PLATFORM PROMISES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8342, 31 January 1913, Page 6

PLATFORM PROMISES

The only evidence of any disposition on the part of the Tory Government to proceed on progressive lines of policy is the occasional adoption by a Minister of a plank from tho platform of his Liberal predecessors in office. This sometimes happens. Tor example, tho Hon. W. F. Massey told, the people of Hastings the other night that prior to leaving Wellington he had given instructions to tho Crown law draughtsman to draft a Bill to enable a number of fruitgroVers who are short of tho necessary capital to come along to tho Crown and obtain money for the establishment of canning works and other branches of tho fruit industry. So far so good. Mr Seddon was the first to offer State aid for tho establishment of canning factories, and Sir Joseph Ward warmly endorsed the proposal, so that Mr Massey is offering nothing new. Nevertheless, his adoption of tho scheme is to his credit. But, after all, was Mr Massey sincere? If so, why does ho not advance the money at once instead of talking about law draughtsmen, and Bills, and other red tape? Ho already has the power. Aye, there's the rub. He has the power but not the money. Else, why tho stoppage of public works, the discharge of do-operative labourers, and oven men at tho Petone workshops, and tho inability to • find money for local bodies, advances to settlers, and alas homes for workers. If Mr Massey has no money, and cannot get it, what is the use of talking platform claptrap to tickle the palates of his hearers? Tho public just now are looking for deeds more than for words.