THE PRIME MINISTER ON TOUR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2160, 28 May 1914, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER ON TOUR.

a great reception at ■;:;,.: invercargiul • ■ ./«.. . ißy I'deßr&iih.-l'resn Aesoeiatton,) irvvereargil!, May Si , , This cvcniii|> thy KtgUt Hon. the Minister ailmoswd a meeting which crowded t-lie Munk-tpnl 'l.'lieatre in nil parts. Standing room was at a premium, and all accommodation at tho isnek of the stage was overtaxed, Mr. Jvhissey's appearance- on tlw accomixinicd by His Wvsrsbip tlio Mayor, was tlwi si.f;iml for a iHitiinrsi of applause, lasting lor some minutes. When Mr. Massey rose, the -clveoriiig; was ksvuk-cJ. Mr. Massty sakl lie had addressed many largo meetings, hut nmio larger or moro representative that tbat which k© faced thai- evening. The Befenee Question,

Ho would refer first to tlifr dr-feiiee in rogurd to whk'ii lie. did not believe in the to.kk.Hl hands potw'y. (M»r duty to our own country, and to tho JUjapn-o,' requirctl New Kcniitnd to cany its i'nil i-osponsthilitice both in hmsl and in naval dcfeireo. Naval defence was tin? most imjioi'tnut braoch. Uy centribtitioß t« tl.ve Imperial Uovomiiient sittl iuferost and sinking fund on. tiro Dreftdnousht, New Zealand was paying alsovit £2311,000 per nmnnu, but the flftWC" roeni of 1908 between" the Js\w Zealairf Gevcrnraoiit aud the Ikitis-li Powriiment for maiutonanco flf a sqwadroii io New feilnml watess hml. not Wu kept. On bis visit to Lfmdcm, tho Hon. .la.i.nr-s iUh?H got mo satisfaction, ami at the present time Nor,' ftraiand \yas prttclicallv without :i<ivd deforce, f l1i« Minister of DefaM* hml arranged for a tviviniiig ship to ini.iit the young i«M* of Now Zealand for service nt soil. The training ship would cost about fC/iO/100 a year, which wwiM he deduetotl from tli(' subsidy fo .Britain, fin that tho «»st woulst not he ineivftsetl. Tlip Ansle.TaiMnose treaty was not a sufficient iiratt>t:tion for X*w Koalaud, and Ihenv fore Kev %palai«l must do something for itself- T ' w J'fi'w Minister •exiibinwl tlio ppfwico Art. of last wssien. Tiio Government cW net propose te Start ji toy Navy. No; Tlio \Aca was that Canada, Australia So-wtii Africa, K« Sseatantl, airf Great .Britain. herself would' join to puta. pjrent' fighting lrav.y in i.lvo Pacific which he bosifrved would yet Iseeiuiio t'h* bottlcgretiml of tho great natioiisQoQcl results had already fßlloWbil irom the GavcfaeiMit's action i'or, as a. result of a eonfercttee of rojß-fisoiatatives fnm Orotsoa Dominions wooM t» -held, in Ijomkpii next yori , . - . He strongly tlis use 'of the (JcfofJ«c qvicsMdn for party pii.rp.oscs. As to tho wild stories «E tho «ost,. of tiio scheme., m> oxpens:o wonkl bo iijeiwiwl wntil ospSaiiwd tes and Jippyowd hy farli'aincnt. Kefcrriiip; t'o oir Joseph'Warjl's Ilien' Is&im speech, Mr. Masses , said )» was not in tho liafaSfc of: ishottiag er&cedflo tears. Ho had never stated ihtit thft potiulfttian ha.vl ikereased, but Jwtd paiutod out that tou years ago the-p'opiila-tioh e:f tho country had been greater thai) tlui popsihvtiaii of tho towns and cities, and that th& posiiikiti had been reversed to-dny., Tlio popular ticin of tlio towiis aiitl cities was iiew largo* than tlio country poinilatMiti. and tliat was isot a snfo pe'siMoii for a eMintryl'lko this, 'ftat was his c&ntentiofl; and ho stood to it.

The tsgacy qf'tN Liberals. . U was t.nio tho Govenntwat liat! be) , * rowed largely, but it was , 'to .pay tlicir predooessw's cjc.bts. BotWqeti niw a:ftd tho cad ef tlio yew tho eovcrilnient liad to raise otglifc n'ußioiis to r«l)iiy Joans nta.tur.ing.. That was the seal position, and any pelitipian touching nptm it should bo' candid cnausli te tsflfa.ln it.

The stateuvent tlsat tho Government had Customs. tajtatfo;ji by ', 8.93. per cfint. was sbsolnteh , aiid wJwHy if.icorreofc, Tljo Govermneat had '. net hicrcased Gust-ows taSatieji by the fraction of tt fartlring. As to tjj.o stateweiiii, tljfit iho wor'kers pfti.d nothing towards the «ust of tho fiifi; ha:t- ', tl-fl-erniser, Iho money to |>a,y far it. canio from tho ColKolidated Ftilid, te wMch every ittan awl TvbiHijji in the country ewMtributetJ and all taxpayers t!i«erore cOT.tfibuied . te the cost #f the s'ijp. The statciaciii ' ■tfas only p-Ttt- fofft'.i.fij'for etefjHoiMsering purposes, and -would net bis endorsed by tlw peeple ef the eouiitry, : . , Tno statement inads hv ike Leatle-r oi : 'the Opftositwt that tho" iwosewt Minister of Finance snoceeded ie a, sliTptfts of .-6780,000 was iflrtccwafe. Tl'afe surplus esistec! nt'Mii.refl 31, IPI2, but <ny-, i»g to interest aiwl <sihcj- ftayitieMts tin's niiTOU.ni had tlwittdlsfl In igISS.OOO wliew the Hovi ,T.is. iVlleu took eoistrfll of thi>. Trcasiiry. Rcganlimj finanfte goiiernljy, Sir. Mnssey p,vi3 (fetaits o-f poniiWlJiiieii.ts ftat the eovermneni hrtrl to meet -si-hen it | took office and the- great between coiMiiiitifle-ates iiwl ntoßßy availfi.Wc t» meet them. Ttvdaj tlw ffiJTiciilties iii cttftneetjon with gtlt-Cflijod, Hobetttttres, puWie jywks, ani MViiiiees te settlors, Iwd al! lx>en offercoirie, Tlie, Prime Ministef i-oriowoc! thft swce-ssfill ■ floiatiisii flf the .GeifernKMilrt's loans.' Ftnn.nei;illy tho ■ooiiwtfy was now oat of the wortl fJesnito tlie fact tlwt ttft praoftwls nf tits sa:fc of l.imls tfel'e n<s tolifter ; paid into gfehcrol rovenue. Bf-sp.iio the sttibo with 'its (iitec't cost attil ijulifoet loss, the Trc-nsurer hiitl a ■st.frii-h.-ts on Marnh 31 of £-t2f,009. As to tho ofo-ai'jjo that the io«we«i'. rnont !w(? ii.ot lcnt'wjoi*ey for the Assist. anoe of the eoiintrj-'s activities, in 18 mmiths tire Oflwriimrat Tmrt ioanciil to settlers iC1,353 f 62f): to 075; and from tlte lenc!m<r Dcwrtments alone, te : local bncJios, ' &iB,(SQ, o-r a total ef £2,472,71.3. Tiw Csiovernment lia.i} kept its plages in i'-re;it- Jvftrt, ensl tluriiui tins Muling sMsioit all Wi« j-fr-piainii-ig pkdgos would >o fulfilled to tho refy letter. Mr. jlnssey referred to the pnssiwK of laud legislation, nlid ospjaiiied the iiftturo of thf! Land Acts, artd d'rfeftfei ike freehold pi-meiple.. To assist tins ■hack-Moc-k settlors alidg-ivo them access 1' to the ports and litres,'tho G-ravernmeiyfc intended ask Parliameat to sanation a Joan and- speraaHv earmari: it • foj s iwls . in dtsfcrieis, tnitl tho BowrijinflHfc w-oitHl do exactly tho samo tiling in tho interest?, ; of tlie country oven if tlwre was no olobtion within tlitj next five yeMS, TotiehiiiK span iftpwahlo )'ai«l hoM ■ in unimproved conditions liy private- i persons, tho Fthm aiiflister" mift tho Government regarded this as ft luxiiry . for. whfclt these Wlig enjoyed. i» 'woHJcl ', liiiV?) t* piiy. j There wefe onb ! 100,000 seres of firstclass 'land left to the -Crown, and tbo , Government xvnp forced to Wy hyiid ' and te bring about tjift stiMH'-kion. of , estates.. As ishpw'ing the prostwrifey of tjje , CfftMitrJ , , Mr. Mdssey predicted thet the ■■ esperts for ite year' cftd'ing June 30 •■ wmild npprexiitMit* £23,000,.0pf). This. \ sum would establish a splend-'d record, j; By co-opßtftion, wiWji tlw touaties. a«d j! irittnieipaKies, t.to Govetttment had in-'. creased the facilities for Workers to oB- ! tiiifi iiflffijos ami had estoiided tho system t<j coiintry fßstricte. 3fr. Mnss.ey ' qi.»tws It'flnsnftfs io sItoW tiiiiit an i amendment moved by him in tl'w Bouse was the wjia of tlio advances to work- ] j «rs* «c}i.ouse. Assistance for Mb Teaehai's, The Rovenimcnt liatT tiirfvascd (he ex- , pi'tklitui'n iijxin v,-( : ,)'!\ois Iji'uros, ni!(! ' fHii-r.is 'hf rnrv/il yi-nr lvcmld oxpottfl i pfi.irl,i- £ l!'(t.(jon .ii providing homes iat '

industrial workers, It was true liiorc* 1 lintt liepii s'lSf'i'casos 1» exi-nSKlitim?, Iwit ' tlii'so inchfasi's Imd 'weft Uiqumstl in improving the. comliticj** in tj» jiniiiie which, tt-liw tile ■(Jovornmeut. Uioiy office, was seething with d.issatis)fu;Fioii. iViiat liad Iscoji d«iu» in t.|;o ItaiUvay and othtsr J)p}wi"l*>M.usts would liiivo ti! Ih> done for tho taiehors, whose salaries Iμ d not been reviewrd fm , roany vent's. Tim l legislation was reatSy, ami lin holievod it wonld bo passed, ajul it would he. ;ij)jij'ov«J tlu'OMgpDHt the eotintry. The fJovprmin>iit fiarf iiWraKwt} iiucl extended ttii* pensions sthenic, a»ni a «ts» had lieeu brought liiuW iiis iiotiop at Gi*tionsn vliielj shovred tlint I'tiFTk'i' extensions woiikl Isavo to be made.

•Sir J. Ward arid the Stat.frj Mi-, Al us spy iwemut to .losiiplr \V;m ! rs elaini", insula at Mlonlicnin and «:wwtero, 'that the strike iwerhwrt. hnvft . lasted for two (lays if the advice {iivctj ; froui the Opposition siok) of tins Uoitsy j had beftii iioL'eptmJ by the ClnvciniHtnlt. Ho Imd liraril tJris shitonwnl befwc, Jind , it made Ww smile. "J'lierb was mi nil lll nn earth wlw wouhl tore slflfiiH'd that siftko i« two days. Ifo j'evwweil ..- t-Jio «vtfiils-tts thoy «ivd orcurvof'l, ami; explaiiied what liad octilfrwl At tlw coiifpVftnocs, ctesci'ibiJvl tiro bc»jjin-»ißg ef %htt riuting. aiid qflcrtcd tlie "Now 'ic-iiiaml : Times, 1 ' i)» o-rpiij to aliovy tfuifc the α-eivd in iiio Wellington etrfetfts had begun 'the noting. /J'liirs wile only me way to nicet tl»e crisis, and tbitb w(is to get an f#ioiciit force of "speeiflls" to ivtamta-in ofdw and profeßct eitfeofte ■])ca : ccaJ)K' ««gn{!ml iu iawhil wofk. 'Hio tiovcwuscmt Ity Uhs nwlW Rp&iwd t-li«_. ports, awl co.ri>,ffle ; i'e« ivos rfiwitticd, a<!'l the Goyovirtrent did »ot go bade fl : n anything it Wt dwiie, and irmvhl dtt. t'h» Baffle thing a-saiii. A* te'tjictrt-o days' . ■ boast, why Imd previous sti'ikes not booii. settfcd? 'I'W ihstiHico, tho Wailii ?i:iHl .Reefton strikes. There was not a jimi in tho Ooverflnffnt o{ tira* flay. of (lesliiisc with tho position wliieh tiveii I aiviso. His Oovernwiviit. was not iit ojlko OwoTtMiionts then in ofli« wnJfJ." : 'WA settle liaoin in two (lays. % W$ ®x Joseph Ward rnwe iiito olTiop; Jμ ttet year there svas owe , stviku. In 5907 tI:KT6 wre !p;glit, in (90S tlwro wi» .rtgiii. in 1959 tlit'i't* were tewr, in IStO ilierij were IS, ami in liHi ili.i'i-e wcti? 2 : 1 ( . If tiro "LfladKr of fko Opjwatio.fi. cwrfd, l.tavo .settled this last strike.' : in ' Iwn eJitV'S why mi fiflitk dicik't he' ''fcivU'Jh s.hi«(! nf the <}3 siri'lfcs tlwt ocettrmfl in I'sis own I'remiprahipp

Sills for Next Sjjssien. X-fxt session Jig woitld-suiniiit auoilj&i: Laiui BiH'. aft Mffneatioiv Bill, ji-i/icfjlTi-imr Bill, 'KiMikifal Jliii, Klf aittßiicterjj the Ctmettiatiflii and A,rhijtortj(si). w Legislative pflwidi Btlj. Jjijfii.iiiitiftij Ml, ft Bill ilVfitliiig with t]« systMii 4 tf i'iiriiatUf.!itnr.V grants, a Hill .dpaliiifi tfilh the ■PiOvoirimciJt; ef tl)6 Cjpok Islands, a Hill ■nlno.iHlin.j2r tiro Aferkijfs' |H : tJKios Artj a fiilj feUiig with Asiatic sttmißraWoi'v dtsignsd t& kwji out Asiatics.-{(ffoiitively, a Bill .assist tltp fruit iijdustry, nil.d tlierfe tfoUjitJ' bo 'fclionsunl friuijieiiil Bil-ts, Thp seSSjdH ivouU. bo on<3 <sf goad wodc. 'I'im Clo ; re.ri):ii!en.t was 611 it's trW n'n3, fe .invited • .tlio peoplo to look into its reGbrsl for selves Mid jtid({6 flits t).y its WBrk, lie wfts ■c.ftiificioivt tljix.fc \ylicii. tho • fifioijto of Nijw.i %aiij<) ; .to' elieos-n K-'liote th.ej' Sii.Siria SttppaH f,lioy ■wciMld elfOeso Avrsely and weili

Tttc friiiift Miftistet, wivp was {re.-. quenSljr .applaufel aftd chcroiodj -resumed his s&afc amidst M) outburst el «[i-' lilaijSo, ' ■ A motifin of tliantcs . ailfl confitlciice «t.s njovisd % Mr. 3. fi> Wateop, and seconded- ill scvcris! 'When tijo': ;\foypr pot tilts question tli.Qte yrjts, distiijQtly a wty largo majority ; >n and Sir, Masse? ■seltiMnvlptlgod. tiro \'.ot» a? nil liQMOtir wlijoh %.ai\ , : b(*jt H.ftjd W a hngo «wdw:!i»tci Iviftsclf Sflß. tVo Qovftriia&ttfe of wliieh lie ,sfns tJm ijosd.