AN INTERVIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1923, Page 4

AN INTERVIEW.

MR MASSEY AND ELECTIONS. AUCKLAND, May 7. The Prime Minister. (Mr Masvey) in an interview to-day. stated:— “I notice that there has. been some criticism with regard to my taking part as Prime Minister in the recent by-elec-tions at Tanning: l , and Oamiiru. but those who criticise forget that- f know as, much of what has taken place in past years with regard to such matters as most people. Take my own rasa, for example. I became a candidate in a by-electiun "hen I lir-l stood for Parliament for Wailematn. The election bad been rendered necessary <iu account of the fact that the former member bad been unseated for certain indiscretions, not of his own. but for which some of his .supporters "ere responsible. 1 commenced my campaign in 1 lit- usual way and was getting through tile district when the then Premier. Mr Seddon, with two of his colleagues, put in an apnearaueo, and these, gentlemen visited a number of ccntre.-i in the electorate with the object. of course, of securing the return of their candidate and defeating the Opposition candidate, as I then was. To this 1 personally raised no objection. The canvass went on. but public sympathy was with me on account of the fact that, although J was a stranger in the district. I was on the same side of polities as Llie preceding member, and i was duly elected without more than tile usual amount of trouble. The public and the candidates kept their heads and there was no wild whooping or :-i!lv insinuations, such as came from the Reader of the Opposition after the poll was declared at Oamaru. A friend with whom 1 was travelling and myself spent the evening ol pulling day with Mr .John Scholium, of Pulioi. The next day we proceeded quietly to our homes about -IP miles distant, and the following day T was at work again on my' farm.

“There arc numerous other precedents. Mr Sedclon visited the district T represented on several occasions alter that time, and so also tlid Sir,•Joseph Ward, without the slightest objection on my part. I advised my constituents to give the visiting .Ministers a hospitable reception, but to keep their votes for me. and they certainly complied with my request.

“I know that a good deal can he -aid against .Ministers interfering in elections. hut the precedents and reasons for stnli interference must not be overlooked. 1 h live noticed in some instances in recent years that even the wife of the Prime Minister of England took the platform in the course of political campaigning when her assistance was apparently deemed necessary.

"So far tis the recent elections were concerned, what took place at Taurnnga was a direct challenge to the Government, and its existent e depended upon the result of the election. Oil niarn was in a different position, and I would just mention in passing that j. believe the majority of electors who voted in Dec-ember intended, to vote for Mr Lee. but tut unfortunate mistake in the printing of the ballot papers made it impos-iblc to be quite certain of this. The question at the bye-election from my point of view was whether the stability of tlie Government was to be increased or not; whether, instead ol a Government with a small majority the country was to have a Government with a majority sufficient to place its legislation on the Statute Book, and to do the many important things which, in the interested this country at present, require to be undertaken. lam thinking particularly of the moratorium, the term of which comes to an end ill the not far distant future. Another fact is that in the seven year period upon which we have entered there is £06.000,000 of the public debt of New Zealand falling due, which, of course, lias to he paid off or renewed. Then there is the question of representation at the Imperial Conference. "These are reasons why tile. Government requires to Ik? strengthened, and so far a a I am concerned. I make no apology for what 1 have done in the case of either election. If, in the circumstances, I had not- taken pait m both elections I would have felt that [ had not done my duty as Prime Minister. I make no apology. I would adopt the same course in similar conditions. Naturally- Ido not hanker after by-elections. No one does who has had any experience of them, but the time comes when the Prime Minister must give a lead to his supporters. defend his administration, and maintain the position of the Government if it is possible to do so. and after that the vesponsiblitv rests with the electors,”