MR. MASSEY AT HOME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 46, 18 November 1919, Page 8

MR. MASSEY AT HOME

HIS VISIT TO FRANKLIN A DISTRICT OF SMALL MEN (From Our .Travelling Reporter.) The Prime Minister has just completed a very brief tour of part of his electorate, returning to Wellington yester , day. Everywhere ho was received will the utmost enthusiasm, and it was quit< clear from the beginning of the tour that Mr, Massoy was paying a visit of com tesy to his own electors rather Hicanvassing theju for their votes. Everywhere he was assured to take the support of the people of Franklin for granted, and ho was 'invited to consider himfelt Tree to give his time until I , elections to visiting and speaking at other places in other parts of the coiiiilr.v, where his cause may seem to be ii greater need of support.

Mr. Mnssey's first appointment was tc speak at Waiuku, which has always been one of tho places where the people hav< given almost undivided, support to him ever since he has been their member. But he liiicl to get off the train at Puke kohe, which is commonly referred to as the political centre of the Franklin electorate, and he was (hero tendered a public welcome by the Mayor and the townspeople. At Waiuku there, was a luncheon, a host of deputations of a local character, and a sneoch in the evening. No member of Parliament o: Minister of the Crown in this coin ,l, " ever had a better reception, than Mr. Massoy had from the people of AVaiuku. Thorn was frequent applause and clieor ing, so that the meeting could not lw Paid to lack spirit, but not onco was r. hostile voice raised, and after,it was all over hundreds of the people wished t shako the hand of their member, who. in these war years, has I>i-o:i almost a stranger among them. In Pukekohc there was almost a like experience. A few opponents were in the mooting, bu. by Wellington standards it would be considered a very orderly meeting indeed, and an exceedingly friendly one, So also was tho Papakura meeting. At both meetings a votVof thanks and confidence was carried without dissent, and in Panakura tho vote was moved by ft returned soldier, a. young man unknown to Mr. Massey. This soldier expressed his satisfaction with all that the Government had done for him and for other eokiiers. and wished Sir. Massey a successful campaign. In one. other little cniitre. Patuniahoe, Hr. Massey was able to tiDcnd a little time, listening to speeches of welcome, and taking a hurried lunch with a party of his friends. Mr. Massev will score his record .majority for Franklin at this election, and ho usually tops the list of membeia of the House with his majority at elections. The district of Franklin has changed much since Mr. Massey first represented it twenty-three years ago. Owing to tho growth of papulation consequent on tho development of tho country, the district has become very much smaller, and it Ls now , one of tho most closely-settled, most intensely cultivated, aim richest parts of the Auckland province, nnd it is a fact, sad perhaps to Wellington ears, that Auckland is outstripping other parts of tho counvry in ;ural development. The process began rather late in tho north-' crii province, but the speed has' been astounding in tho past ten years. Tho district of Waiuku, for example, was onco accounted a poor sort of place There was a little good land near the town, but no great area of it, and all bevond was a huge swamp stretching oown to the Wa'ikato Kivor, an area in all of somo 18,000 acres. This swamp has been drained wholly by private enterprise, and it :e now comparable in fertility wifli the best of Iho Hauraki Plains country, and the richer parts of Tarannki. It is hold in areas of from thirty acres upwards. It is claimed that tho pastures will fatten three bullocks to tho acre in tho summer months, or that it. -will carry a dairy cow to tho noro all tho year round. In tho middk., of tho fiwamp country there has been erected a choaso factory, and it is in putnut ouo of (ho biggest in tho whole, country. The Pukekoho district is iv very liighly-improveo. area. The holdings are. otton \ery small and tho subdivisions of tho./ farms by fences, mostly well-kspt hedges, bear evidence of the intensity of' tlw methods followed by the agriculturists. Garden wops aro grown in tho fields by email farmers in this part. It is probable that most of tho earliest of our early vegetables como to Wellington irom the. field gardens on tho sunny slopes of the hill which overlooks Ptikefcohe. Tho 6Ccrot of nil this success has been the application to tho soil of fertilisers. At preeent these aro very expensive, and at all his meotings tho farmers were very anxious to hear all that could bo told about the Nauru project, the possibilities of early supplies, and tho approximate price. They want tho schenvo to bo put into operation without delay. Generally tho people of these two main centres of Mr. Massoy's electorate are strong believers in Mr. Mnsscy's 1 -' slogan of "More Production," and they aro using their land to,its full capacity. They are small holders, not at all friends of tlie monopolist in land, but withal making a"good deal of profit by their energy and industry. All through tho Auckland district the reports are that Mr. Massey stands in higher estimation than cXer before, and it is tho belief, as it is the wish, of all his friends that he will como back from these elections stronger than ever. In Auckland City and suburbs it is confidently expected that ho will gain two spats, and ho 'may gain at least -one other.