PRIME MINISTER IN TARANAKI

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2261, 9 April 1921, Page 3

PRIME MINISTER IN TARANAKI

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

Hawera, April 7,

Mr Massey was accorded a great reception at Waverley and Hawera. Both meetings were enthusiastic, and the. latter was packed, many hundreds being turned away. The Premier explained the supreme importance of Empire unity, for which he would work his hardest. He was going Home because he regarded the call as imperative. All the other countries were sending Premiers. He regarded a league of British peoples of the greatest importance, and he would work hard to that end. Dealing with taxation, lie said that no country could continue prosperous if it were overburdened with taxation, and it must be reduced as early as possible. He showed that the Government, by retrenchment without hardship, by better business methods in departments, by investing balances in London, and the removal of subsidies, was getting into a position to be able to reduce taxation. He dealt with the moratorium extension, pointing out that it was absolutely essential in order to save many big firms from closing their doors. He was not pessimistic, and he thought all would be well if the people only hung on tenaciously and worked hard. Referring to public works expenditure, Auckland, he said, was the last province to be attended to with necessary railways. Westland at the present time had more money on the public works estimates than Auckland. He referred to the Government purchase in connection with the Nauru phosphate, expressing the hope that the phosphate now arriving would be sold cheaply to the farmers. He dealt at length with soldiers’ settlements, which he considered most satisfactory. The work of repatriation was the best in the world. They had not let the soldiers down, and never would, and the Government would stand solidly behind any industrious returned man. He denied charges of aggregation made at times, and he quoted the divisions in the Patea electorate since 1910. He was a great believer in Empire preference, and hoped it would be possible to further extend it. Finally, he stated that lie was going Home full of confidence in the great mass of the people, and he would do his utmost, to be worthy of the very important questions to be dealt with, especially defence. He believed Lord Jellieoe’s reliance on capital ships was sound. New Zealand must be prepared to do her part.' lie appealed to the people to do everything in their power to resist the enemies of (he,nation and the Empire. A motion was carried congratulating the Prime Minister on the invitation to attend the very important Imperial Conference in London this year; also “that this meeting desires to place on record its high appreciation of the services rendered to the Dominion and Empire by Mr Massey while occupying the position of head of the Reform Government, and, furthermore, to express its continued confidence in the Prime Minister and his colleagues.” The meeting also wished Mr, Mrs and Miss Massey boh voyage and a safe return to New Zealand. The meeting ended with cheers, “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and more cheers.