PRIME MINISTER ON TOUR.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2305, 12 November 1914, Page 6

PRIME MINISTER ON TOUR.

SPEECH AT PUKEKOHE.

HEARTY GREETING IN HIS OWN

ELECTORATE.

(By TelecraDh-Prow Association.)

Pukekohe, November 11. The Prime Minister (Kight Hon. W. F. Massey) met the electors of Franklin for tho third time during the present campaigu this evening, when he addressed a vory largely-attended meeting of the residents of Pukekohe and the surrouuding district in the Premier Hall. Tho building was crowded to the doors, large numbers of people stood all round the hall, and "many others were nnable to obtain admission. The Mayor of Pukekohe (Mr. 0. K. Lawrie) presided. Mr. Ma6sey, on appearing on the platform, received a most enthusiastic reception, the audience indulging in loud and prolonged applause and cheers and the singing of ' - i''or He's a Jolly Good Fellow." '

In dealing with the work accomplished by tho present Government, Mr. Massey first referred to the reform of the laud laws and the Legislative Council, and thou passed on to the question of Public Service reform. Under the old system of Public Service control, tho great bulk of the appointments were made in accdrdanco with the regulations, but there were other ways of making appointments, and' these improper methods were adopted in many cases.

A voice: What about Mr. Royd Garlick?

Mr. Massey; Mr. Koyd Garlick'6 appointment was a very good one, and the reports of the work that has been done by him are very satisfactory. He was appointed before the Public Service Act came into operation, but it had been proved that the appointment was an excellent one. Under the old system of Public Service control many men were improperly promoted over the heads of men who were better men than themselves. Westport Harbour Board Appointment. A voice: AVhat about tho Westport Harbour Board appointment? The people who tried to cast blame on the Government in connection with that appointment, said Mr. Massey, ought to be heartily ashamed of themselves.

The voice: That is only your opinion. Mr. Massey said that the appointment had been made by the Minister of Marine on the recommendation of the people in the district.. The man appointed was a member of. the County Council in his district, and was a well-known resident. It transpired, however, that he was formerly a hotelkeeper, and that he had been before the Court, for what most people regarded as second-rate offences. Was it to be said that because a man made a. mistake of this kind he was to be damned for all time? •

Let those who were without sin caßt the first stone. If some of the so-called "Liberals" who found fault with the Government regarding th-» Westport Harbour Board ■ appointment had a fftultless record, let them stand up and say so. (Cheers.) He (Mr. Massey) had been before the Court on two occasions himself—(laughter)—and he had been fined, but lie was not any ■ the worse as a member of Parliament, or ak Prime Minister on that account. (Hear, hear, and applause.) "I would be sorry to'say when it was laid down that because a man made a slight mistake his public career was to end." It had been hinted by the Opposition that if they got 'the opportunity they would repeal the Public Service Act, but the country would take good care that they would not get the opportunity. (Applause.) The Second Ballot Act. A voice: What about the Second Ballot Act, anyhow? Mr.,Massey: The Second Ballot has been a curse to-every country where it has been tried. The- people of this country were very glad to get rid of it. It cost us £7000 or £8000 for every election, and it was a waste of money. He would be a bold nian indeed who would advocate the reinstatement of the Second Ballot, and ho know : of no candidate for Parliament at present who would advocate it. The voice: What about proportional representation ? Mr.'Massey: I have provided for tho election of tthe Upper House by that method. The' voice: What about t; Lower House P Mr. Massey: The' man who suggests' that we should elect both' Houses by the same method does not know what he is talking about. Such a system, would be absolutely useless. Work of the Government. Mr. Massey then referred, on the line 6of previous speeches,, to the amendments made by the Government to the pension scheme, to what had been done in regard to financial matters, especially the raising of loans, and the special provision that .had been made for the improvement of roads in the backblocks. During the last financial year nearly three millions sterling had been expended by the Government on public works. Other matters' referred to were the Government's proposal in regard to an increase of tho graduated land tax on large estates, assistance to the iron ore, • oil, gum-digging, and fishing industries. Mr. Massey also referred to the, passage of the Railway© Improvement Authorisation Act. He said that he did not think it would be possible to raise a loan for the purposes of this Act this year, but as soon as it was possible to raise the money the works would be proceeded with without in any way neglecting a single line in course of construction or a single road. The Prime Minister . next exSlained what the' Government had one in regard to the extension of the workers' home 6cheme to the country districts, and said that\ the Government was also considering the question of providing scholarships at the Schools of Mines for miners. Question of Taxation. The Prime Minister said that the Government had been twitted with having increased taxation. : As a matter of fact it had reduced taxation by the Customs to the extent of about £30,000 a year. This was not a correct amount, but it disproved the statement that the Government had increased ' taxation. It had not made any increase except in regard to the graduated land tax, and on incomes of over £2000 a year. The Leader of the Opposition himself had stated last year'that the time was not opportune for reducing taxation, and that if any such' proposal was made he could not

support it. The Opposition Leader had also indicated, that lie favoured an increase of taxation to tho extent of an increase of 2£ per cent, in the Customs duties on certain articles. Misrepresentation Cleared Away. Mr. Massey referred to a recent attempt which he had been informed had been made to connect his name with certain Native land transactions in the north of Auckland. Tho statement voncorncd a number of . transactions that.had taken place between various persons bearing a certain well-known surname and the Native owners through tho Tokcrnu Maori Laud Board.. On looking the matter up, he found that there had been three such transactions this year, but it was needless • to say that neither ho nor tho Government had bar' anything to do. with them. He added that lie did not know the family mentioned in the transaction. The Government appointed the Maori Land

Board to carry out the transaction, and there its connection with the matter ended. The point,' however, that he would specially draw attention to' was that there were four' of those transactions between the Native owners and persons of the name in question in 1911 before the present Government came into office. He did not find any fault with these transactions as there had been no wrongdoing, but. lie mentioned the fact to show that another mare's-nest had been discovered. (Laughter.) Ho referred vo this matter because statements and rumours were often made to assume large dimensions when they got to other parte of the Dominion. As far as his own constituents were concerned he was quite content to leave any misrepresentations to their judgment as ho knew that thev were' satisfied that he would not be guilty of any mean, contemptible, or underhand action. (Cheers and Applause.) Thanks and Confidence. At the conclusion of Mr. Massev's. speech he was asked whether he would answer questions, but he stated that as he had to catch the evening's express for Wellington, which was nearly due, he would have to ask to be excused from answering questions. On the motion of Mr. John Comrie a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Massey, coupled with every confidence in him and his Government, was carried amidst enthusiasm. There 'were a number, of _ dissentients, but the voices of tho "Noes" were overwhelmed by the large volume of "Ayes." -The minority gave cheers for Sir Joseph Ward, and those were followed by loud and hearty cheers, for the Prime Minister and the Government. The meeting, which''opened with ihe singing of the National Anthem, closed with the singing of "Rule Britannia."

Mr. Massey left for Wellington by the Main Trunk express after tha meeting.