MR. MASSEY IN TIMARU.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1290, 20 November 1911, Page 6

MR. MASSEY IN TIMARU.

ANOTHER FINE MEETING, (By TelcEraph-Prußa Association.) Timaru, November 19. Last night Mr. Jfassey addressed a sympathetic meeting of from 1600 to ISOO people in tho Olympia llall. Tho DeputyMayor, Mr. Hawkey, presided, and on the platform wore tho Opposition candidates for Timaru, Temuka, Waitaki, and Oamaru. Mr. Massoy had a cordial reception on entering, and was chccred, at tho invitation of tho chairman, as a visitor to the town. Mr. Mussey cotnmonoed with a repudiation of personal feeling and wilful misrepresentation. Tho Premier had been correcting a statement of his that lio (Sir J. G. AVard) had voted against fomale franchise, the correction being that his vote was wrongly recorded. Ho would look up other votes, and if tliat one was ttio solitary one on that sido ho would acknowledge his mistake. Ho proceeded to criticise tho Government on the lines of previous spcechos,. rind said that though he did not agree with'them, he could respect the Socialists and tho Labour party, for they had definite principles, and stuck to there. Ho condemned making the Stato the only money-, lender, as it diverted a stream of private capital which would flow in for the development of tho country. Ho mentioned the recent increases in taxation, and insisted that thongh imposed on those supposed to bo well ablo to bear it, the taxes were passed on to the rank nnd file. Thcro was no need_ of inquiry into tho increased cost of living. Incriwed taxation explained it. Ho dealt with tho absence of Parliamentary control of tho finances, and spoke on the land question. The freehold should be granted to l.i.p. tenants at the original value, and the money could be used for the settlement on better terms. ' Mr. Mnssey dealt at length with tho Mokau Block, comment-, ing that the Government, which by its Bill of 1910 sliowed its horror of big landholders. had sliown its6lf friendly to big. land speculators. Mr. Massey, who covered a wide range of topics, spoko nearly two hours and was froquentlv nnnlnndcl as be proceeded. Great annlaW followed his closing words of thanks' far an appreciative A nnmb?i of niicstions were, asked. He said taxation of any kind tends to increase the cost of. living! State industries (such as brickyards) should onl v founded to break down monopolies. No matter how much l.i.n. lands may be increased in value by railwavs or otherwise, the Ptate has no interest in the increased values until the end of 999 years. The auestion of the majority in the No-Licen«o poll was aereod not to be a party nnestion. and members of both parties differed about it. One personal nnestion was whether tho vote of confidence at Winton was not carried by a special train-load of 500 brought from elsewhere. The reply tos that the train had pinked up passengers at every station, and there may have been o.s"many of one party as the other. Mr. ,T. Wallace moved and Mr. M'Teod seconded a motion "That the meeting thanks Mr. Mnssey f«r his exposition of the Reform party's policy, and further expresses its ooinion that tho time has come, when a clianse of Government is necessary for the welfare of the country." A persistent questioner proposed as an amendment a vote of thanks only. For this two or three dowm hands went up and the rest rwainst it, which was,taken as affirming the motion. The meeting broko up after cheers for Mr. Massey at 10.80.