CORRESPONDENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 67, 27 March 1913, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

‘ THE REFORMERS

To the Editor “Stratford Post.) Sir, —Mr Massey went, to Christchurch to deliver what he termed a policy speech. I. have carefully read the columns of your paper, and have failed to find it; (that is, the policy). I then read , the Christchurch papers, and the “Squatters’ Organ,” and again drew a blank- The Christchurch Press says: “Mr Massey proved to their satisfaction that it took ten of his audience to make one man.” But the admission, was by ticket only,, and if it takes ,ten Reformers to make one man, we will have to accept Mr. Massey on that item of policy. (No. 2). “The Government had gone through hundreds of ; divisions without defeat." There were, according to Hansard, twenty-two divisions in the House arid sixty-six in Committee. (What about those cats now?). (3). “The Post Office deposits for ihe first time had exceeded the withdrawals. (Cheers-)” The Seddon-Ward Government had as much as a million and more of a credit oer withdrawals, and large surpluses of

deposits every year Over withdrawals; but probably Mr Massey was /..a ring a joke with his'audience. (4). A rtnall chip of a policy plank: “He advocated a Widows Pension Bill.” Does he mean the one Sir Joseph Ward put t n the Statute Book, or is it a new one for squatters’ widows ? By the way, be consistently opposed the Old Age Pension Bill before it became law. Then he.began to.talk. The dominion was never so prosperous; the revenue was never, so buoyant;-New Zealand securities were. ;i never so low on lire London ,market .(only he did not tell them that); every boat leaving Auckland was full to the last hunk (he forgot that too). Did ,Mr Massey tell his; audience that Mr Allen had offered another dreadnougnt a*d 10,000 New Zealand boys for foreign sen ice without the consent of Parliament r (Not much). How they howled when Sir Joseph Ward offered a dreadnought just when it was wanted, and bow they cheer now at the mention of the battleship New Zealand. Surely' consistency, or inconsistency is the refuge of fools! Which is it ? Now a® to the new loan. When they approached Moses Jacobsen for a few millions,, they told how the late Government had spent the past loans in reproductive work® and how wisely vand well it had been done, and there had, been no ryaste. Surely Mr Fisher is right— “Consistency” is the refuge of fools. “Who” were the crowd tffiit stumped the country prior to last election saying that the money had been used for party purposes? The dreadnought gift v.as also condemned wholesale. And how does their statement to-day fit in with the tales (all fairy ones) they pumped into the electors a little over a year agor Verily, I say unto you, brethren, “Consistency is the refuge of fools. In conclusion, I trust, sir, our member will not forget the Railway Deal and the Orphan Girl Case when 1 url.ament meets, and will take the rake with him, I am,etc., REFORM, Stratford. 24.3.13.