THE PRIME MINISTER AT WINTON

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2315, 24 November 1914, Page 6

THE PRIME MINISTER AT WINTON

CHEERED TO THE ECHO THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS PLEDGES (By TelflsrraDh,—Press .Association.) Winton, November 23. ihe Eight Hon. W. F. Massey ad' uressed a large and onthusiastio meeting here to-night, the attendance being not far short of the number present at oir J. G. Ward's meeting . hero last week. Mr. Massey was cheered to tba echo oil rising. He commenced by comparing what the Government had done with its pledges, as stated by him at Winton three years ago. In regard to the land question they had given all facilities for the small holder to got on to the land by means of the leasehold as a stepping-stone to the freehold. (Applause.) The Government had car-* tied out its promise to change the land, poiioy of New Zealand from - leasehold to freehold.. At the Bame time if any man. wanted-the leasehold he could have it, but he also had the option of so* curing the. freehold. Native, land legislation 'had been amended in such a way as to give satisfaction to both Natives and Europeans. The pledged reform of the Legislative Council had been fulfilled, and now the people had the opportunity of electing those who made their laws, instead of the Upper House being merely an instrument ior tne rewarding of party supporters. During the twenty-one years the other party was in power they never appointed a single man on the other side of politics. If they had picked the best people in the Dominion, irrespective of . party, there would not .have been the great demand for reform. The Civil Service had been removed from political influence. (Loud applause.) Iliey had not been able to bring about a- reform of local government t-o do away with the awful system of Parliamentary grants. The Bill had been drafted, however, ana would be brought down and passed, and here, again, political influence would bo removed from the' granting and spending of publio money. (Applause.) They had improved the Old Age Pension Aot, as promised, so that a woman now got her pension at sixty instead of sixty-five. In answer to an interjection as to how often he had voted against tha Old Age Pension Act, Mr. Massey said the Bill was .first introduced in 1886;., and he voted for it and supported it right through. In 1890, when it came down again, the criticism raised against ' it was that there sufficient pro* vision for raising the money. The Min-i ister said he would, if necessary, make less from revenue for public works, andnext, if necessary, ho would cut down, some of the higher salaries. The-: speaker said he opposed it because .hef objected to these means of raising thcr money. (Applause.)

A Covernment Reoord. , He'claimed a' l record for the Government in putting through in one Parliament all its planks except two, thaj reform of Parliamentary grants and surance against unemployment and sickness and the latter question was prov-', ing very difficult to deal with. Mr. Mas--soy then ran through the present platform of the Reform party and on the N:wy question was loudly applauded. He explained the manner in which the public finances had been reformed, the position now being vastly improved Bince the time the Government took office, in spite of the neoossity of raising millions to pay off debentures due this year. As a matter of fact the Government in the last two years had borrowed less than the previous Gov* eminent in the two previous years. Tha position now, of oourse, was made difficult by the war and the expenditure on. our share in tie war would far exceed the two millions at first estimated. ■ He was gratified that the country was so prosperous and that since the Government took office the exports had increased by five millions. He was satisfied New Zealand would recover mora rapidly from the effects of the war 'than any other part of the Empire. (Applause.) . - Graduated Land Tax. The Government proposed further itaprovement of'the graduated land tax to discriminate in regard to large blocks of land between the owner who waß making good use of his land and the owner who was' allowing his land to be idle. The latter was tne man who should ba.i made to pay most heavily. They also proposed to make the tax increase .•automatically. so that in the finish the large blocks must be subdivided, always excepting suoh lands as could only be' profitably worked in large areas. He did not see the necessity here for agricultural banks, as they had tha State Lending Departments. However, he had collected all the evidence regarding agricultural banks, and had handed it to the Board of Agriculture for examination and report.> When, he received that report he had no doubt he. would be able to do something to assist' settlers in their finance. ' Improvement of the Valuation Act was proposed. He hoped to oheck tlio drift to the towns by giving better access to the back-blocks. In any provision to enable people to build local railways, he said, provision would always be made for the . State to _ take over the railways -without allowing for goodwill.

His answer to a question in regard to "the line to the ostrich farm" was loudly applauded, the line having been authorised twenty years ago : ana when built it would not ..benefit'the ostrich' farm one iota, as' the farm was right up against the main line. The Government proposed' fostering industries, as, for instance, the oil, iron, fish, and fruit industries.

Mr. Massey dealt with taxation, to show that the Government had made no increase, and repeated Ms Otautau reference to the Huntly disaster, the explanation again being well received. The reference to the Government a method of suppressing the strike was loudly applauded. Those methods had incurred Hie hostility of the Red Feds,, and the elector had to take care that the alliance between the Red Feds aud: tile-Opposition did not him in the hands of the leadors or the strike, j Tho Opposition was a very mixed and unhappy lot, and Joseph s coat was nothing In comparison with Joseph's they vote for tie candidates put forward by such an allianoe? (Loud crios of "No.") ' "That, I think" said Mr. Massey. "will bo the answer of the eleotors. (Loud cheering and a smaller body of counter cheers from the back of tho hall.) A motion of thanks and confidence coupled with . appreciation of ithe Government's action in connection with' the recent strike was carried, the audience cheering continuously. A TRIUMPHAL MEETING REMARKABLE ENTHUSIASM. „ (By Telegraph.—Spccial OorreepondenU Winton, Novombcr 23,. The Prime Minister's visit to South, land terminated this evening .with a triumphal meeting at Winton, which l formed a fitting climax to a remarkably enthusiastic tour, and which speaks volumes for tho prospects of the Reform Party in this part of the Dominion at. the coming elections. Mr. Massey, arrived in Winton by'the afternoon train, and was met at the station by, the Mayor, councillors, aud many leading citizens. He was heartily Welcomed by tlio large gathering on tho station, alwl was played to hi 3 hotel by thw

town band. He was entertained at dinner, _ and in the evening delivered a political address in the large hall, which was packed to the doors, many being .unable to gain admission.- The meeting vividly recalled Mk Massey's famous visit to Winton in 1911, Ins meoting on that occasion Being an eye-opener to the people of the Dominion as to the strength of the. Refortii Party, and which had such an important bearing oil the subsequent 'results* 'of the elections. The Prime Minister's appearance in the hall was greeted with great cheering, which continued as he walked through the huge gathering ,to ilie stage. The Mayor of Winton (Mr. Wilson). presided, and cordially introduced •Mr. Ma6sey, remarking, amid applause, that since his last visit to Winton the 'Prime Minister had been promoted to the high position which he now held. On rising to speak, Mr. Massey was •greeted with a perfect storm of cheer-' ing, and.it was some minutes before he could begin liis' address. He was in excellent fighting .fdrin, and had a splendid hearing from' the large audience. He repeatedly scored off interjections Which ! cahie f roin a small section at the rear of the" hall. At the' close of the address a motion of thanks' ahd confidence was carried unanimously without a single dissentient voice. The whole meeting was a- remarkable "triumph for the Prime Minister.,