PRIME MINISTER AT ELTHAM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 48, 20 November 1919, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER AT ELTHAM

A HEARTY WELCOME

THE SPLIT IN THE NATIONAL

CABINET'

SOME INTERESTING FACTS By Telegraph—Special Reporter. Eltham, November 19. The Prime Minister addressed a crowded .meeting nt Eltliani to-night. There was an nudienco of at least 1000 people. The Mayor of the town (Mr. Taylor) piesided. Mr. Massey was given a very hearty welcome as ho entered the hall, and again when lie rose to speak there . was more applause. Mr.' Masscy said that lie did not propose to refer to the past record of the Government—good as it might he, I'ho present was bow with us, and the future depended 011 the use made of tho present. (Applause.) There wcro tho great problems of reconstruction and repatriation. Referring to the days of tho'National Government, he said that this Government had had to do very many tilings which had niado it unpopular at the time, but even at this short distance in time if the peoplo could look back and regard those, unpopular acts of tho National Government they would find but littlo fault with tliein. Tho Government had had to introduce conscription, had mised in loans and taxation more than ever they'had thought could possibly bo raisod, liad had to cut down railway running, and had to 6top public works. Break-up of tho National Cabinet. As to tho break-up of the National Cabinet, he did not proposo to make any party capital out of it, but ho would tell something about what happened bts fore and after tho break occurred. On November 14, 1918, the party of which he was leader had carried in caucus a resolution somewhat in these terms :— That in.view of tho insidious spread of i evolutionary and anarchistic doctrines this party is of opinion that the more responsible elements of the Now Zealand Parliament should unite for tho purpose of establishing a sound democratic Government. "At _ that time," said Mr. Massev, "sedition and disloyalty were showing their ugly heads, and wo intended to keep them down if we could. That is still my intention, as it is no doubt the intention of others. On November 28 the following resolution was passed by tho Liberal Party/ That in the opinion of this meeting tho agreomcnt entered into to* tho two , parties should bo loyally adhored to uutil tho. return of tho two leaders from tho Peaco Confrence. That left it open, you seo, but it contained tho jjentlo hint that tho partnership should bo dissolved at soino tirno in the future, Hir Joseph Ward and I wont to tho Poauo CWoreuco, and in our absence, on Hay 22, 11)19, this year, tho following resolution was carried by a mooting o£ tho Liberal Party:—

That whilo loyally abiding by the existing contract betvfeon the two parties, tho Liberal Party will contest the next general election soparato and distinct from the Ifeform Party, and with a digtinet progressive and radical policy. It- is no' use trying to get away from this; that we expectcd tho break. I knew it wa6 coming, but 1 did not know when it was coming. It came somewhat suddenly,'anil 1 am not complaining or whining about it, but on tiio very day the resignation oi Sir Josejh Ward went in to the Uovernor-General a manifesto which covered a whole page of a newspaper, a manifesto which must have taiien long mid careful preparation, was published." A voice: It cut the. ground from under your. feet. Mr. Massey: "If the gentleman who made the interjection knew anything about it he would know that it had exnctly the opposite effect. (Applause.) It established 1110 more . firmly than ever in the confidence of the people. (Applause.) It was th!fi simultaneous publication of the manifesto that I did not like. I leave it at that. It is for the people themselves to form their own opinions as to what was intended." Mr. Massey went 011 to say that he decided to carry on, und he had invited two returned soldiers to join him in tho Cabinet. The Meat Trust.

Mr. Massey continued his speech on tho lines of his northern addresses. He spoke at some length of tho American Meat Trust, and the danger of allowing it to get established in' Britain. He said that he had done all that he possibly cou'.d, both here •and in England, to combat the power of the trust, and he warned tho people to bo vigilant lest the trust established itself strongly in our country. It was already operating, but not, ho thought, to a dangerous extent. He discredited the prevailing demand for nationalisation of all manner of things. Nationalisation was permissible to prevent monopoly, to prevent exploitation, or to encourage industry, but it was not permissible if it was merely to push out other people already serving the community fairly. The Labour Parly wanted nationalisation of land. Ho lielieved that the. British people would not tolerate nationalisation after tho Bolshevik p'nn for centuries to come at least, furthermore, the credit of the country would never bear the burden of the acnuisition of all these ventures in nationalisation. Last of all, he bespoke support for the Government candidate for Egmont, Mr. Hawken 'Mr, Massey resumed his sent amid loud npnlnuse. A vote of thnnko and of confidence in Mr. Massev and his nnrty was carried with acclamation. Then there were cheers for Mr. Hawken.