MR. MASSEY AT HOKITIKA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13059, 29 April 1910, Page 2

MR. MASSEY AT HOKITIKA.

THE INS AND THE OUTS. “Same Old Story.” (Per tinned Press Association.) HOKITIKA, April 28. Air W. F. Massey, M.P., prior to his address in the Princess Theatre this evening was played to the building by the local band. There was a very large audience, and Mr Massey, who was introduced by tin Mayor (Mr id. L. Michel) was accorded a very hearty reception. After thanking the people fer their welcome, he went on to refer to the business of last session and pointed out that the business of Parliament, was postponed from June until October jib .'suit the convenience of the Prime Minister, who desired to represent the Dominion at the Imperial Conference-. He expressed the opinion that while it may have coca right for the Prime Minister to' go to the conference, it was wrong for the-business of the country to stand over until his return, and in consequence of the late period at which the House met an attempt was made to put through in live or six weeks business which should have occupied at least 10 or 12 weeks. The result was friction, waste of time, and work very badly dealt with. One of the most interesting matters of last session was almost the last—the trouble which arose over the salary of the financial adviser. Mr Massey related what happened in this connection, and explained that the Opposition, in setting up the stonewall, were fighting for a great principle, which was whether the Government should be .represented by its direct representatives or by the members of the executive only. The Prime Minister"should have accepted the decision of Parliament when it was given and not have attempted in a thin House, when a large number of the members .had left for their homes, to reverse the verdict. A nominal victory rested with the Government, but some victories are worse than defeats, and this was one of them. He thought that the stand which was made would prevent any such improper practices being attempted in the Tituro. Air Massey here dealt at some 'ength with the land question and flic ’.ative question. Dealing with the Land" dill of last session, ho said that on the and question the Government had neither policy nor opinions, and were quite prepared to go leasehold or freehold accord-

: ug to which side the majority of votes vas on. What the country wanted'was a 'onward and progressive land policy, giv:ng security of laud tenure and facilities o intending settlers. On the native land (ucsticn, Mr Massev wc.fi in favour of asisting and encouraging the natives to oc■upy all the land which they required, tud if they then persisted in keeping their ands unoccupied, improving in value by inbiic works expenditure and at the inUistry of European settlers, it should only be on the same terras and conditions as

’.ppiied to Europeans. He thought the ime had come to do away wit!’ special Maori representation; in fact, ‘die natives uid Europeans should be as nearly as posable in the same postion before "the law. r de referred at length to the serious in■reaises in taxation and railway fares which vere provided for last session, amountino nrobably to .£503,0K) per annum. Ho bought that instead of looking for new nethods of taxation, the Oovernmord hould do everything possible to reduce the ;ost of living, and the burden upon the >eop!c generally. With regard ‘to the inanoial position, ho said that the Col-

raia] Treasurer would probably in a few lays disclose a surplus, but it would have ■o be remembered cn tins occasion that he surplus would be for two years and '.ot for one, as nothing had been traaserred to public works in 1903. and the surplus for that year was carried forward o 1909. He raid that reform was a mat-

ter of urgency in connection with thr ■ountry’s finances. With regard to rc•renchment. there bar been a great deal "f talk, but he thought that hardship had )een inflicted in some cases. So far as the ■ctual saving was concerned, it would be bund to be a case of much ciy and little vcol. The speaker gave instances of ex-

Tavagancc, and objected to the cutting ! own of the capitation vote to school corn■littees and the vote for libraries. Eeerring to the trouble in connection with ho much discussed ques!'»i of watorrower, Mr Massey said that wherever pri--atp enterprise was willing to develop tlm esources of the colony, it should have tli? 'pportnnity, so long as no monopoly was ’’■tended, but the Government were the reatrst menyilists cf all. The jealousies•nd prejudices' of a Minister should no! 'o allowed to interfere with the pnbli'state. Mr Massey -explained what liar’ ■■aken place with regard to Gcveramenl ■xperd.tnre in connection with adverb's-

"T nud he expressed Iho opinion that the ttiturle in regard thereto was the most andid admission of Tornmc.nv>:nt which •ad ever been made in this country He bought that the political principles of ha. 36 members win voted against M: Vright’s ruction were ret worth a fdii’ling •_er dozen: He also dealt with the necesity of the amending of the Crown Suit--ct so as to allow persons who had sufered injury from any Department of the date to take their eases into Court in dre ordinary way. He stated that his party did not deal with defence matter: rom a party paint of view, but while he uipported the Act cf last year he thought refore they went much further, either* ir he way of expenditure or iuereasiuir th; •ge for compulsory training, that 'tiiov iiould have some experience of its work'■ug. One of the matters that Parlr-imeM vould have to deal with in lh c future '■as the attempt at usurpation bv Miai?’ers of the rights end privileges which properly belonged to the representatives the people. If Parliament would only assert itself there need be no al!-:riodi't uttings, and there would h e less ostravaratree, better legislation, and better admnrstration. Ho hoped the Local Corerament Bill would be proceeded with nexl session, as he was anxious to see something more satisfactory in the way of finance than the syHcm of Parliamentary giants, winch the uovernment dc .ernrined to adhere to. He thought a mis. sate Jr ad been made in repealing that nart -d the Local Bodies’ Loans Act which alowed County Councils to borrow for a term of 4-1 years at 34 per cent, the lat-

ter paying the principal and interest. The position now was that under the new Act the 3| per cent, interest and sinking fund amounted to 17s 6d per annum. He asked his audience to look back to the period since the Ward Government'' had taken up the reins of office, and to remember that during that period there had been a greater increase in indebtedness, a greater increase of expenditure, and a greater increase of taxation.- He also, expressed the opinion that more people- had left the country during the last three years than in any similar period since 1890,.. People were leaving the country because it was cursed with a bad Government. He concluded his address by stating that" the electors now understood the aims and objects of his party much better than formerly; that the most progressive men, those who were mostly really Liberal, were among the members of the Reform Party. They had ■ done their duty to their constituents and to the country, and he hoped they ..would be rewarded by an increase of members at the next opportunity. A vote of thanks was passed to Air Massey for his able and statesmanlike expressions and for the loyal and valuable services rendered by him for many years past in the Parliament of New Zealand.

The meeting concluded with acclamation,