MR MASSEY’S REPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8343, 1 February 1913, Page 8

MR MASSEY’S REPLY

AMENDMENTS CONTEMPLATED. The Premier, in reply, said that they would always find him there if they wanted him. Mr Hickey: Not always, I hope. The Premier: 1 have never turned my back on a single man yet, and am not going to do it. ' Mr Hickey explained that they hoped to see another Premier. The premier said it was the intention of the Government to introduce an amending and consolidating Bill this ses eioii in the ordinary way. He had a number of amendments in view, and would bring them down as soon as the House met. He invited them to go before tho labour Bills Committee and they would be given every opportunity to put forth their views. Ho was not going to express any opinion on the point raised by the deputation, but he was going to give Parliament an opportunity of placing on the statute book an Act which would be satisfactory to tho great bulk of the people of the coun try. Some very good points had been raised in regard to this matter, and he intended to make a note of them and submit them to the labour Bills Committee. STANDING BY DEFENCE ACT PRINCIPLES. He did not suggest that the Defence Act was more perfect than any other Act on the statute book, but ho wanted it to be clearly understood that tho Government intended to stand by the principles oi this Act. Anyone who looked at what was going on in other parts of the world woulu understand the reason for placing this Act on the statute book, and he was strongly of opinion that the bulk of the people were in. favour of the Act and of getting the country into a position to uefena itself if the necessity arose. Ho would . give duo consideration to the wishes of tho deputation, in this respect. IMMIGRATION. With regard to immigration an attempt nad been made to prej udico the position of the Government, and some of the newspapers had, clone a good deal iu misrepresentation; but it was his business to read newspapers. Mr Fraser: mud not heed them. The Premier: No one is less affected than myself. au- Muosey said tho Government up to the present time had dene what it tnougat necessary in inducing the propei class of immigrants to come to ‘ this country and the class required was farm ttUKHireis who would oecome larmers

themselves, if they were going to avoid, depression they must increase the number of producers. Mr liemple: And flood the market! Tne Premier: Mr Semple jumps to conclusions that are not warrauteo. The Government has no intention of flooding the market. The people are calling for more XaDour and more population, and it is the duty of the Government to supply it; but the Government is not doing it with the object of reducing wages. Mr Young: But 80 per cent, of our population is working-class. 'the Premier: My sympathy is with the working classes as much as anyone in this room. You see what is going on in Australia, Canada, and other British communities. They are all competing for population. We cannot allow this country (o stagnate with its liabilities. It is the duty of the Government to encourage the right people to come to New Zealand, and X believe we are doing it. Mr Fraser: Is the Government scheme merely agricultural? The Premier: \V© have not encouraged any other class. We discriminate in the amount of passage money they have to pay. With regard to the inquiry a* Waihi Mr Massey said he would submit the proposals to Cabinet. The matter concerning the registration of two similar unions in one place was new to him, but it was quite impossible to know every detail, if the law was not being com': plied with he would insist on it. He had always been a believer in majority rule. . Mr Young: It has been suggested we should give evidence before the Labour Bills Committee. What attitude will the Government take in regard to our proposals? The Premier: It depends whether you make out a good case or not Mr Young: W© will do that. The Premier said his proposals would be submitted in the form of a Bill which would go before the Labour Bills Committee. He would go the length of promising that they would have more majority rule than at present. The workers were justified in uniting and selling their labour in the highest market to the best advantage, and demanding the best conditions; but the Government had to hold tho scales of justice between the different classes of the community. This was what they had done up to the present, and what they intended to do in the future without favouring any party.