MR. MASSEY AND MR. WILFORD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 341, 30 October 1908, Page 8

MR. MASSEY AND MR. WILFORD.

In The Dominion . of yesterday's : date, there appeared a report of an interview with Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader 'of the Opposition, in which Mr. T. M. Wilford, sitting member for the Hutt, was made the..'subject' of some candid criticism. We have 'been asked to publish the following statement from Mr. Wilford, in reply to his critic

"Mr. Massey has stated that .my political principles are only skin-deep. ' .My, reply to that is that my principles .on the land question, the education question, . and the Industrial Conciliation and . Arbitration Bill, which I embodied in amendments moved against' the Government measures, were supported by Mr! Massey, who followed me into the Lobby. I am surprised that, Mr. Massey should support .principles, when thoy striko at the policy' of important measures. Mr. Massey further, says, in answer to my statements criticising Mr. Hardy, that if Mr. Hardy did say that the Opposition would manipulate the Public Funds for their own particular advantage, lie (Mr. 1 Hardj) was joking. My reply is! that that is tho only excuse that .'can'bo. found for it. I would like to remind Mr. Massey that ho, on the floor of the House,-.this session, in reference to a Geraldine matter, stated that the member for Selwyn was always serious. Mr. Massey also says'that Mr. Hardy was not tho Opposition Whip. If ho was not, did he resign? Mr. Massey further states that tho men who were providing material for the Government candidates had to go back fifteen years to find'a flaw in Mr, James Allen's armour. I would like to say that as it is many years sinco; tho Opposition was in power, it is impossible to quote anything they did when in power which is not ancient history. Mr. Massey states that I missed tho point in reference to'the Post Ofiico Savings Bant. I think the point has struck home, and is pricking, for on July 28, 1908, Mr. Massey, with much denunciation and excitement, stated that the Government had borrowed half a million a year during the last five years, from the Post Office Savings Banks j and iii. September 1899 (Hansard, No. 109, p. 87), Mr. Massey urged the Government to do tlie very thing that ho was now condemning'. 'In reference to Air. Massoy's last suggestion' regarding machine-niado speeches, I might say that no one. has ever made or written a speech for me. nould thoy." - j