POLITICAL SPEECHES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 216, 5 June 1908, Page 7

POLITICAL SPEECHES

» MR. MASSEY AT HELENSVILLE. REPLY TO MR. FOWLDS. SOCIALISM AND COALITION. ' (BY TELEGBAPD. —PRE6B ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, June 4. Speaking at Holensville, Mr. Massey, Leader of tho Opposition, took an opportunity of replying to some of the / remarks mado by tho Hon. G. Fowlds at Grey Lynn last week. Mr. Massey said that Mr. Fowlds had credited'him with including the Minister (Mr. Fowlds) amongst the Socialist members of the Cabinet. Mr. Massey, however, quoted his Gisborno speech, which had been-referred to, showing that he had referred to Mr. Fowlds as a. Single-taxer, and not as a Socialisk Mr. Massey went on to point out tho difference between a Single-taxer and a Socialist; and said Single.-taxers proposed that all other forms of taxation should bo done away with oxeept tho one tax upon land, and that tho wholo' burden, of the cost of carrying on of the business of the country should fall upon the people who were connected with,the land. Although," added Mr. Massey, "Socialism and Single-tax aro equally bad and equally objectionable, still Socialism is tho least dishonest of' the two, inasmuch as, in tho words of Henry George, Single-tax was intended to take, away tho kernel and leavo tho shell for the people on the land. It was an exceedingly disquieting outlook- for the country wlieii men holding such views wore included in the Cabinot." "

Mr. Massey also replied to Mr. Fowlds's statement that t'ao suggestion for, a coalition, camcfroni Opposition members. "I give that a fiat,and unqualified do-, nial," said lie. ' u ,lt did not come from mo, • and it did not come from any Opposition member. I would sooner go out of political hfo altogether,: and I would sooner break stones on the road for •a v living, than I_ would support a Cabinet,' or become a member of tho Government, the other members of, which are Socialists and Singlc-taxers." Mr. Massey went oil to say lie hoped the electors aji next election would draw the lino of cleavage clearly, so as to leave Singlotaxers and Socialists on one side, and tho real Liberals and individualists on tho other. In his speech, Mr. Massey also dealt with the necessity for amendment of tho Arbitration Act, saying he lipped the Government would reiiltroduco the Bill of last year, and expressed the opinion that something in the; way of classification was absolutely necessary. 'As it stood at. present difficulties were, placed in the way of , youths desiring to learn trades. ' He thought a power of appeal from the Arbitration'', Court on points of law should be provided. In spite of the statements of Dr. Findlay he (Mr. Massey) was strongly of; opinion that the working l of the Act had a great deal to do' with increasing the cost of living, especially to married men with families, but undoubtedly the cost of living had s gone up-out of proportion'to tho increase in. wages.':' Compulsory arbitration had failed, as far as this country was concerned, and an amendment of the law was required to mako it-more elastic and less harassing to both emplbyera and employees—something which ;w.ould conciliate, lather ; than irritate..