WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1924, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

Til E R EFOR M DEMONSTR ATI ON. MR .MASSEY’S WELCO-ME HOME. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON, ]-Vb. 8. The Re:..rm demonstration in the Town Dal! on Wednesday night, organised a> a welcome home to the Prime .Minister, was neither so spontaneous nor so demoii.strativc as it should have been. Over and above his notable .service-; to the Dominion Air Massey has done great tilings for the Reform Party. Without him there might have been a Reform Party in name, but there would have been none in vitality and achievement suelt as tile country knows to-day. When the inexperienced and untutored member for Franklin was thrust into the leadership of the remnant, of the rid Conservative Party it had reached a stage of disintegration and cl".; which seemed to have left it without hope and almost, without purpose. In Parliament it was substantially smaller in numbers than either section of the divided Opposition is to-day, and in the country it was scarcely more than a forlorn voice crying in the wilderness. Its prospects were as gloomy ;n they well could bo. But. Mr Massey laid bold of the situation with an umlerstandnig, a courage and a tact which have had few parallels in this country and in the end by tireless labour and ceaseless Raring accomplished what his political friends, as well as his political opponents rad declared to lie impossible. HIS DUE. In these circumstances the Reform Party might have been expected to seize mum the opportunity presented by his home coming to pay Mr Ma-sey a tribute worthy.of his distinguished career and his great national services. But in the absence of any one to strike the right note the gathering resolved itself into a mere incident in the city's -acini life with a political speech from the guest, of the evening as the piece lie resistance and mild eongralulatinos from his hosts as uniniprossiblo side wishes. To the Prime Minister’s credit hi- political speech was not a party one; indeed ihe gathering itsel! was

not a pari', one in any narrow sense, siime invitations to lie present had been extended to many of Mr Massey's personal friends who do not subscribe to his views on political questions. I in’ “Post" in a very brief notice of flic gathering does justice to the Minister 111 this respect. “As a personal compliment to the leader of the Relorm Pariv.” it says, “it was distinctly notable. But though it. was a Reform gathering. Mr Massey wisely abstained I'nun sounding a party note. His address was one lor all I he people ot .sen Zealand." The Prime Minister was as tactful here as experience lias taught him to lie." THE PARTY VIEW. The “Dominion" in its editorial notice ot the gathering i* scareelly so dh civ f a Mr .Massey was in suppressing il-, nai't> signifies nee. "As matters •laud in the Dominion it is obvious," it says, “that the Reform Party alone i , in a position to marshall eileclively tile forces of moderate opinion. Enter prise in building up ami strengthenin',-, the organisation of the party oilers a meuiis of ensuring the continuance ot stable government and alerting ni this country the condit-oiir oi tnroo-pai t> and group politics which are doing a cent deal to hinder pregrecs and reconstruction m ottiicr parts ot the Empire. It mnd not lie doubled that elforts well directed and adequately supported to broaden the standing and enlarge the Icliov.ing of the Reform paiiv will succeed. It is evidently very accessary that a strong stand should he taken not only aganist the Labour Party, with its wrecking policy loti against the attempts that are being made to split ami divide the moderate uolitieal hirers oi the Dominion-. This duty evidently devolves upon the Reform Pariv." This it just the note the Prime Minister was anxious to avoid and the allusion to the Labour Party and it- wrecking policy appears particularly malapropos at the moment . taxation and the workers.

Perhaps 1 r>o most striking portion oi M r Massey's spoor’ll was iliat in which ho quoted (nun l’lcsiiloiiL CoolidgeX mc-sago to ('(ingress, nn eloquent apjor a reduction of taxation as an aiil to niiliomii development ami prosperity. "A very great servin’ could he rendered through the iimnediate enactment of leglisetiun relioivng the people of some of the harden of taxation, this rail. “To reduce war taxes is to give every home a hotter rlinneo. I’Oi si’ven veers t!ie people have home with uncomplaining courage the tremendous burden of national and local taxation. These must holli he reduced. .1 he taxes of the nation must he reduced non ns nun’ll as prudence will permit, and expenditure must he reduced accordingly. High taxes reach everywhere and burden' everybody. They bear, most liouvilv upon the poor. I hey diminish industry and commerce, i hoy make agriculture unprofitable. They increase the rates on transportation. They are a charge on every necessary expenditure ol hie. 01 all the sen ices which the Congress can render the country, I have no hesitation in declaring this one to he paramount. To neglect it. to postpone it, to obstruct it by unsound proposals, is to become unworthy of public confidence and untrue to public trust. The country wants this measure to have the right of way over all others.” Mr Massey in his discretion did not say so, hut this is the gospel the Labour people is this country should he tuning to heait.