POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1075, 13 March 1913, Page 3

POLITICAL.

PREMIER AT CHRISTCHURCH. A MIXED RECEPTION. ■ Christchurch, March n. The Prime Minister addressed a large audience in the Theatre Royal to-night. The building was full by seven o’clock, and when the meeting commenced there were as many outside the building as there were inside. The Mayor of Christchurch, Mr H. Holland, presided. When the curtain was drawn up pandemonium reigned for several minutes, cheers and groans alternating until Mr Holland rose .to his feet. “I want to say,” said Mr Holland, “that there are a great many people outside, and if you don’t want to listen you can let them have your seats. I appeal to you to give Mr Massey a fair and impartial hearing, and to uphold the name and reputation of our fair city. I now call upon the Prime Minister to address you.” (Cheers and groans). PREMIER SPEAKS. Mr Massey, upon rising, was greeted with further cheers and groans, but these soon died down, the Premier smiling heartily the while and waiting calmly till the noise subsided. “I thank you,” he said, “for the very hearty reception you have given me. The Mayor has suggested that you should give me a fair hearing. Let me tell you that I am going to say to-night what I came here to say.” (Applause and a voice: “What about Waihi ?”) I spoke in Waihi, and I got a fair hearing in Waihi, and in every other centre where I have spoken. I am going to make a policy speech. The public have now had eight months’ experience of the present Government, and a huge majority of the people say ”

The rest of the sentence was lost through interruptions. The Mayor again appealed for order. Mr Massey continued : “A lot has been said about a square deal. Give the Prime Minister a square deal.” (Applause). Unprecedented in the history of the New Zealand Parliament, we have had numerous difficulties, financial and otherwise. Our financial difficulties caused our Finance Minister to go Home. I am speaking of the legacies left us by our predecessors, the short-dated debentures, which, in the case of the loan last year meant that the whole thing has to be gone into again. The policy of the present Government is to spend loan moneys in a manner calculated to bring the greatest benefits for the Dominion and the people of the Dominion. We are lending local bodies money at the same rate as it cost us to get it. That is what I call a square deal. Eet me refer to some of the canards sent round the country prior to the last election.” (Applause). RAISING LOANS. “One of the financial barometers is the Post Office Savings Bank- The deposits now exceed the withdrawals, and we hope that the money will be cheaper. (Applause;. Mr Allen deserves to be congratulated on the success of his mission (applause) and the country deserves to be congratulated upon what he achieved. It proves how well the country and its Government stands in the estimation of those at Home.”

Mr Massey then dealt with the which he said bad cosr £4 12s per cent. “The loan of last year cost £5 2s 3d per cent. The loan we raised a month or two ago cost us £4. 53 6d« per cent. That proves that it was easily the most successful. It speaks highly for the Government of the country.” A voice: What about the Southland land transaction ?”

Mr Massey laughed : “Yes, what about it? Who is on top now? What did Judge Williams say ? A voice: How much did you pay him ?” Mr Massey : “Such a remark is a disgrace to the city of Christchurch. Judge Williams is a man whom we hold in the highest respect.” (Applause.) Proceeding, Mr Massey quoted figures in regard to finance. It was necessary for the people to understand how prosperous, from the point of view of ordinary revenue, the country undoubtedly is.

“Now,” he said, “1 want to talk to these military people or anti-military people. We amended the Defence Act last year. Formerly a person who refused to take the oath was met with a fine, which if not paid was followed by imprisonment.” (Voices of “shame.”) “The Act was altered to military detention,” After some interruptions and interjections a section of the crowd sang “Rule Brittania” lustily. The Mayor again had to appeal for order.

“a mark’s nkst.”

Mr Massey, speaking on the land question, said that authorities the world over agreed that the freeholder was a greater asset to the country than the leaseholder. There was no unearned increment. Where was it if they had to wait 999 years for it ? They had given the life settlers a square deal by enabling them to acquire the fee simple of tbeir holdings. He believed that the Reform Government’s land policy had done a good thing for the settlers and a good thing for the country. Mr Massey then proceeded to refer to the Southland land transaction, which he described as an “Opposition mare’s nest,”.

LABOUR LEGISLATION. Mr Massey’s reference to the Waihi and Reeftou industrial disputes were punctuated with frequent iuteiruptions, but in the end the favor’s appeals for or-.iei were practically aic.dcd to, aud the speaker wao given a’ fairlv good hearing; He foreshadowed amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which, he said, the Government would stick to and endeavour to make perfect. The reform of the Upper House would also be gone on with. Mr Massey’s references

to the provisions made for Maori war veterans and their widows aud orphans were greeted with hearty applause, and the address concluded amid loud cheers and clapping that drowned the groans of the Opposition section. MOTION AND AMENDMENT. Mr H. D. Acland moved : “That this meeting of Christchurch citizens thanks the Prime Minister for his address and expresses its confidence in his administration.’’

Mr F. Cook, a Socialist and anti-militarist, moved as an amendment: “That this meeting of Christchurch citizens has no confidence in Mr Massey or his brother Ministers, and expresses its dissatisfaction of his whole policy as being against the best interests of the country ; and that we believe the Government’s land policy is in the interests of the land-owning classes.” “The amendment was first put to the meeting, and then the

motion. A great many held up their hands for each amid cheers and groans. The Mayor declared the. motion carried and the meeting closed. GOVERNMENT WIEE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS. Christchurch, March 11. Replying to a request from the Heathcote County Council —for an increase in a loan from the Government, Mr Massey, Prime Minister, stated in commitments for roads, railways, advances to settlers and workers, the amount already totalled two millions. The Government would have to be cautious.