A TRIUMPHAL TOUR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 47, 1 April 1914, Page 5

A TRIUMPHAL TOUR.

PREMIER AT FAIRLIE. A REPLY TO CKITICS. From Our Special Reporter. FAIRLIE, March 31. The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) continues his triumphal tour o the South Island to-day. He has been in the South Canterbury district, and everywhere he has gone he has been accorded the most hearty reception, the residents of the various centres vieing with one another in the enthusiasm of their greeting. There can be no doubt of the Prime Minister's personal popux larity in the district, whatever might be the general attitude towards Reform politics. On arrival at Timaru from Dunedin this morning, Mr Massey was welcomed by the Mayor (Mr W. Angland), who expressed the pleasure of the residents of South Canterbury at having the Prime Minister with them for the first tirqe since his elevation to office. After being entertained at luncheon Mr Massey and a large party set out in motor-cars for Fairlie. A call was made at Pleasant Point, where Mr Massey set in motion the new public clock and chimes in St. Mary's Church. He arrived at Fairlie at 5.30 p.m., and was welcomed by Mr F. R. Gillingham, chairman of the Mackenzie County Council, and a number of representative residents. The Prime Minister was entertained at a banquet, at which Mr Giilingham presided. Amongst those present were Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P> for Ashburton, Mr Smith, M.P. for Waitaki, and Colonel Hayhurst and Mr C. J. Talbot, the prospective Reform and Liberal candidates respectively for Temuka electorate in which Fairlie is situated. HIS . TOUR. , Replying to the toast of his health, Mr Massey said that when he went to the "West Coast three weeks ago he had 1 been told that he was going into the camp 'of the enemy, but he found that he, had been among friends everywhere he had gone in Westland, Otago or; Canterbury. He had found the people in every centre happy and contented and prosperous. The people were doing their level best and working hard for the good of the whole Dominion. The prosperity of the Dominion was thus assured, and there were indications that in every way New Zealand's prosperity was greater than it had ever been before. This was shown by the export figures for last year which were a record, and this year's figures would be another record. (Hear, hear.) The* outlook for the sale of the Dominion's produce showed considerable improvements. Not only in England, but in British Columbia and the United States there was a growing demand for New Zealand' products; on the West Coast of South' America there was an ever-growing market for our fruit. A few years ago he had thought that there was no future for the fruit industry in New Zealand, as he could not see how the fruit farmers were to get over the tests. He was glad that he and others had been quite wrong. (Applause.) There was a great future before this industry. The export figures for last would double those of the previous year, and this year they hoped to double last year's figures. (Hear, hear.), The dairying industry was also growing wonderfully. A few years ago the dairy exports of Auckland were nil, last year Auckland exported a million - pounds worth of butter; while the cheese exports were worth a million and a rtuarter. ' There was a great future ahead of the Dominion's trade. (Hear, hear.) Mr Massey was escorted to the Public Hall, where he was to deliver a political address, by the Fairlie Pipe Band, and a big crowd of residents, who accorded him a most cordial reception. Arrived at the hall, the Prime Minister was cheered to the echo, and it was perfectly clear that with the farming community of South Canterbury he is as popular as he is with the farmers of any other part of the Dominion. Mr Gillingham also presided at the meeting which was in every respect a splendid one.

AN OVATION

The hall was packed to the doors. On rising to speak Mr Massey was accorded another ovation, the cheering s being loud and hearty, and a voice called out *' Where *s your baton ?'' Mr Massey instantly replied: "There is somebody in the back there who will get a baton before I am done with him tonight." The retort was greeted with laughter, which clearly showed where the sympathies of the meeting lay. THE REFORM PARTY. Mr Massey said that he was going to finish an important tour by replying to some of the criticism which had been levelled against him lately. Just before his party came into power he had made a speech in Wellington in which had set forth the Reform policy. S'ince that time he had been working hard to carry out that policy. The party had fulfilled every pledge it had made, and would fulfil every pledge which it would ever make in the future. (Applause.) An Australian statesman had said that it took three years for a party to lay the corner-stone of a policy, but in less time they had done far more t"han lay the corner-stones of the policy, and it was a policy which would live in the history of the Dominion for centuries to come. (Hear, hear.) „ Mr Massey then dealt with the policy of the Reform Party as outlined in his Welungton speech, taking the planks one by one with the object of showing that the party had remained true to its pledges. When tlicy went into power, he said, they were fighting against a great handicap, and the House had met and all the time they could get to frame legislation to give effect to their policy was three weeks. • The time was very short, but they worked hard, and they met the House furnished with a . full programme. Since then they had done much notable work. (Hear, hear.) THE LAND TENURE.

The most important question with which they had dealt was, of course, that of land tenure. For years the freeholders in the House had been- in a minority, but now they had a very solid majority, arid, after many years, the farmers of the Dominion had obtained what they had been long pining for—the right to the freehold of the lands on which they had settled. The leaseholders in the House in a miserable minority, and he was certain that several of those members who voted for the leasehold did so very much against their will. If the question were to be made a crucial one, with a great issue depending on the result of the division, several of the leaseholders would suddenly discover sickness in their homes, or would have to see a friend off by train or boat. Anyway they would not

go into the division lobby and their votes would be unrecorded. He was a judge of men, as he was of politicians, and such men he did not trust. He could understand a man who would confess that he had been a leaseholder and had seen his error, but he could not trust a man who would not confess that he had had cause to alter his mind, but preferred to '' hedge'' in the way he had described. (Applause.) In two sessions the Reform Party had altered the whole land system of the Dominion and had prepared the way for the establishment of a solid class of yeomanry, each man owning and farming his own lands. Since the beginning of the year the Government had purchased 140,6.92 acres of land at a cost of £559,000, and had cut it up for closer settlement. The land had almost without exception been eagerly sought after, and was now almost entirely settled, and altogether 2150 settlers had been placed on their lands. (Applause. Dealing with the position of dwellings for rural workers, Mr Massey said that he intended to ask Parliament to amend the law so as to allow of more than five acres of land for each dwelling. The value of the land and dwellings was about £6OO, and he thought that the worker was well treated when he was allowed to pay off the cost at 15/- a week. 'The settlement at Willowbridge was a great success, and he hoped to be able to make a similar experiment at Fairlie. (Applause). It was not expected that a man would be able to make his living off five acres, but the homes were primarily intended for men who at one period of the year would be able to earn good wages, and at another time might have a good deal of spare time on their hands, such men as shearers, for instance. A voice: " What about wharf labourers ? " Mr Massey: " There are many good men amongst the wharf labourers, but they are not the men who howl out about batons in a public meeting; those men are only wasters.''. (Loud applause and laughter.)

! FINANCE. Mr Massey next dealt with the question of finance, and explained what the Government had done with such loans as it had raised on coming into office. The money had all been wisely expended for the good of the Dominion.

A voice: " We were told that it was,, to raise the salaries of members of Parliament, and big Public Servants." Mr Massey: "I don't'think there is anyone in this hall soft enough to believe that story. (Laughter.) Whether they deserve it or not the fact remains that members' salaries have not been raised.''

Last year, when Mr Allen went to tb£ London market for a four and a-half million loan, they had 25 millions offered within an hour and a-half. A voice: "What *was the period?" Mr Massey: "Forty years! No short-dated debentures about that!" (Applause.) Another voice: " Why didn't you snap the lot?" (Laughter.) Mr Massey: " A very good suggestion. We could have done with the lot, but unfortunately the law would allow~"us to take only fojir and a-half millions." (Laughter and applause.) The speaker went on to quote figures to show that the credit of the Dominion in London was better than that of any other portion of the Empire. During . the first 18 months of office, the Reform Government had lent altogether £2,472,715 to 3014 settlers. The Government had lent £1,355,620 to 1531 workers. They had lent £498,075 to 317 local bodies; and these figures were exclusive of loans by the Public Trust and the Government Insurance Department—they had lent £619,020. There could be no better indication of the prosperity of the country than the difference between deposits and withdrawals in the Post Office Savings Bank. A return he had just received showed that in January and February the deposits had' exceeded the withdrawals by £193,438. This alone was an ample reply to the prophets of evil who had told them that when the Tory crowd —meaning himself and his followers —(laughter)—came into office there must follow depression, loss of trade and reduction of wages. (Applause.)

NATIVE LAND,

Dealing with the Native land question, Mr Massey said that they did not wish to do the Natives an injustice, but for the good of the whole Dominion their lands could not be allowed to lie unused; nor was it good for the Maoris themselves that they should be permitted to lead lives of idleness. (Applause.) THE UPPER HOUSE. Reform 'of the Legislative Council had been promised, and, although it had not yet been accomplished, it v> r as not the fault of the Government. In two consecutive sessions the Council had thrown out the Reform Bill, but he ventured to predict that next session it would pass into law, so far as it was humanely possible to be sure of anything. He was certain of this, the Government would make it its duty to see that there was some change. (Applause.) He knew exactly what was going to be done, and he was sure that their object would be achieved. The present system of nomination was such as to render the Council perfectly useless for the purposes for which it was intended. If it came to a question of retaining the present system, or of wiping out the Council altogether, he would say, '' Wipe it out.'' (Applause). CIVIL SERVICE.

The Government's pledge with regard to reform of the Civil Service had been thoroughly fulfilled. They had said that they would eliminate political influence in appointments to the Civil Service, and nowadays all appointments and promotions' were made by the Public Service Board, solely on account of merit. It did not matter now whether a young man was the son of a road mender or the Prime Minister of the Dominion, everyone had absolutely the same op portunity. (Applause.) He had heard of a candidate for Parliament who said he would favour the repealing of this Act. He wa3 assured that any candidate who made such a statement would never see tlid inside of the four walls of Parliament. (Hear, hear). LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Another promise, Mr Massey continued, was that they would reform the system of local government. The Chairman: "I hope you ' will leave the counties alone.'' Mr Massey said that he could not see his way to effect any improvement in the present system of county government. (Applause.) Some counties were too small and some were too large, but there was nothing wrong with the principle. Where the reform was to be effected was with regard to the elimination of political influence in the matter of Parliamentary grants to local bodies. (Hear, hear). CANARDS. They had often been told by unscrupulous papers like the "Lyttelton

Times" that when the Reform Party came into power, the old age pensions scheme would suffer. These papers had made slimy, snaky suggestions that the Old Age Pensions Act would be repealed, but, as a matter of fact, the system had been reformed entirely to the benefit of the. pensioners. (Hear, hear.) He detailed the various benefits which the Reform Government had granted, including widows and old soldiers' pensions.

INDUSTRIAL PEACE. The next plank in the party's programme was reform of the economic system so as to make for industrial peace and prosperity. They had never anticipated that they should have such an opportunity of carrying out this pledge as had presented itself a few mouths ago. The trouble which had then arisen had spread rapidly from one end of the Dominion to the other. A Voice: "Why didn't you stop it?" Mr Massey: "We did stop it." The Voice: "With a baton." Mr Massey: '' Exactly. And" a very proper method it was to adopt under the circumstances.'' (Applause.) The trouble had occurred, he continued, during the sitting of Parliament, which was unfortunate. His chief difficulty had not been to settle the strike, but to keep certain members of Parliament from causing trouble by encouraging the strikers. The same old voice: 1 ' Three cheers for Joey." There was a miserable response, and Mr Massey exclaimed: "I am sorry for Sir Joseph." When the call came, he went on, they got thousands of special police, both from the country and the cities. The voice: "You didn't get them from t&G cities. *' Mr Massey: "That is a falsehood." He had been in Wellington at the time of the strike, and knew what he was talking about. There had been a good deal of rioting and revolver firing— — A voice: "By the specials." Mr Massey: '' The man who made that interjection can be described by a short word of four letters. The specials- and their horses were *shot at more than once." The farmers had done great work. He was a farmer himself, and he was proud of his fellow-farmers. The voice: "They were misled." Mr Massey: "No, the people who were misled were the rank and file of the workers who were gulled by the lazy loafers whom they allowed to be at their head.'' (Prolonged.applause). There were hunddreds who had gone out on strike, Mr Massey continued, who could not say wlty they had struck. They were too ignorant. (Cries of dissent). They wanted population, but they did not want foreign agitators who came to the Dominion to set class against class. (Hear, hear.) The strike would certainly affcet New Zealand polities, and the result would be seen at the next elections. The issue would be between the sympathisers with the strike and those who recognised the Government 's success in maintaining law and order, and he was confident of the result. (Applause.) In support of his contention that nobody had the right to say that any man should not work he quoted a speech of the Hon. J. A. Millar. The voice: "A political rat." Mr Massey: "Any" man who would make such an interjection would not stand before Mr Millar for one moment, and is not fit to clean his boots." (Applause and laughter.) The voice: "If he can't clean his own boots he doesn't deserve to have any." The speaker then left the strike question and the interrupter seemed to take no further interest in the proceedings. It was obviously the only subject he could understand. FRUIT GROWING.

Mr Massey gave details of what the Government was doing to encourage the fruit growers. It was the policy of the Government to encourage the primary producers, and so to increase the exports of the Dominion on which our whole prosperity depended. (Hear, hear.) The country was heavily indebted and a large amount of money was necessary for development purposes, but development must go on. A voice: "That's why you stop the railway construction works." Mr Massey: Last year we voted more money for railway construction than had ever been voted previously in any single year. (Cheers.) They were out to set tlie country ahead. IMMIGRATION.

There was little difference in the immigration policy of the present Government and that of the last Government, but they were determined to attract the best class of workers to the Dominion. (Applause.) The system of bringing, boys from England had been a conspicuous success. The lads who had been brought out a month or two ago were, with one exception, perfectly satisfied with their conditions, and most of them had already received an increase in wages. In encouraging the right class of immigrants they had been doing the best thing for the Dominion as a whole. (Applause.) Id conclusion Mr Massey said that although tliey had carried out a large portion of their programme, there was still any amount of scope for action. There was a good deal of work yet to be done for the good of the Dominion, and the Government would see it done. (Loud applause.) GENERAL MATTERS.

In reply to an enquiry regarding the Electoral Bill, Mr Massey said that an Electoral Bill would be introduced next session. They had already repealed the second ballot, and he was proud of having done it. The second ballot system had led to party bargaining, and concentrated all the bitterness of an election into the last week. It was altogether a pernicious system. As soon as he got a system which would do away with this bargaining and bitterness he would place it before Parliament. A voice: "What about proportional representation?" Mr Massey: "That is a very good system for a Second Chamber, but if both were to be elected on that system one would be a niere reproduction of the other, and consequently useless." The conclusion of Mr Massey's speech was marked by hearty and prolonged cheering. On the motion of Mr Win. Wreford, seconded by Mr Ernest M'Donald, a vote of thanks to Mr Massey for his address, together with confidence in his Government, was carried with acclamation. A hostile amendment was overwhelmed.