THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1471, 20 June 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

REFORM LEAGUE ACTIVE,

COMING EVENTS,

prompt acceptance of a CHALLENGE. ' , (By social ion .VvS -, Auckland,..Jiiiie. lil. . •i . -I'g'jia 1' iitptivitj-i'.?,is' -. )jL>iijrr.S.!!cn'" tl'e Political Kcfirm/togae. J.ii'o J.e.uler of' tho Opposition (Mr. Mas.addressed a meeting at Dargavillo t;o-jiight, Jir.. .I,; jp, •BVKsfiwj-.vM.P; foiv AVcilingtqtt CeiitralvilMing,'associated -with' 0!l l!l<! platform.' ...Mr. -Massy re--' Uinl : i Auckland to-morrow' aitemooh ~'' n Jj'h;<r.-day night'a meelinV of thoheld! ''' Ul ol tho league is to ho

l Tn ;V m °« 'i'bur'sday. -lwo' meet-i' ; of tho \\ aikato .brarieiift havo■■Wn' same/ovenariUmilt),r nK ' ?«l'lress iPij.'i.i. '-idaj. thcrejwill b'b- ail- imnortmit S? 0 .' 1 "? "i ike J)evonii:irt branch of the Wmteiiiati l.ergue. - A meeting- of t « ..l.almerstoii .Jvortli' branch';' has ■ also been fixed for l ridav. " ! : cn

~ . (> V '. 'fatunby, .Mr. M-assey" concludes bis business m, Auckland, and on Su'Xy at' mul r°' Wc , ili!, i-' to ». i»' order to tllc

A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. • lE ' nAMiIjS. I'IUME .;. . . Auckland, Tuno 19 A .bieezo.pccurred between tho Prime Minister ami Mr.-Harris, M.l'. for Wai- ™! y , a ' meemig at Albany to-day;" ; i l ' - .• Mn< '' : r-' IIZIO f?av«-a political •aimicss. Uanng ..tha course of his rainaiKi, iho 1 riiius Minister.' stated (hat lost so ;:"!W^ ;S c?t3; a general election !• „ i' 1 , and lies , liatl.. e-een. rowu broadcast throughout the. country. "And,", lie- added,. "I challenge any member' of- the <)i;;io>itio!« to .meet mo .or, this platform and prove that suc:i i</not.the ea-e.". . .■ At.Uip.iuimdiHion of tho meeting, Mr. Jluii'is rose.; and.: 'asked permission of. the eliaivnian to say. a few words.' Th» ch.airaian'-declined' to: "ailoa"' Mr. Harris to spc.il:,. but the membiT of the district I'U.-iMed.- and for a whiln'"the atnuisphero' i",thcro>being several .interjralious. from the audience; • -

U. ;«ivs ..vi!ih!ii!(Ml by - tin'' chairman tluil (he. I1U0U1I" had lw;.n' called io hear a !r»m tlii' l'i - iine"Al ini.sier.'aud for-nu.-cth-n' purpose. i: r tw;liis Harris. nblillnedI illned n liearin;:, ami, addiv-Mii;; those r j}ix>eiit,;- declared/ that he! would accept :Mr; Maclu m'.ieV challenge. lip '.'was prepared .to niect; him on'tho'Albany. pintform lit .any lime lk> Prime Minister ;;.\yished;.Jand:lb:refiitc tlm charges so uu■:]j.ii'st!i;Hiirled." at' the''Opposition.-, ? ,ilirreply; tho : Prime Mmister said . Mr, .:Hams;;knew. : ;. there' was no.' timo between now iv.iil-th« session/tor him to meet ; : aiMl;il.pbafo-;tli«.'i point:. ? lie., had not aer.cused'.'thc 'Opposition .of - circulating elan-certainlyiliad-been .circa-, .'liited;'iiiul 'the'result : of, the general clec;';tioH:'was (lii(!,i to that' cause. '" The public' ■mind*; undoubtedly been influenced against; the ox-Prime Minister ■in this m' REFORM MEETING AT DARGAVILLE ' SPEECHES 15V MESSRS'. lisurp, \M) 33K VDNKY. ■ §(By'f.'l'cicsrapli.—l'rtss ■ Association.) Dargiville, June. 19. ■ I'S'Messrs.; Massed (Leader of the Opposition),';Eishei\J:"and I3;'udiiey addressed a ixvell-utteiuled.;;. public Hiestmg to-night. >IMr, 'KifhJir'jpnforcDd Urn point tliftt Sir ..Joseph:' \Yard£ hauled off the money mar : ; loan .! to ■ put'. llr. Massey's party- in trouble ii' ho Had formed ' a ■ ■ Ministry dis.,a'gr(kd£';oiv>fuiulaiiieiital- principles," and wero'i.at .;variiuicc, oil the law! .({uvstioil, w-hile:-tho -Reform ■ party, however much soiiip'Uiiingfi, had •:« -.clear-cut- the cost, anr! : initio o!' borrowed 1 moiiey; on 1 '- unprofitable; public' works; al?o Hid -; unsatisfactory' position of the four 'Labourjiiiffiiiber's standing in' the middle .of n'-sre-sawf .between- the two parties. &lTr£Bradncjv criticiscd the Government generally.

liad' : an;' excellent reeep '.iqn.; ; : Ho stated that the . underlying rprinciple„of British politics was that the jpnrty inustiKr-.-:seps. the conft.of. Parliament ami.' tiro country, ..which "•■ the. .:Mackenzie ;■ Government did noi.;:.';Hn .refuted the Premier's statement about ilto liberality of., the land laws, that' 'settlers" should be Riven an opportunity to acquire the freehold, jarid .tha'-inono.vwso:, obtained would partly '.ouvintq;.borrowing.' ' The four million loan •would;, cost . at' least 5 ]>?r rent., tho increased ; : cost:'. being due to financial inis- . management,' '■ ami "should be'a lesson in the', future... H« criticised' the confer::encossaiidfconiuiissioii?.'. ihoir cost, and .'Uselossncss.VTlie. chief point of local ;goveroracntt(\ras to do away with political - 'unuenep'.. in' distributing Government grants..' 110 condemned the : expenditure on' Parlia'nient "House,"' while settlors were ;su Ircrins from "want of. road?/• . ' . J.VA: ; iiiiiijbMv: off questions were asked and .answered;.;:

-'A rpsoliitioiv war enthusiastically ear:riedv;.that;;this meeting": thanks Jfr. Mns- ; f 1 p it ; : i >Ijd:,h's.l??lleaßue.R1jd : ,h's.l??lleaßue.R for their tilde nd-iln.-sH-?,, records..iis.'apnreciation of- Mr. fiei'it while iii-- op.position,; andvcongratiilatesMiiin on - (he i^S-TOp,prospect of.-attaining' office- in' the -near- future..' <■

THE PRIME - MINISTER

i; | t: - -N'OKTir ArCKLAXII. TO UK.. . ■ n'l Ti ' Auckland, Tunc " paid a visit to tin Albany district-to-day, among the part' ; (sial.fi- ■■ ot tl>" l'rime-Minijfer), Messrs. A. K. Giover »»(!,-V, K.; HarrisaU"s.„;.Mi-.r..Lawn-of the HarbotV ward, Mr. . M..," A. Hcddoo'.-,;(C»muiiai S^.rndp'"-.Com others inter - c.-loa m the progress 0f...1he district: ■ Al • banv was' on. ietcnwlu-it the launch nr «Tivoa,"?bvint)ii^nnclenthusiasm-being Loll •: •,'»; , ««vj^cnecrv l Subscgacnlly . the, Priuu s>uin'istci-..(leliverccl :, a!i: , <ulclress,' 1 in- fin '• courscgotf.which*he -again'• referred to tin j'coinplaintssb.v..rMi , .-:.3liissi , y" thai Minister wcro'ne.fleding. their, work in haveilin: t'oiiutryX: Lpt ; him.. (the l J rimi 31 ii!is^i;):sEay:it!iat : ;nof piu-tick of their ..work' was. -neglected.- In tin .' had.-dealt with ; over 100.loiters. ttis Departmental work him,.', and v,vis: Vxc cated on' tin train..,As'a -matter • of fact .. .owing to 'tin ''absence*;of,*unending' interruptions oxpipri■tnccd.iiv'Aftlliiigion the'work was disposed :'ot\'.«:ith;:gr'c ; ater: : dispatch' when away. / AniP.thersuhfov.tnnato matter : Mr. .Massey hat ;:Voivoi:liiwas^tluit;nrtificiaily. ! manufncl.urei . I ;imblic; : ppihipii..froiriiWolii)iistoii which deprecated .Ministers'over leaving (hat town it was, said the Prima Minister, absolntviv •absurd tlmt' this; ;.o?t' oi thing .should li. nei-»-!"a!l>- urged. It was the duty' ci :.3riiiisters.v.to.. niov'e: ab.o':it>os'. much as' pos"Mblc>'and:;ifethc eagerness' of settlers could li;? .taken as. a erUeiksn,: ...the rouutrr a I ..lar'ge.ithoronghly endorsed,that idoa..(]Anii' '■applause:)? As.:',to;-i\ uck!antl, he had spent bul a le'w days in ilie province altogethei sinnV; he . becalm- Prime Minister, but. jl hey..-'wanled.,■■■.lii,s : ;eaiMlid,'.opinion- about ■ A'lieldnnd; ih' sreat::potentiali(ie.s and its ::vastaiudeve!oiied\resoiirces f would justify, n'l. any rati., n:tiiirii;oi lnV.lime 1 )>.'>isiy : ; spenbirifcthwprovinceWiivi-order to arrive I'uit; iiclcr-ta'ndiiig.'.-of■■ iis problems and ;i.nt.nl li"k«iitly.';3.nyv- tliem',before. the Govern-:,nient;..'and-jiliarliaineiit''-'r,in': its ; interests r sar much ',iiipri f M-esjiectingv Auckland; bnt'if* he dUI I denounce j -j!'.. -.as, .-'.bribcry:;;iiVichpt tire H lie -«Vinpat-hi a ';.of ;t!iis : : voice :i:"Xevcr min-l lh<jnj"s.'nnd:applaiise.)v>]ri'.iiriswer to Mr, • .Jlij'sscs'sft furthef statement': that the Gov-eviiim-n;. had. no policy, .Mr. Mackenzie nuiiited (o Ilis- policy-tor making - large : l.iilit.!.ci,u;iu-is':*iliSKt)i-fjc for. (he benefli of rlfiyfc"icttlemont^iind^dcdarodha!Mr; Maysey.-'iuill • he o<m.l,' so\ "I Jt r n i r-tl r ,:< t, {lip ■ (_«o vci-i - "ifi;;V p;o[s)-ii|. liiat' (he 1.-.-adcr of the ii'ppV.lion- l;n=-!:Sy beaten, ihe big 'dim.and~raliiedvKalfta doaemof hi# suphur.ry- on*h ts* ■•( thft'. PrimV Minis-l.ot:-,0- ••h<!ek,,j;aiid Mfr. possible .nullify,, any rf-ct. he muht-lwr* h<?d on the people; aud- &ppla\isG.) > Mr; -'itassoy w-84

also harping oil: tho; '44,000,000: loan in voguo eeaorilities.' Ho tad declared, that short-dated loans koto a mistake. 'Mbat l ;h« (tho speaker) ask Mr. M«ssov..>va« jnow i the right time to float"'lo i-;-dated.. debentures, while monev wa« cxDid ho think "the advr.u'jnnu<l disadvantages cf raising money lor;-short- or- Jong • petiods-liai not lmm tarefnlly considcrM.. '(DoJid'. tiifyliiiiyi;,. 'MrAMassoy also said that at the rl«lic tnno and Mason Joans should be raised or floated. Wight.ho agaiil'iU-k Mr. Mas'oy ..when,, was tho right time i'or dohif,' ivV Ho need have no anxiety i'or the capacity I'l'ld.-ji'dgment of the Cabinet for dealing 'Willi■ hoseloans. ■■ Ho thought the c:nliiercial, training' of tlie piV-sdnt tlovor'n*' lnent'was equal lo'dealingMnlii that im,*(Kenewcd applause.)

» An i ntcrvie*. . . ' " ■ lntomowod on his return to Auckland from tho north this morning-, the l'r ipicr remarked: ■ "

< i deling in tils ', country through winch I navo gone is similar to I hat. I" have found ill* other parti of New Js ea , land, namely, a strong disposition on tii» part. of the pcoplo to give the present Government' nn opportuuity of showing ..whether (hey can effect good work, ami' ■also to (jive them time to carry out simio of; ilio important matters that th.ev aro ;!i.ow ; moving in."' /v"! have," added the Premier "travelled'' over c, great den! of Neve Zealand, and .MOT. representative pcoplo of-all classes .inconsiderable numbers. The position, it': I were to analyse it at the moment, ..woiiirt uo this: Tho public mind, by ailj sorts of processes, was poisoned and pre-' judiccd against the last Administration,". .-Vpt> iKitu'itlistamiing- that, t!ie Opposition did'not secure a majority, although they Mcurod tho withdrawal • p£ Bjr Jpsepli i.A\ aid and many of his colleagues from tho " I Government, of tho Liberal party. Tho 'Leader of the Opposition claimed to .have, a- ; following sufficient to como into power,' The public aro disappointed ■mill tho administrative and , leadership ability of the present chief of tbo'OpjjdS!-'" timi,; and they- aro looking for someone who way reasonably perform as much'" as-" tlioy thsnk can bo soenred on linos such as meet tho country's necessities. ■ llie party that'l am holding 'sc'etoS"to " ■fairly meet with the approval of tho great; middle classes and steady. workers.. .of ihe Dominion, and these aro the pefl- * pie, that v.e desire to have behind us. Wo aro' content to see the wealthy squatter and liis confreres form themselves into a coterie on one. hand and the revolutionary Socialists and impracticable agitators tii go off on the other, 'Hid country feels that such ■ n party iih we ar* iirgaftisins; and consolidating in Nciy, Zealand will carry on work on sound economic lines," and it,is also felt by many that the' Conservatives, although (hoy may flicker into' life for a time, will never permanently hold the confidence or control tho destinies of J his,.country, ,»i)d tjiaj, ,jf o \ve .. are ."displaced -we- will- )» 'displaced "bj>-» something very suucli Ihorc'eilWiiV'tliiiW"* sonic of our critics dcclare us to be. So that, summarising the situation, we are prepared to meet all the reasonable, pro-gre.-sivo . aspirations of the steady workers and middle-class pwiplc of our community, and those that do not como within that category will no doubt decide on such'lines' his; they think best,"

, , SPEECHES BY MINISTERS.. ... ■ (By Telegraph.—l'resa Association.! Waiffiato, Juno ifl, *'■ The Hons. G. W. Rusteil and T. Ihixloa delivered political addresses here to-night, in,.Vhicji..they .upheld the Liberal programme as against, the policy advocated by tlio'ltcfornr pai'tj*'.Botti speakers had excellent" hearing?) 'land received a vote of thanks and a vote of confidence in th» Mackenzie Government.