LIVELY MEETING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2169, 6 June 1914, Page 6

LIVELY MEETING.

f THE PRIME MINISTER AT CHRISTCHURCH. 1 ORGANISED INTERRUPTION. MR MASSEY SCORES HEAVILY. ' CARRIED SIIOULDER HIGH. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE PASSED. (By TelflsraDh.— Pxeja As«oci«.tloa.) ■ Chrlstohureh, June 6. Tho Prime Minister; the Bight Hon. ■ W. F. Massoy, addressed a largo gathering of Christchurch electors from tho Victoria Square Band Rotunda to-night. Tho Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. H. Holland, presided. Mr. Masscy, on makf' ig his appearance, was greeted ,with rolonged applause, mingled with\ a, little hooting. The ovation continued for some time. The Mayor, on rising to speak, was subjected to somo interruption. . . . .. .

Mr. Massey, on rising to speak, wns subjected to considerable interruption. Ho said that in view of tho fact that no large hall was available there was only one thing to bo done, arid that was to speak in tho open air. The interruption, ho felt sure, came 'from a small irresponsible section..(Hear, hear.) Tho people of Christchurch,' 'ho believed, wanted to hear both sides of tho' political question. He proposed that evening to reply to tho speech delivered recently in Christchurch by the Leader of tho Opposition. Referring to tho Opposition's lack of policy he said that while in Opposition three years ago he had put forward his policy, and every feature of that policy liad either been strictly adhered; to or would bo carried out. Ho quoted figures to show what the financial position was when the' Government took office. It might be truo that .thero was a considerable sum of money in hand on the Consolidated Account on March 31, as stated by Sir J. G. Ward, but when tho present Government took office that amount, by the payment of interest in the interval, •. had dwindled down very considerably. Speaking in reference to advances to settlers, Mr. Massey said tho Government had' increased- to £1000 the amount that could be lent to settlers, and improvements bad also been mado in the caso of other classes of borrowers, enabling larger sums to bo lent. Provision was also made enabling the Government to lend any local government up to £16,000. Should a larger amount bo required provision was mado whereby the security of. the country could bo placed behind "tho loan to bo raised by the local body concerned. . ■ .-■.■'.

A Brighter Financial Position. The financial position generally today was much more satisfactory than it was two years ago. The short-dated debentures loft by the previous Government were being repaid as they fell due, provision being made also for the carrying on of public works. The Government's last loan was floated most successfully and fivo times the amount required was offered. Three years previously, when the five million loan was put on the London money-market, 93 per cent, had to be taken up by underwriters. That showed the difference between the' two loans. Tho interestj, on the five million loan worked out at £4 16s. 4d. per cent, while on tho present Government's loan it was £4 45.. 6d. ■ per cent. Mr. Massey said thero had been no increase in Customs taxation since tho present-Gov-ernment took office and anybody who alleged to the contrary was saying what was untruo and incorrect. Increase had ueon made in the Graduated Land Tax which increase produced £40,000 per annum. . • Justice for the School Teachers. When the Government took office it was found that the Public Sorvice of tho country, was seething with dissatisfaction. Now nil was changed; but the improvement in the salaries and conditions in various_ branches of the Service had led to increased annual expenditure. A Bill would be submitted to Parliament noxt eession ' which would give the school teachers better justice than they had had for many years past. The Government had pledged itself to reduce the ago-for pensions from 65 to 60 years, and that had been done. Other beneficent improvements had also been made regarding pensions, cn•abling the pension nioney to bo paid to children to provide for their education and upbringing. Referring back to financial affaire he said that the first quarter of last year the Savings Bank withdrawals exceeded : deposits by £57,091, while the first quarter of this year deposits exceeded withdrawals by £348,231. That was proof of the increasing prosperity of the country compared with last year, and certainly evidence of the increase of prosperity over two years ago. Mr. Massey spoke at length in defence of the naval policy on tho lines of his previous speech. He repeated that according to the Naval Derjyice Act tho ships controlled by the Now Zealand Government .would, in tho event of tho" declaration of war, pass automatically,to the control of the Imperial Government. British interests in the Pacific were growing in importance and those interests would have to bo protected. At this stage Mr. Massey, who had been consistently interrupted, received a hearty burst of friendly cheering. ■

Sir Joseph Ward and the Dreadnought. Referring to the Dreadnought, ho said if tho statement made by the Leader of the Opposition as to how the cost was provided was correct, then a contemptible trick was played upon tho people of tho Dominion. The only escuso for presenting the ship in tho manner done was to enable .the people to contribute to the defence of tho Empire ; but the statement now being made by tho Leader of tho Opposition regarding naval defence was making New Zealand ridiculous in the eyes of tho world. With the opening of new markets, producers of the Dominion must 1)o given every opportunity of making the very best use of tho land, and roads and railways were required, and, as far as possible, would be provided. Ho claimed that the Government possessed a majority in tho country. iTie Government had mndo the policy of tho country such that any Crown tenant could acquire the freehold. That was tho law of tho land to-day, and would romain the law Of the land. The mnn who camo forward, and said ho would repeal the legislation of tho .present Government would remain ili the cold shades of Opposition. During the Complete twelve months the ■ Government had been in offlco they had purchased 141,000 acres for settlement purposes. Four years ago the then Government purchased only 14,000 acres. Legislation had already been provided to enable municipalities and county councils to share with tho Government the carrying'on of tho workers' homes' system. The expenditure on workers' homos in. tho year tho present Government came to office'was £23,645, last year it was £47,469, and this year it β-ould be not less than £100,000. Mr. Stassi>y quoted figures to show that tho Government possessed a majority in the country. Thn Public Service Act, ho continued, had absolutely placed tho service .above political influence. It had been alleged that tho Public Seryico, Act would result in wholesale dismissals, but that

allegation was fouad to be false. Anybody who attempted lo interfere with tho Public Service Act- wenlij never got a majority in tho House, Reform of the Cotmelt. The GovcrnmMt.iatemWd to tiiaJse tho Lcsislativo Council deetire,, attd it would bo made elective within - three months. Tho Legislative Council. had been Riven two chances to cffo«t- reform from within, bnt the Uili had been laid asido eat-h time by tlira Council. It would net bo laid asicio nest se&sioa, for tho Government was goiiig to appoint a sufficient number, of members to tho ■ Couneil to carry t-ho Government's proposals into law. Ho made no secret, of that. Previous Governments liad. onlj; appointed men of their own views, but the present Government liad appointed political opponents and Lahour representative*. Attien tho Government found aft.yt.liine hotter.than the present system of election, and they. might find H, it wowld bo a-doptcd. So far m better syeteto had . been . foftftd. The second liaOp-t system was the most objectionable, meaj suro ever placed oil the Statute Bool;* i The'system was. a worn-out *a©,'hayijig been_ abaudened- whore tried clsewtie-w, I and it was in N«nv Zealand to serve a political pnTpßs(?. ' Sir Joseph -Wa-wi had said h». eoijld have settled tho strike in t\y<o days. If he could do that, whs .didrfc ho settle the strikes' thaf, occurred during h.is term of office?, twin Wi k> J9D6, .when Sir Joseph Ward came into office, tjiore were no strikes'ia'Now Zealand. They eoamenced,"howevar, in' 19-06. In connection with iie receat strike, tho Govern* ment liad appointed eueeiil cftiiiiabtes to-assist iii feoeping:tiie poace, and would do so agaiii if tiio same c&uso existed., (Chews.) TJiexe were only %co by-elections since the last general ejec-tion,-and tho Liberal Party did not g.<>t a man in/at any otte. If another byelection occurred to-ißorroit, tJio Government candidate trmild bo Mtii-raed by a. m-aio-rifcy. Rsvertiag to , the •strike, Jlr, Massey.eatiJ tlie-io ■n'ere 63 strikes in Sir Joseph Ward's , tijno. (Voices: They were settled.). The m.wi got- :what tb*y. wanted.) Mr. ' said he had , no apelogy to make f«f tho strike. He had deke hh diltj , , and; would be prepgfed to do' it a&ito; (Loud applause.) , Goatinitiag., lie said ho was th© first man in iPairttamfint to advocate tho . Advances to Workers' pro- ] posal. Tho Governnio;fft of the day at the time nsbjeotefl li-is proposigl, Ij-ut afterwards embodied it in'a BilJ of] their own, ' ■ . ■ . ]

The Opposition at the present tirrse had 'no' policy. All they were driing was to go up and. down the country slan* dering. the]>.e2Ji>pn«nts and tallsing the greatest piffle ihat roaft ever .listened to. There- were not two opinion.!; sit 'which the Opposition Party wer* figfeed The,only itong. Which they agreed, o'ii was that it- wottlel bo a. tiling for themselves «ndi Mie-ir, friends if tihey secured a majority t<r oust the present Government. Sβ Govehtj&ent had-done tbe right #iing .for t-'ho country in-the faeo'df-whaost wsujseraMe difficulties, and #toeu tl*e time tainse the people of the <x>uni:ry would say: "You havo dono well, Massey." The eondu* sion of the / speech was ■ greeted with prolonged cheers and a'ppia&se. Mr. H. B. Aelsndi proposed a- vote of thanks and cbnSde-nee, An atnend.ment of a vote d thanks only was moved. "The motion Was carried by a largo majority,- amidst great-enthusi-asm.