"GENIUS FOR COURAGEOUS SPEECH."

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 27 May 1914, Page 10

"GENIUS FOR COURAGEOUS SPEECH."

'LIFE'S" COMPLIMENT TO MR

MASSEY

The current issue of the Australian magazine "Lifo" contains the following appreciative reference to'the attitude taken up by the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Right Hon. W.-F. Massey) towards the Red Feds. :—

Zealand has in Mr Massey a Premier with a genius for courageous speech. At a great political meeting in Auckland he discussed the recent strike—which, by the way, cost the Dominion in solid cash over £90,000—and

there wero many interjections from some Red Feds, present. In reply Mr Massey flashed out, 'I dqjj't go back on a single action. If-you.-, think we have done wrong vote against us. If there, aro any enemies of this country, it is the set of men who are going about, not earning their living "as honest men do, but living on the earnings of others, men who are endeavouring to set class against class, country against town, employee agqinst employer. Wo want population in this country, but we don't"want that class. I say,' as leader of this country, the sooner these people go and shako the dust of New Zealand off their shoes, tho better it will be for the people of the country.' This brought out a tempest of applause, for a p*ablic meeting always admires a speaker who bears himself with decision and fearlessness. Mr Massey went on to say 'that ho did not care a snap of the fingers for tho votes of the Red Feds.' . "

" 'I am thinking, of what the strike leaders in Wellington said. They said that they would have the streets of Wellington running with blood'j they said that they would fly the Socialistic flag over Parliament Buildings. They, are nice-people to fly any flag. It would be a flag of distress.' '

•"That was courageous talking, and Mr Massey has .excellent reasons for courage. The general public sentiment of New Zealand is with him; and, incidentally, he is able _to report that the finances of the year end with a surplus of some £400,000. This is successful finance; and, in .addition, it is honest financo, for the full amount of £675 ; 000 has been transferred to th© Public Works Fund, and every Treasury Bill has been' paid off. Now Zealand, like Australia, is a country .of illimitable resources, rich, both in the type of its population and in the gifts of Nature."