PRIME MINISTER AT FOXTON.

Otaki Mail, 25 August 1922, Page 3

PRIME MINISTER AT FOXTON.

——. -f PROTESTS FROM PARTY LEADERS. WHAT DID HE SAY? [ A passage in the Prime Minister's , speech at Foxton, as reported, drew I protests from the Liberal and Lahour ' leaders in the House on Tuesday. Mr JMassey's_ words were as follows: "Mr j Wilford has admitted in the House that he was prepared to negotiate. with the extreme Labour Parly to j j put the Government out, and there have been signs of it in the last few weeks. Mr Holland's misguided policy is one of confiscation. He would I nationalise the means of production— I | the land and the factories—and he I would nationalise the means ot distribution and exchange. What is left? Absolutely nothing. Weil, ladies and gentlemen, it is just coming to this: You have to choose between an attempt to bring about a Soviet as in Russia, and a system ol constitutional Government such as we have in this country, where every man and woman is free so long as he or she keeps within the four corners */ the law. You have got to ch#ose between the flag of Britain and the Red Flag of socialism. Which is it going to be?"

Mil VVILFORD'3 LOYALTY. DENOUNCES "FLAG WAVING AND LIP UTTERANCE." Referring to Mr Massey's Foxton speech, Mr Wiliord said he noticed that whenever the Premier hud a speech to deliver he went to a small town. At Foxton Mr Massey said Mr Wiliord had admitted in the House he was prepared to negotiate with Mr Holland to put the present Government out of office. That statement hit below the belt, and was a slandei on the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party .stood for Empire Constitutional methods, and law and order. They were loyal Britishers, and their candidates also were loyal Britishers, and those who supported them were pleased to have the protection of the Union Jack. Sovietism to their party was death, and Liberalism was life They claimed they were as loyal as the Prime Minister.

Mr Holland: That is not saying

much! Mr Wilford said the Premier and the Reform Party were ulraid, and instead of coming down with a policy they came down with the cry thai everyone opposed to Mr Massey was a Bed Fed. "I am proud ol mj King and country, and so is every member behind." added Mr Wiliord. He had never said he was prepared to negotiate with Mr Holland. Mr Massey: You did. Mr Wiliord: I said 1 lien. and 1 say it again, that I was piepared to enter into negotiations with Labour to prevent vote-splitting and get proportional representation. (Interruption.) The policy of the Holland party is as distinct from my policy as mine is from yours to Mr Massey). All 1 have to say to the Prime Minister is that no member on ibis side of the Bouse win yield to him. His loyalty is Hagwaving and Mp utterance. MR HOLLAND DENIES CONFISCATION. PHIML' MINISTER UPHOLDS HIS CHARGE. At question time in the House yesterday the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr Holland) drew attention to the report of the Prime Minister's speech. and particularly to the passage in which Mr Massey was stated to have said that the Labour Party's policy was one of confiscation and that the party admitted it. He was not going to suggest, lie said, that the Prime j Minister was responsible for the report, or that the Prime Minister would be dishonourable enough to have re- ! course to such a foolish lis" as the I report contained. The Prime Minis- | tor, of course, would know-' that the | Labour Party had repudiated on the floor of 'he House the charge that its I policy was one of confiscation.

Mr Massey called the speaker's attention to the use of the words "foolish lie." He took strong exception to them. He would not permit his name to be associated with anything that a member chose to term a "foolish lie." Mr Holland said he had never suggested that the Prime Minister was responsible for "that lie." He was asking his question merely in order that Mr Masseyis denial of the report might go forth to the country. Mr Massey said he remembered saying that the policy of xnc Labour Kariy was one of nationalising thcmeans of production, distribution and exchange. Mr Holland: Quite right, Mr Massey: If that is noi confiscation, 1 do not know what confiscation means.

Mr Holland: But the report, says the party admitted it.

Mr Massev: Does the hon •' . .. gentleman deiiv +»*- e . .udi his policy is one of nationalising the means of production, distribution and exchange? Howls he going to get them?