SPEECHES AT ELTHAM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1274, 1 November 1911, Page 4

SPEECHES AT ELTHAM.

BY POLITICAL LEADERS, MR. MASSEY ON REFORM AIMS, "THANKS AND CONFIDENCE." (By TdcEraph.-Press Aesociailou.l Eltham, October 30. Mr. \V. F. Massey, leader of the Oppo. sition, addressed a public mooting in the Kllhain Town Hall last night, about tight hundrod persons being present. The Mayor (Mr. G. 1 , . Wake) presided. Air. Massey, who received an excellent hearing, said the big question on polling tiny would bo: Does the Government retain the confidence of the people? Hβ was glad to bay that the whole of tho Tarnuaki province was represented by men on tho Opposition Bide, and it would continue to be m represented. Opposition members oiler honest and willing service, and ho believed the time was eomino when men of greater energy and ability than those now in power would bu required to manage the affairs of the country. Wo could not go on piling up tho debt and increasing taxation as in tlio last lew years, but would have to keep our expenditure much nearer our income than was at present tho case. Tho Electioneering Budget, Referring to the Financial Statement, Mr. ilassoy contended that it showed no hint of reducing taxation on tho cost of living. There was no evidence in it of a land policy, of reform of the Legislative Council, of nn improved method of appointment to the Public .Service, of dealing with dissatisfaction in the Kailway borvice. It was an electioneering .Budget, without any policy worthy ol tho name.

He dealt at length with tho unsatisfactory land svstem, and criticised the various Land Bills brought down by the Government. Despite tho immigration system, the arrivals scarcely balanced the departures, as settlers could not get access to tho laud now unoccupied, lie supported Sir John Findlay's suggestion that the Natives should l>e placed on tho same footing in regard to their land as Europonus, and urged-the right to acquire the freehold and the offer of security of tenure. Ho complained that tho Government did not exercise the authority granted to it in regard to tho purchase of land for settlement. The only farmer in the Ministry was Mr. liuddo, and they did not give him tho portfolio of Lands, as ho had repeatedly expressed himself in favour of the freehoJ.l. So Sir Joseph AVard, who knew nothing about land, had to hang on to that portfolio. Mr. Massey adversely criticised the Mokan transaction, contending that overy facility was given to the speculator, as against the ordinary settler. Uβ held that anyone voting for the Government candidate would express approval of tho Mokau transaction. The Details of Loans a Mystery. He was not against borrowing; ho admitted that tho country had favourable assets, but its indebtedness was increasing at too great a rate. AVhije the Government was anxious to do all the financing of tho country, when New Zealand money could not be invested in tho country there must be. something wrong. Ho complained that details or the cost of loans could not 1)0 obtained. Tho people had a right to know how money was expended. Mr. Massey strongly urged reform of the Legislative Council in tho direction of making it an elective body on the proportional system. Though tho public service was a good one, political lnllucnco prevailed, and New Zealand lagged behind other countries in this respect. Regarding public works, he favoured something on the lines of the English Development Board, without political influence or pressure. Tho local government system was out of date. Money voted for roads and bridges in any one year should be spent in that year. It was extraordinary that increases of pay to tho railway men should bo wade just on tho eve of the election. Members or Tsars?

There was objection to the. functions: of Parliament being handed over to Ministers. The speaker quoted _ proposals under the last Tariff Bill giving the Minister power to decide whether articles vero dutiable or not. taxation had been increased on articles required in tho dairying industry. Tho Minister for Public Works had power to take away money voled for certain work ana spend it elsewhere. Salaries 'fixed by •let shoiiW not be altered, except by •\.ct of-Parliament. Increasing tho payment oi Judges appointed to comimssions vis tnmperinß with tho Judicial Uoiicli Ho ivr.s proud that New Zealand was the most Imperialistic Dominion in the Empire, but considered Parliament should havo been consulted about the Dreadnought, instead of the Ministry usurping the functions of the representatives ottho people. Mr. Massov detailed his Family Home Protection Bill, and prooeeded to deal with the amounts paid to tho Government and Opposition papers lor advertisements. Tho proper system would Dβ to give tho advertisements according to tire noivspapers' circulation. , He quoted criticisms of tho Government' bv Messrs. Ross, Graham, and Barclay, and urged tho electors to vote for the Koforin candidate at the coming election. Thanks and Confidence. A vote of thanks to Mr. Massey, and.of confidence in the present member forEgmont, was carried. Mr. Aslbury, one of the candidates at. last election, desired to move an amendment, but did not rise till tho chairman, had proceeded to put tho motion. HON. T. MACKENZIE. RECEIVES A "VOTE OF THANKS. (By Teleiraob.—PrcEß Association.) Eltham, October 31. The Hon. T. Mackenzie addressed a large attendance at the Town lia 1 toniWit, tho Mayor presiding. He combated the statement about his being a southern, reject recounting his past political career, and ho referred to England as on example of members not residing in the electorates which thev represent, lie intimated that, if elected! he would sol lhis home, near Dunedin, and come to reside in Egmoiit. Kogarding the High Commissionersliip, ho said that his appointment had never been considered by Cabinet, and ho believed that it was "better for him—for some vear.e at any ruin—to remain and help to build up the agricultural industry. Hβ was reorganising tho Department, and defired to extend it on certain lines. Benlying to Mr. address of tho previous evening, he described the Loader of the Opposition as the "Nip \ an Winkle of our Parliamentary institutions." Tim Homo Protection Bill thnt Mr. Masscy had spoken of had been embodied in tho Statute Book sixteen years ago, but in a clearer and more efficient form thnn Mr. Massey proposed, and it. was now the law of the' land. Hoparding a statement that tho loan was a failure, he contended that the Opposition had done their best to make it so by the doleful accounts which they had sent to London, so that a finan. ciai journal had advised investors to charge a higher rate of interest. Ho also explained that a largo proportion of tho public debt was intorest-rarniiiß. Mr. MnsFcy had complained about thn Binnll amount spent on the purchase of estates, and the Opposition papers urged that more money should hnve bren available for various works. Tf nil such demands were acceded to, (he debt would have been increased by four millions more. The Opposition supported every loan, and were there to claim more than (heir slmre, and then they condemned the Government, for borrowing. If l»r----rowing were conduclwl oh proper lines, it was a wi«> and good tllwig. Ho combated certain arguments about excessive taxation. Customs dulios hail been remitted on tho necessaries of life,, and, whore duties had Ikou put on, it; wa« for the purpose of preferential tariff with Britain. He I lion flVnlt nt lcnsi.li with tho land lnwß. expressing himself in favour of optional tenure. No Government Irad dono more for the settler than (he prtw.it Government nnd ho went on to wiy that it was nwsarv lo olojely seltlo tho country and build up agrlMiHitro. He staled emphatically Hint he would not hnve exterior assistance in (h Pi oleotion campaign—he waited to bo returned on his own merits, and not to hobble in on crutches lent by someone, else, no The Minister had nn attentive hearing, aiiul replied to many questions relative to policy and administration, A vote of fianks was accorded him.