THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1913.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 26 March 1913, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1913.

MR MASSEY IN THE SOUTH.,

The Opposition press is very scornful because Mr Masscy's recent speech in Christchurch did not contain any statement of policy. Now the Prime Minister reviewed the instalment of policy already made good, namely the Land Act, the Public Service Act, and the attemps to alter the constitution of the Legislative Council. He then declared that he would resume the last at the point where

left os, that he will have the Arbitration Act amended, and that for the rest he will not, alter the statute book of its/ existing contents. It is difß-j

cult to see what more he could have said—or it would have been desirable for him to have said. This is not a time that presses lor changes, and the fact is that we have had enough of making laws. Will any one put his hand on his heart and declare "sincerely that he thinks it necessary every year to add a hundred solid statutes to the. mass of undigested law ? Moderate men will probahly be content with" the" Massey "pro" gramme of two planks—Legislative Council reform and Amendment of Arbitration Act. There is moreover a good, deal of administration to be attended to in connection with the I forests of laws already growing j their precedents on the statute book.' Mr Massey ,did not of course; dwell on the programme stage. He made capital vigorously out of the Brighton decision and the loan issue. In the face of the tremendous abuse of the policy which made it appear as if the minerals had disappeared with the freehold of the L.I.P. lands, the judgment is an even more tremendous score for him, especially as it was based on the very same contention with which he justified himself against his critics. He is entitled to at least as much praise as the measure of obloquy heaped on him in this matter. The loan having found its way into the hands of the public he was en-' titled to a little glorification. The meeting was hostile and it is perfectly clear that but for the ticket move the Prime Minister would not have had a hearing ataU. And that is not the sort of triumph that any decent Opposition would relish. As it is Mr Massey has won golden opinions by the courage he has displayed and the tenacity. •