"PLAYING WITH THE SETTLERS."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 4

"PLAYING WITH THE SETTLERS."

. « — PLAIN SPEAKING BY MR. MASSEY. The lack of a bridge over the Waikato River at' Huntly was the. subject of a warm brush between Mr. Massey (Leader of the Onposition) and the Hon. R. M'Kenzie" (Minister for Public Works) in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Massey, in advocating the speedy, erectioji of the bridge, pointed out that it had been promised definitely by tho late Mr. Ballance and the late Mr. Seddon, whilst Mr. Hall-Jones and Mr. -M'Kenzie himself had also practically promised that tho work would be. put in hand. He understood that the continuing delay now was due to "the fact that the undertaking could uot be proceeded with unless it were included in' a Railways Authorisation Act. "It is a fine point," ho commented, "as to whether a combined truffle and railway bridge could not be constructed without the necessity of such an Act."

Mr. M'Kenzie: It is' necessary. Mr. Massey: When,.then, will you bring down such a Bill?

Mr. M'Kenzie: When you do less talking and more work. Mr. Massey: You won't get past this matter by flippancy. You are not parti-, cularly popular in the north. I will take this opportunity of drawing your attention to that point. If.you go on as at present you bid fair to be tho most unpopular Minister there has been in the Dominion. You are only playing with the settlers and humbugging local bodies. In conclusion, Mr. Massey stated that Jig.diduUqt believe ..that, there was a coal ring in the north".-' Between the Waikato River and the West Coast there ' was sufficient coal to last New Zealand for a thousand years.. "And," added Mr. Massey, "the proposed bridge is the key , to the whole position." Subsequently . the Hon. R. M'Kenzie said that Mr.. Massey. had always been trying to make. political capital out of the proposed bridge. As a matter of fact, it was not in his district.

Mr. Jlassey: Yes, it is. Mr. M'Kenzie said he had failed to trace any vote for it as Mr. Massey had suggested as far back as 20 years, ago. Mr. Jlassey: Yes, there is. Mr. M'Kenzie said that when Mr. Seddon went to Huntly he refused point blank to accept it as a colonial work. The bridge now formed part of a proposed railway, and it could not be begun until it had been included in a Railways Authorisation Act. Mr. Massey: When will it be included?

Mr. M'Kenzie: You are trying to find out something to which you aTe not entitled.

In conclusion, Mr. M'Kenzie said that as a matter of fact the surrey for the lino was now in hand, and'" as soon as it was completed Cabinet would consider the matter.