Speech by Hon. F. M. B. Fisher.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1868, 30 September 1913, Page 8

Speech by Hon. F. M. B. Fisher.

The Hon. F. M. B, Fisher said that they liad come to Palmerston primarily to pay a tribute of respect to Mr. Buick," and also to show that as a party they wero "all alive and kicking." (Laughter.) All the evil prophecies and all that the "Dismal Jimmies" could say when the party had come into power had been dispelled, with many other delusions. That they would find soup kitchens, poverty, and decline of trade had been prophesied, but such things had not come to pass. He was prepared to say that tho country had never been more prosperous in its history. (Applause.) Instead of the prophesied abolition of old ago pensions there had been an extension of tho scheme. Then there was the military pensions scheme, which provided for many deserving men who might otherwise have died in poverty. Tho widows' pension scheme had also been greatly improved. They hoped also to put an entirely new provision on tho Statute-book to enable those who arp handicapped physically to earn a living. This was a big.scheme and an entirely new one. Referring to tho Opposition Mr. Fisher said that it consisted of ono party of thirteen and about fifteen parties of one each. (Laughter.) No party could bo better described as a'"boardinghouse stow" than tho present Opposition. They had been told the Government was the friend of monopoly. He ventured to say that there had never been a stronger party formed to fight against tho forces of monopoly. Behind the Primo Minister there were many earnest Radicals, and Mr. Massoy had never put forward a proposal which, was not essentially Liberal. (Applause.)

Exit Political Jobbery. Tho Public Service Act alone was a sufficient answer to the criticism that the Government had no policy. It was impossible nowadays for anyono to go round by tho_ back door and indulge in the political jobbery which had existed in the Dominion for years. No man could bo appointed to the Civil Service or "sacked" from it because of his political opinions. The Government party intended at the end of,tho session to carry on a strenuous platform campaign and would put' before the public a platform which would send it in triumphantly at the head of tho polls. There was not a man in the present Ministry who had been in any previous Administration, and no one could saddle the Ministry with anything which had happened twenty-five years ago. He predicted a groat measure of future success for the party, but if ever they wero defeated it would not bo becauso they had run. away from their 'policy. (Applause.) Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North) said that the Reform party had the interests of the country at heart. They had been accused of Representing the "fat men" and the squatters, but he for one was a member for a working man's constituency. Members of the Reform party had been elected becauso tho people of tho country had recognised that the party stood for all that was straight and honest in political life. He predicted a successful futuro for Palmerston. (Hear, hear.) Ho had been toid by Mr. Buick that they had "forty feet of good soil." (Loud laughter.) Mr. J. A. Young (Waikato) said that the meeting was an eloquent testimony to the appreciation of the peoplo for the efforts of Mr. Massey and his party on their behalf. There were no men in tlie Dominion better fitted to guide its' destinies than the party which now occupied the Treasury benches. (Cheers.) No men wero more qualified to govern tlie land than those who had settled it. (Applause.)

Need for Customs Reform. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) said that in Mr. Massey they had a very capable statesman at the head of affairs. (Applause.) There were still many problems to be grappled with. Olio of these was Customs taxation. They should reduce the burden of taxation cast on the poorer people. In the last few years there had been imported into the country three and a half millions worth of motor-cars, without a penny of taxation, and yet the poor man's bicycle was heavily taxed. The poor mail's corrugated iron was taxed, but the Marseilles tiles of the rich man were not. This system had been introduced by a "Liberal" Ministry. Such a state of things must be altcrod. They wanted more people in the Dominion. The country districts were not being opened up and settled quickly enough, but he predicted that they would see the problem of land settlement grappled by the Massey Government more effectively than ever before. There wore more Liberals on Mr. Massey's sido of the Houso than on tho Opposition benches.

THE PRIME MINISTER. RECENT OBSTRUCTION TACTICS. The l'rimc Minister was received with great enthusiasm on rising to speak. He said that be had not been affected in the slightest by the' misrepresentation and obstruction to which he had been lately subjected. Indeed, he enjoyed it. (Laughter.) He would say right there that no amount of obstruction and stonewalling would prevent tlie Government from putting its policy measures on the Statute Book during the present session. (Applause.) The Opposition had contended that they could not discuss the Estimates properly until they had had the reports of the r'eapootiva Dtijjflrtmonts, The syetom

adopted hy the Government had been in force for many years past, hut what did the. Opposition 'do? The reports were brought down at 2 o'clock one afternoon, but it was twelve hours afterwards before they confessed that they had had enough. The Government had gone on until it had passed every section of the Estimates which it had decided to put through. It was fitting that the vote on which the stonewall occurred was tlip.t for mental hospitals. Had a stranger come into the House about 3 a.m. on some of tho days of the stonewall, and heard the drivel that was being talked, he might have been pardoned for thinking he was not : n the House of Representatives, hut in another building which he need not name. (Laughter.) The obstruction of the Opposition had been the silliest he ln.d ever known, and ho wanted it understood that such tactics would not prevent the Government from going on with its policy. (Hear, hear.)

A Progressive Land Policy. A good deal of work had been done already during the session, and a great deal of important work would shortly be tackled. An important measure Was tho Land Bill, which had already been received with satisfaction throughout the Dominion. He ventured to say that 110 more Liberal Laud Bill had ever been placed before the House. The object of the Bill was primarily to maintain the grand principle of the freehold. It proposed not only to provide security of tenure, but to provide land for the landless. It was a more progressive land policy than had been laid before tho House for tho last twenty years. It aimed at increasing the number of settlers and producers, thus increasing the output of tho land and the exports of tho country. As New Zealand's prosperity depended on its exports, the Bill would materially add to the general wealth of tho r eople. (Applause.) People had been led to bolicve that if ever the Reform party got on the Treasury benches the bottom would fall out of the country. As a matter of fact, the country had never been more prosperous. Thero was a greater demand for labour than over before, prices were better - and wages higher. Money was not so plentiful, perhaps, as they might like, but tho position would be much better in a year's time. It was certainly a great deal better than it had been when his Administration camo into office. (Applause.) So far as local bodies were concerned ho said that it was impossible for any Government to provide all tho money required by local bodies at any one timo for development purposes, but tho Government was prepared to back up local bodies with its guarantee and so enable them to raise money in the Homo market at a roasouablo rato of interest. (Applause.) Every pledge made by the Reform party before the last election would be fulfilled.

The Council Must Bo Reformed. They were having some difficulty in connection with one of the planks in their platform—reform of tho Upper House. It was a sound constitutional principle that reform should come from within. Therefore, the Bill had been introduced into tho Upper llouso. From what had happened during tho last two sessions he did not think that there was much chance of the Legislative Council agreeing. The Upper House might delay reform, but he was determined that it would come and that the Legislative Council would bo democratised. Ho referred also to tho Public Service Act and said that man after man on tho other sido of the House had said that if they got into power thoy would irepeal this Act and thus go back to tho wretched system of political patronago which had been the curse of the country for years.

Empire Defcnce. Referring to the question of Imperial defence Mr. Massey said that his Government had been in communication with the Homo Government on tlio question and he hoped to be able to make a' statement oil the matter in a .few weeks. Their neighbours, tho peoplo of Australia, had gone in for a naval defence schemo providing for a navy of their own. _ On that point lie would offer no opinion. What suited New Zealand might not suit Australia; but lie would say that tho Australian ships were essentially a part of the great Imperial fleet, and were British ships. The Government had taken the liberty of inviting the ships of the Australian Navy to' visit New Zealand waters during the next summer, and had assured the Commonwealth Government that they would be heartily welcomed. The Federal Prime Minister had replied thanking them for their hearty invitation. They were all citizens of the same Empire, and if ever the time camo Australians and New Zealanders would be seen fighting shoulder to shoulder to maintain the supremacy of the Navy. (Hear, hear.) Tho Territorial defence scheme, Mr. Massey said, was working exceedingly well. He referred briefly to other Government proposals, including the Arbitration Act, tli'e insurance of public buildings, the increase of the rate of interest on Post Office Savings Bank deposits, agricultural education, light railways, and workers' homes in town and country. The members of the Government, Mr. Massey concluded, were not working for themselves, but for the good of the grand country to which they belonged. (Loud and prolonged applause.) Some Other Speakers.

Mr. J. H. Bradney (Auckland West) advised the people of Now Zealand when they had an honest Prime Minister to stick to liim. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) predicted that the Reform party would bo returned at tho next election with a greater majority than ever. The work which was being done by tho Government would have its reward. The sneaker quoted from a paper laid before Parliament last week, giving the amounts paid in law costs in connection with the compulsory acquisition of estates'. He commented in strong terms on the fact that out of a total payment of £12,000 odd nearly £7000 had gone to two firms intimately connected with a legal member of the late Ministry. Mr. P. Maiider (Marsden) said that the Government had done good work, but it would do still better. It _ was impossible for a Conservative Ministry to hold the reins of office in a democratic country like New Zealand.

Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) said that he had been returned to Parliament to support principles, not men. and for that reason his support had been accorded to the Reform Admyiistration. Votes of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, to the Prime Minister, and visiting members of Parliament terminated the meeting. A highly successful social gathering was held later.

The law which now regulates French shipping bounties was passed in 1900. The maximum construction bounty for steamships was fixed at a maximum of .£5 16s. per ton for hulls and .£1 2s. per 100 kilos for machinery, and was to diminish gradually for 10 years. For sailing shins !fil 12s. per ton was to be paid on vessels over 150 tons, and .£1 4s. on vessels less than 150 tons. Only seven-tentlis of the bounties are pavable in resnect of vessels built to foreisn orders; the remaining three-tenths are payable in addition to vessels sailinc under the French Has. The Act also provides for equipment bounties to he niven !o vesels on the French register "wherever built, subject to certain conditions as to average snowl, distance traversed, and car?o carried. Vessels built for subsidised mail services, however. receive only building bounty. The total -iimi paid 'as bounties in 1911 was .£1.3.11,900. while subventions for postal services amounted to .£1,100,232. Officer: "I was struck very much by your ignorance, in drill this afternoon. Why, confound it, you don't even know where votir front is!" Uecrnit: f do, sir,' It'a gone to tlw wa*h with my l shirt,"