ME MASSEY IN THE SOUTH.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14979, 28 May 1914, Page 8

ME MASSEY IN THE SOUTH.

HUGE MEETING* AT INVERCABGILL.

(srrciAL to "the press.")

INVERCARGILL,, May 27

The Prime Minister (the Bt. Hon. W. F. Ma-ssey) addressed what was probably the largest political gathering ever held' in Invercargill this evening. Long before 8 o'clock tho large Town Hall was thronged, and standing room only was obtainable. Tho stage doors wero then opened, and every available inch of spaco on the stage was occupied. The audience numbered about 25C0. The Mayor of Invercargill (Mr McFarlane) presided.

Mr Massey, who was in particularly good form, spoke for two hours, and evidently had tho huge meeting with him from the start. Hβ dealt with the chief political questions now before tho country, his remarks in connexion with naval defence, land settlement, and avigorous Public Works policy especially meeting with applause. Ho reviewed tho work and record of tho Government during the time it had been in office, and indicated some of the measures to be submitted to Parliament during next session. These Bills included land, electoral, licensing, defamation, Asiatic immigration, Legislative Council, industrial conciliation and arbitration amendment, Cook Island,. Parliamentary grants, and fruit industry.

At the conclusion of the speech a motion of thanks and confidence in the Government was proposed by Mr J." E. Watson'and carried by an overwhelming majority.

Mr Massey receives a deputation tomorrow morning, and leaves at midday for Balciutha, where he will open the new Carnegie library, and deliver a public address in the evening.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TKUSGIUM.)

INVEBCAEGILL, May 27

This evening the lit. lion, the Prime Minister addressed a meeting which crowded tho Municipal Theatre in all parts. SLanding room was at a premium, and all accommodation at tho back of tho stage was overtaxed. Mr Massey's appearance on the platform, accompanied by his Worship the Mayor, was the signal for a prolonged outburst of applause, which lasted for some minutes. When Mr Massey rose to speak tno cheering was resumed.

Mr Massey said he had addressed many large meetings, but none larger or more representative than that which he had faced that evening. He would refer first to- the defence question, in regard to which he did not believe in the folded hands policy. Our duty to our own country- and to the Empire required New Zealand' to carry its full "responsibilities both in land and in naval defence. Naval defence was the most important branch. By contribution to the Imperial"Government, and interest and sinking fund on the dreadnought, New Zealand was paying about £250,000 per annum, but the agreement of 1909 between the New Zealand Government and tho British Government for the maintenance of a'squadron in New/ Zealand waters had not been kept. Oh his visit toLofidon the Hon.- James Allen got no satisfaction, and at the present time New Zealand was practically without naval defence. The Minister" of Defence had arranged for a training ship \to train the young men New Zealand, which must beooine the Britain of the South Pacific, for service at sea. The training ship would cost about £50,000 a year, which would be deducted from the subsidy to Great Britain, so that the cost would- not bo increased. The AngloJapanese treaty was not a\ sufficient protection for New Zealand and therefore New Zealand must do something for itself. -~•■, , The Prime' Minister explained .the Defence Act of last session. The Government, he said, did not propose to start a toy navy. The idea was that Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Great Britain herself would join to put a great fighting, navy in the Pacific, -which, he believed would yet • become the battle-ground of the great nations. Good, results had already followed from the Governments action', for, as a result a conference of representatives from the oversea JJo■"mrnions would be held in London next year. ■He deprecated strongly the use or the defence question for party purposes. As to the wild stories of the cost of the echeme, no expense would be incurred until it was explained to, and approved by, Parliament and the country.

Referring to Sir Joseph., Ward's "Blenheim speech, Mr Massey said he was not in the habit of shedding crocodile tears. He had never stated that the population had decreased, but had pointed out that ten years ago the population of the country had been greater than the population of the towns and cities, and that position had been reversed. To-day .the population of the towns and cities was larger than the country population, and that was not a safe position for a country like New Zealand. That wv> his contention and he-stood by it.. " It was true that the Government had borrowed largely, but it was to pay their predecessors' debts. Between now and the end of the year the Government had to raise eight, millions to repay loans maturing. That was the real position, and any politician touching upon it should be candid enough to explain it. The-statement that the Uovernment had increased the Customs taxation was absolutely and wholly incorrect. The Government had not increased the Customs taxation by the fraction of a farthing. Property had increased, and people were buying more dutiable goods; that was all there was in the point: As to the statement that the workers piud nothing towards the cost of the gut battle cruiser, the money to pay for it came from the consolidated fund to which every man and woman in the country contributed, and all taxpayers therefore contributed to the cost of the ship. The statement was only put forward for electioneering puTDoses and would not be endorsed by the people of the country.

The statement made By the-Leader of the Opposition that the present Minister of Finance succeeded to a surplus of £780,000 was inaccurate, ffhat surplus existed at 31st March, 1912 but owing to interest and other payments, t-he .amount had dwindled to £188,000 when the Hon. James Allen took control of the treasury. Regarding finance Renerally, Mr Maesey gave details of the commitments that the Government ha<l to meet when it took office and showed the great disparity between the •commitments and the money available to meet them. To-day the" difficulties in connexion -with the gilt-ediged debentures, public -works, and advances to settlers,, had all been overcome. The Prime Minisffer reviewed the succ.tssful flotation or Government loans. Financially,: he. said, the country was now out of the wood. Despite the fact that the proceeds of the sales of land were no longer paid into the general revenne, and despite the strike wifc'i its direct cost and indirect loss, the treasurer had a surplus on filst March of £427,000. As to the charge that the Government had not lent money for the assistance of the country's activities, in eighteen months the Government had loaned to settlers £1,355,620,

to workers £498,075. and from the lending <lepartuieui<s a.oue to .local bodies i.019,0i0, or a totai of £2,4/2,715. 'i'ne Government iiau kept its pi edges in a great part, and during tne coming sessioa ail tno remaining pledges would be finfilled to tuo very ictter.- JJx Massey referred to the parsing of tne iand legislation, and explained the uature of the .Land Acts and defended tho freehold principle. To assist backbieck settlers, and give them access to the ports and cities, tho Government intended to ask Parliament to sanction a Joan and specially earmark it for roads in backblccKs districts. The Government would do exactly the sanio thing in the interests of tne country even if there was no election within the next rivo years.

Touching upon improvable land held in unimproved conditions by private persons, the I , rime Minister said the Government, regarded this as a luxury for which those who enjoyed it would have to pay. There were only 100,000 acres ot nrst-clas.; land left to tho Crown, and the Government was farced to buy, iaud and to bring about subdivision of la.-go estates, lie cited. figures allowing how largely tho Government had ouichased land in 1914. As showing the prosperity of the country, Mr Massey predicted that the exports for the yoar ending June 30th would approximate to £-'0.0U0.0G0. This sum would establish a splendid record.

By co-operation with counties and municipalities, the Government had increased the facilities tor workers to obtain homes, and had extended the system to country district-. Mr Massey quoted ''Hansard" to show that an amendment moved by him in the House was tho origin of the advances to workers scheme. The Government had increased tho expenditure upon, workers' homos, and during the current year would expend nearly £100,000 in 'providing homes for industrious workers. .

It was true there had been an increase in expenditure, but these increases had bren irrnrred in improvini tho coTid'tiors in the public service, which, when the Government took office, was seething with dissatisfaction. What had been done in tho railway and other departments would Knve to be done for the teachers, whoso salaries had not been reviewed • for many years. The legislation was ready and "he believed it would bo passed, anil it would be approved throughout the country. The Government had'liberalisod and extended the pensions scheme, and a case had been brought under his notice at Gisborne which showed that further extensions would havo to be mado. •

Mr Massey referred to Sir Joseph Ward's claim, made at Blenheim and elsewhere, that the strike need not have lasted two days if the advice given from the Opposition side of the House had been accepted by the Government. He had heard this statement before, and it made him smile. There was no man on earth who would have stopped that strike in two days. Ho reviewed events as they had occurred, explained what had taken place at the conferonces, described the beginning of tho noting, and quoted tho "New Zealand Times," an Opposition organ, to show that the crowd in the Wellington streets had begun the rioting. There was only one way to meet the crisis, and that was to get an efficient force of "specials"- to maintain order and protect citizens peaceably engaged in their lawful work. Tho Government, by this'" method, had opened the ports, commerce was resumed, and the Government did not go back on anything it had done, and would do the same thing again. As to the two days boast, why had previous strikes nob been settled, for instance, the Waihi and Reefton strikes? There was not a man in the- Government ol that day capable of dealing with the position which then arose. His Government was not in office then, but strikes occurred, and the Governments then in office coma not settle them in two days. In 1906 Sir Joseph Ward came into office. 'In that year there was one strike, in 1907 there' were 8, in 1908 there wfre 8, in 1909 there were 4. in 1910 there were 13, and in 1911 there were 21. If the Leader of the. Opposition could have settled this last strike in two daye. why on earth didn't he settle some of the sixty-three strikes that had occurred during his own premiership ? Next session the Government would eubmit another Land Bill, an Education Bill, Licensing Bill, Electoral Bill, a Bill amending the Conciliation aud Arbitration Act, Legislative Council Bill, Defamation. Bill, a Bill dealing with the system of Parliamentary grants, a Bill dealing with the government of the Cook Islands, a Bill amending the Workers' Homes Act, a BUI lealing with Asiatic immigration, designed tovkeep. out Asiatics effectively, and a,Bin to assist the fruit industry. There would be the usual Financial Bills, and the session would be one of good work. The Government was on its trial." Hβ invited the people to look into its record for themselves, and judge the Government by its work. He was confident that when the people of New Zealand came to choose whom they ehould support,. they would choose wisely, and well. The Prime Minister, who was frequently applauded and cheeTed, resumed his seat amidst an outburst of applause. ' ".

A motion of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr J. E. Watson and seconded in several places. When the Mayor put the question there was distinctly a very large majority in favour, and Mr Massey acknowledged the vote as an honour which had been paid by a huge audience to himself and the Government of which he was the head.