MR. MASSEY IN REPLY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1434, 8 May 1912, Page 8

MR. MASSEY IN REPLY.

THE PREMIER'S OMISSIONS. A STATKMKXT DENIED. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, May 7. "Tho Prime Minister has quibbled over (hat 'wail of despair' business nfinii)," said the Leader of tho Opposition, -Mi'. W. T\ Mas-ey, in conversation. with your representative this afternoon, Mr. Mas-ev was referring to the speech delivered by (lie lion. T. Mackenzie at Halcliitha on Satnnlay, anil lie went on to say iliat -Mr. Mackenzie, speaking at Sir;i 1 foril, inaile (hi-' statement: "11 seemed that parly prejudice had so blinded the Leader of 1 1h« Opposition and some of his followers that, they were determined to destroy the credit of New Zealand and (lie reputation, of lis public men in order to clamber into power. It was well known wlnil tho Opposition had <!iino to injure tin- flotation nf tlie loan, "lie wail of despair that was sent Home, by the Conservatives to leading financial journals before the flotation . . ." At the first public opportunity, Mr. Massey continued, ho had called attention to tin's statement and pointed out that it meant that lie, or some of the members of (ho Opposition, hail sent Homo communications to lending financial journals intended to injure the credit of the Dominion. He (Mr. Massey) called upon the Prime Minister to name the member or members referred to, ami to repent the statement referred to. In an interview in Auckland Mr. Mackenzie said lie would do so, Mr. Mackenzie had now hat! his opportunity at Halclutha. What Mr. Mackenzie did at JJalclVithn was to give quotation from ail anonymous lettix which he says appeared in a London financial journal, and he did not even give (he name of the journal referred to. The Prime Minister's reply was a miserable '(nibble and lie (Mr, Massay) repeated his former reply that any statement that any member of' the. Opposition attempted to injure the credit, of the country in any way was absolutely contrary (o fact. Tho knowledge' that the five'million loan had been floated in London came to tlie House as a surprise, and outsido the Cabinet not a single member of Parliament had the slightest, idea of the intention of the Government to place sucli a large loan upon the money market at the time. There was nothing else in Mr. Mackenzie's speech, as reported in Auckland, except: a mere point. Mr. Mackenzie said that lie (Mr. Massev) hail said a Mackenzie could always be bought., and to this Mr. Massey replied: "It is a paltry tiling in the extreme, and it is also untrue. As a matter of fact. I have sent a telegram to Mr. Mackenzie as follows: '\\ ill you !(ive ,»ie your authority for your statement tliat T said a Mackenzie could always be bought."' , Mr. Massey added that Mr. Malcolm, M.P., as member for Clutha. would reply to tho Prime Minister at Ihlclutln. The Leader of the Opposition <il«o added the observation that the telegrams from Stratford relating to the Hon. Mr. Lntirenson's speech, to which Mr. T'isher, M.P., was to reply, did not correctly state the position. Mr. Laurenson had challenged anv member of the Tfeform party to go to Stratford and debate, and Mr. Fisher had immediately, wired accenting the challenge, and suggesting, turns of half "ail hour each, but Mr. Laurenson would not no.v; acrroe to'-tliftt, ' ami •instead tt'e'eted • to sneak on Wednesday, leaving-Mr.-Fisher, to reply .at a later date. ' ,