MR. MASSEY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17736, 9 December 1919, Page 5

MR. MASSEY.

SPEECHES AT AUCKLAND.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 8

The Prime Minister addressed two political meetings in Auckland tonight. He first spoke at Newmarket, in the Auckland East District,, where Clutha McKenzie, the blind soldier candidate, is opposing the Hon. A. M. Myers. Mr Massey was in good form, and scored heavily in several good humoured exchanges. The great majority of the audience were with him, and objections to his statements were speedily drowned in applause. Mr Massey said that he was not going to indulge in any parts wrangling. He left that sort of thing to others. If he was attacked he could defend himself whether in the House or anywhere else, but that was as far as it went. The war, continued Mr Massey, was a thing of the past. The question now was of the future, and what use was to be made of the future. The country was face to face with the results of the war, the most pressing lof which was the total debt of £200,----000,000 on which to pay Interest and sinking fund. In order to meet this enormous liability, continued Mr Massey, it was necessary to go in for a poilcy of development such as this country had never known before. The output of produce and the volume of exports must be increased. The experiences of the war had shown what the country could do even with all the best men away. Those who were left, and the women and children as well, had worked so that the yield of produce and the volume of exports had been maintained and increased. Since March, 1915, the date when the Imperial requisition of produce commenced, the Dominion had received from the Imperial authorities a sum of £113,000,000. When the present arrangements came to an end in June next, he believed that the total would have swelled- to £126,000,000, and perhaps more than that. This, he repeated, was done when all the best men of the Dominion were away on service. They were now back, save for 17,000 who would never return, and, with them back, a vigorous policy of development must be pursued. The figures he had quoted, said Mr Massey, spoke volumes for the industry of the people and for the potentialities of the country, and these were two things upon which, we must depend if we were to overtake our liabilities. When the war began public works had been dropped. It was now essential to prosecute a scheme of railway construction. Lines north of Auckland must be pressed on, particularly the one making connection with Whangarei. So must the great East Coast line, which would eventually run to Napier. The Prime Minister continued that improvements must

3 made in the Main Trunk lino and

jrvice. Disregarding some attempted interruption, he said that we must look forward. In the years to come railways would be built where they were not thought of to-day.

"At five shillings a day," persisted an interjector, who insisted on having his voice, heard.

Mr Massey: That's all right. A man is generally taken at his own valuation, and if that is all you are worth, I am sorry for you.

! Continuing, the Prime Minister said that we had to go in for a roading policy in this country. At the conclusion of his speech at Newmarket, Mr Massey motored to Parnell, where he arrived at the conclusion of an address by Mr J. S. Dickson, the Government candidate for the seat. There was a distinctly hostile element in the audience, but Mr Massey, in masterly fashion, succeeded in get,ing on good terms with his hearers, and was giyen an excellent hearing during the remainder of his speech, At the conclusion a vote of thanks and continued confidence in Mr Massey and the Reform Government was carried by a large majority.

Both Mr Massey's meetings were crowded to the doors and many were unable to gain admission.