THE RIVAL LEADERS.

West Coast Times, 20 June 1912, Page 2

THE RIVAL LEADERS.

REFORM PARTY AT OAfifiA* VILLE, Lteb PRESS ASSOCIATION.—OOFTttIOttt] DARGAVILLE, June 10. Messrs W. F. Massey, and P. 51. B. Fisher and J. H. Bradnoy addressed a public meeting to-night and criticised the Government. They outlined the Reform Policy. A resolution was enthusiastically carried, that this mooting thank Mr. Massey ami his colleagues for their able addresses and records its appreciation of Mr. Massey’s long uphill fight in tho Opposition, and congratulates him on tho assured prospect of attaining office in the near future.

MR. MASSEY IN GOOD FORM. AUCKLAND, Juno 19. Enthusiasm was tho keynote of tho meeting addressed at Helonsville by the Loader of tho Opposition and Mr. F. 51. B. Fisher (Wellington Central). Messrs J. H. Bradnoy, A, Harris and J. G. Coates, M.P.’a, were also present.

Mr, Massey said that when tho now Government came into power the Ministers complained of overwork, but the manner in which they had boon travelling about the country did not argue overwhelming pressure of departmental business. He emphasised the fact that the new Government had never put forward any policy. Deferring to finance, Mr. Massey sn,i 1 tho longer tho terra of a loan, tho better for tho country, but the term of the latest loan was only twe years and the rato of interest was 3} por cent. ; hut when the charges for undci writing and discount being spread over tho term of only two years, "'ere added, this would raise it to more than four por cent. The loan would cost at least one-half per cent more than if it had been reasonably managed, while the system of shortdated debentures upon which it had been raised, was thoroughly unsound. Ouo of the greatest difficulties he and h ! ‘, colleagues had to face, was the difficulty in obtaining information regarding tho raising of these loans. Touching on tho land question, Jlr. Massey said that his two guiding principles had always boon closer settlement arid security of tenure, and for theso ho still stood. There wore millions of acres undeveloped in the not th, forming a serious bar to progress. Deferring to the Native lands Mr. Massey said a scheme should he evolved under which the Native* would bo required to work tho land and live upon it on equal terms with the white man.

A motion that Mr, Massey and his colleagues were fit and proper per sans to guide the destinies of tho country, was passed, amid cheers. PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT. AUCKLAND, Juno 19, The Premier visited Albany to-day and in a speech he referred to the complaints by Mr. Massey that the Ministers were neglecting their work in travelling about the country. Let him (tho Premier) say that not single particle of their work was neglected. In tho launch that morning, he had dealt with over a hundred letters. His departmental work followed him and was executed on the train. As a matter of fact, owing to tho absence of the unending interruptions experienced in Wellington, tho work was disposed'of with greater dispatch when away. In answer to a statement that tho Government had no polioy, Mr. Mackenzie pointed to bio policy for making largo land-owners disgorge for the benefit of closer settlement, and declared that Mr, Massey and tho conservative section he stood for, wore so alarmed at tho Government's proposal that tho Loader of the Opposition had hastily beaten tho big drum and raUiod half a dozen of his supporters to hurry on his (tho Premier's) heels, and if possible nullify any, effect ha might have had on tho people.