PREMIER IN REPLY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1432, 6 May 1912, Page 6

PREMIER IN REPLY.

OPPOSITION CRITICISM, WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DO.. AN UP-TO-DATE CIVILSERVICEi (By TelesrapU—Press Association.) Dunedin, May 5. Tho Prime Minister (the HonpJ?. Mackenzie) addressed a very large meeting , ut Balclutha last nifrht, for the'purpose of dealing with recent Opposition criticisms of tho Government. ' '' Tho Prime Minister, who was received with loud applause, said he regarded tho lingo audience 'as; u tribute to him, not (inly as a recognition of his past, but as 1111 encouragement for the future. (Applmtse.) .It had been said in Dunedin that tho interests of Otngo would bo neglected,- because Otago was not represented in Cabinet. So lons as ho held a seat in the -Cabinet, neither•.tlio interests .of Clutha nut Otago, would bo neglected. (Applause.) That was only one of the attacks being made on. him, and Mr. llassey had oven said that "A Mackenzie could always bo bought." That statement was most -unjustifiable, and ho was sorry the Lcader'of the Opposition had niado il. Before he did anything of kind ; again, let him (Mr. Massey) recall tho sale of the Irish Parliament, and the tale of Ireland to England before ho egaiiist cast reflections nu tho Jlaekenzies in tho mtiuner ho had done. Let him investigate tho history of his own people. (Applause.) ■

There were people who inquired whether the Mini*try.'s reign,. would. bo long or. thotk. \\eli, it mattered not to him whether.it was long or short. The position he.held was not of his seeking. He was selected by the majority of tho party 11s leader, and would bo prepared nt any timo to withdraw from public life if his party so decided, and whether his term of office was long or short, ho ventured to say this: that it would bo a record of honourable, straightforward work. (ApplaiiSe.). Keeii attacks wero being mado on him at the present time. Why? That ivas merely the toll that men who camo into prominence in public life had to pay. (Applause.) Much as his opponents might attempt to crush him at the present time, they would never crush out of him the desire to servo the fanners of the Dominion, and to build for tho social nnd political well'oro of every section of the community. Not a Policy Speech. He- did not intend _ to make a policy speech. Ho had no time to prepare one, and if ho were to deliver a policy speech ut tho ..instigation,, be it remembered, of tho Conservative party, and Mr. ilasiey's followers,it would simply bo torn and riven to pieces. Tho extent of liis speech would bo simply a statement, partly in reply to what he had been challenged to reply to, partly to show tho lines of thought the Government were following, and his hearers could deduct from those lines of thought the policy and ambitions, of tho Government'.

The speaker continued to say that 'a 'steady-attack was being made oii : him, and lie took it as a compliment. " Hβ lipped, however, those who attacked him' would not be offended if lie refused to he drawn away from the- serious work before him to reply to challenges and attacks. If he had time he could doubtless smash them into smithereens. (Applauso nnd laughter.) If he did not answer the attacks it need not be thought/that they were unanswerable, but that lie had not the time .with the important work lie had to do. Mr. Mackenzie referred to his "first political'address of twenty-five years ajro, 'when he liad stated his convictions: • A wider experience, however, had justified him in modifying many of the opinions lie had then voiced. "Show inc. the man who is not wiser to-day, than he was yesterday." said the'speaker; "and who Will not be wiser to-morrow than ha is to-day." (Applause.) However, he had found very little reason to niter the- majority- of his political convictions he had then formed. His ideas on tennres, trade, and many other matters might be instanced in that respect. Critics of Government—the tinpot critics—pointed out that in the prefent ,Cabinet, were leaseholders and freeholders, and'that , Thomas Mackenzie had never retracted his freehold principles. The Government, he would point out, represented the collective interest and ideas of that sido of the Hcuse. He was at the- present time head of the Cabinet, and his yjew.s, wero ..largely imprinted. on .that, Cabinet;-- It was right that the various classes* should be represented, ,nnd. that members of Cabinet should discuss various ideas, and evolve that which was best, end give effect to it. (Applause.)

...., Financial Criticism. The speaker went on, to quote figures showing the financial stability of the Dominion, and to illustrate liow the pricesreceived by a farmer for his produce hod increased he rilso read extracts horn tho.share quotations in the "Otago Daily Times" to demonstrate the high percentage .-being, paid by. public companies on tho capital invested. "And this is the country for which there' is no security for capital?" queried tho speaker, "because of iniquitous government and labour laws. Let me tell, you this: The capitalist can always take care of himself." (Applause.) Continuing tho Prime Minister said: "I have been called upon by Mr. Massey and Tun Domi.viox newspaper to state what occurred in connection with the representations that woro sent Homo by the Conservatives, in Xew Zealand to injure—and which injured—our credit and the flotation of .the five million loan. The Dominion wants the names of the Conservatives who sent Home the 'wail of despair.' Mr. Massey. at Oamnru', said: 'If any member of tho Reform party had done so he asked Mr. Mackenzie to publish his name. (Voices: He cannot.) He cannot do it; such things only exist in his imagination; it is not true!'

"I am receiving a good many challenges just now and I will deal with one at a lime.'. Let me'say here that, if I am to reply fully to tho united attempt which has been mnde to bring all sorts of charges and challenges against me my time would.be so fully absorbed that I would have no time to attend to the business of-, the, country,; and I. .do not intend to waste good time- in following all the pursuers.- ■ These attacks are largely an indication that I am getting homo on Bomo'oi , them, and that they arc beginning to fcH. thiit after all .thn .country is meniidl require crushing. I stated-that-.it was -well known what the Opposition had dono to injure the flotation of the loan, but Mr. Massey is twisting my statement, and making it refer to- the--Kefonn "party. T-did not-iise the newly, adopted, name for .those following "Mr. Massey.' Xeither did I say that--memhers of • Parliament wero responsible .for. the information that was sent Home, vl spoko of.tho 'wail of deEpair' that was sent Home ..by., tho. Con-, sorvatives- .to--leading- financial journals before the flotation, and at another time I asked.''lf tlie loan wore a' failure what fart di'd the enemies of.the Dominion play o bring that about?' : , , . . . . London - Comment.-T . "Xow in an article in a.leading financial journal published in London wo find this statement: .'Subjpjned. are; extracts, from n letter received at the end of last week-from.Xew'-Zealaml. They servo to show what .responsible people think of thn present Government of that over-burdened colony. It-is, in fact, almost a,wail of de-pair, and confirms what we hear from many quarters. The r.ame and address of the "writer are suppressed, becnuse. it might be dangerous, for the. dissatisfaction of any owner of land.,within the colony to bn made known to the press. Sir Joseph Ward's Government has ways and means of making things uncomfortable for those who do not display the due submission.' Fancy the land owners in Jfoir ZenInnd bcin? afraid to be known by Sir Joseph Ward. Continuing , , the article say?: 'He and his friends. : howver. must nsk themselves low long they will be able to sustain the increased: cost of living m lo pay.interest upon the heavy debt.held in F/uropoi Were Sir Joseph to stop hie horrowing policy and turn -round and say lo his humble, if grumbling and discontonted, subjects, "Pay your way out of your own resources henceforth without the fontinual help of loans raised in London," Kcw Zealand would be stifled under tho SKiibus of her tariff.' "Though both Massey and the editor of IYk Ddinsvoy denied that a 'wail of «]<«. Fpnir' had been eont to the Old Coimtrv, they themselves-- could- tell who the Friter of. jk^.^s^Si^SS^^^P^^sL

Homo. Tho article- went on to say that • tho Ward Government was doing its best to - drive all people out of New. Zealand, and .. numbers were now doing, and going to the Argentine, Queensland, and Cnmi-la. Then it had a phot. at. Mr. Milhr. tho Union Labour leader, as lie was referred to. Tho speaker paid tribute lu Mr. Millar when he said he was n man of . honour and integrity, and would do the right thing whatever happened, i (Ap- ■ plause). Tho Opposition, were at piesent shedding crocodile tears of sympathy for Mr. Millar. Not that it ever cored twopence for Mr. Miliar, but it wished to sow dissension. Why Settlers' Sons Emigrate. Ho would tell them why a good many ,_ sons of settlers were leaving New Zea- '* laud. Many of them were sons of settlers " who had done exceedingly well in New 0 Zealand, but who wanted larger areas :- of laud than could bo secured here, and wero going to other countries for that .1 reason. They could not blamo the Gov--1 eminent for that. ? The speaker referred to tho .£3,000,000 loun, and how money had been allocated. s He referred to a charge that theirs was a stop-gap Ministry, nnd that he. was 1 keeping a place irarni for Sir Joseph ." Ward. Neither Sir Joseph Ward nor 1 himself would allow such a condition of ! affairs. (Applause.) They would learn c in the fullness of time what part Sir ; Joseph Ward would play in tho pilitics - of the future, but ho was at the head • of the Government, and would like to ' know the man who would interfere with ' him as head o'f the Government. (Applause.) ! Mr. Mackenzie next referred to ,1 statement made by Mr. Massey at Balclutha, ■ when he said: "On tho previous occasion when he had spoken at Balclutha he was supported and assisted by one whoso name_ was not unknown in tlie Clutha disfTict," thn present Prime Minister, Mr. Thomas Mackenzie. Sinco that time chauge.s had taken place. One of them had fallen from grace, while the other had continued a straightforward course, and he left it to his hearers to say which one that wits. Mr. Massey did not say he had followed a straightforward course. Ho had never supported Mr. Massey. (Applause.) Agricultural Policy. Tho Prime Minister spoko of the Advances to Settlers Bill, and stated that it was his intention to give the South Island three agricultural experiment stations, two in Canterbury and one in Otago South. (Applause.) He said the attacks made on his experimental managers had injured the health of some of them. He said, ".Hit mo as hard as you like, but leavo the servants who are carrying out these important works." (Applause.) lThe Prime Minister said he intended to move in tho direction of opening up large areas of poor kauri timber land in the Auckland district, and planting them out with fruit trees. When the Panama Canal was cut, a demand would ensue on tho east coast of America foV New Zealand fruit. Somo 3.'J,f100 acres there would presently bo available for settlement, and 23,000 acres would also shortly l» opened. Mr. M'assey had said he would oppose moro Ministers being appointed, and that work, was being carried out'by Departmental heads. He thought that any Government worth the iinmo of a Government should know the work that was being, done, and bo familiar with it. Ho considered if tho work of tho country was to bo carried out efficiently, nnd Ministers were to be thoroughly familiar with their duties, two moro paid Ministers should b« appointed. "I am "telling you the truth," he said. "At the present time we have to make a thorough investigation into our methods of Departmental work." Speaking of the Civil Service, he said the present method was that old men

were replacing old men. The brighter and more active members of the service left it. : Many old servants, before they received promotion, had reached.a period when they were past their receptivity epoch, and they did not change out of 'the. old rut. If they were to bo -up , to date they must encourage ability irrespective of service, and ability must go ahead of service, if ability was ahead of service. (Applause.) But if the Minister promoted a. young man of outstanding ability the cry was of political patronage and favouritism. The result was that most Minister.? went along the line of least resistance, and the best and most active of the men did not rise to the top.

Civil Service Conditions. Mr. Herdnian's 'Bill provided that the Minister was to have no say in the promotion or retirement of any servant, yet the Minister was to be held responsible for tho efficient work of his Department. It was necessary to moderniso th« Civil Service. Let them place a sufficient number of Ministers in office to undertake, and understand their work. In Wellington they were told that the Civil Service was seething with dissatisfaction. Many of them were satisfied and good men. It was only duffers who were seething with discontent, thinking they should get nigher pay. If they were seething with discontent, he was suro that no body of men were enjoying better conditions. They were entitled to pensions, payment for illness, leave of absence, and other concessions that no private employer could give. Therefore, if there was seething discontent, there was certainly no cause fur it. Ho believed that on the whole the Civil Service was fairly and justly treated. (Applause.) But it should b*e modernised, and its methods simplified, and the shareholders in the State should get the return from their servants in the service that their requirements demanded. Tho Prime Minister concluded his two hours' nddress amidst loud and prolonged applause. A hearty vote of thanks to the Prime Minister, and a vote of confidence iu the Ministry, of which he is the head, were carried by acclamation.