed.