THE REFORM PARTY'S WORK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1768, 5 June 1913, Page 6

THE REFORM PARTY'S WORK.

OUTLINE BY MB. MASSEY.

OUR CREDIT & OTHER MATTERS. OVERCOMING THE PAST. ■ tßy Telegraph—Press Association.) I Auckland, Juno i. A summary of doings was given at a meeting of the Reform League today by the Hon. AV. I\ Massey. When the Government came into office, said tho Primo Minister, they found the finances of tho 'oountry in such a condition that it was imperative that tho Hon. J. Allen should be dispatched to the Mother Country to initiate now loans. If tho Minister had not been successful in his mission, it would have been necessary to closo down various public works, and three-quarters of tho men employed would. have been thrown out of work. Ho was, however, glad to say that tho conditions wero now materially improved. They had been ablo to spend J!50,000 in workmen's homes, in addition to advances made to workers. In his capacity as Minister for Lands, ho had, in the last twelve months, been ablo to settle 250,000 acres in various parts of tho Dominion. In the last few weeks he had completed arrangements for the purchase of a further 120,000 acres, and every settler on that area would have the right to make the land his own. . AA'hen tho Government camo into office, continued Mr. Massey, they also had a big strike at AA'aihi to contend with. Hewas pleased to be able to say that, at tho present time, there was industrial peace from ono end of.- New Zealand to tho other.

Mr. llasse.v then referred to tho recent threatened, strike of marine _ engineers. Tho seriousness of tho situation at that time, lie said, could hardly be appreciated by thoso unacquainted with the circumstances. One of tho Union Company's steamers was actually tied up at Sydney waiting word as to the result of the conference between tho parties, at which ho was present as arbitrator. If that dispute had not been promptly settled, the strike would havo' been tho biggest that had takon place in Australasia. As the result of a six-hours' conference, however, all signs of a possiblo strike hail vanished.

The Primo Minister, also made referencu to tho legislation of last session dealing with tho defenco of poor prisoners, under which a system would obtain whereby any man, not able to employ counsel, could receive.Stato assistanco.

Another point Wde by Jfe Massev wa* tho system initiated for tho insurance of n* lie buildings. Ho said that .£10,001) been set aside for that purpose last year. The credit of tho country had bo-n firmly re-established among the London financiers, and, for that, tho change of Government was partly responsible. For the year ending March 31 arrivals in NewZealand had . oxceedod departures by 12,000, and there was aiso ,i. record in exports from the Dominion. The position generally throughout New Zealand was a most satisfactory one, and there was every reason to hope that it would continue.