THE PRIME MINISTER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 188, 21 April 1914, Page 2

THE PRIME MINISTER.

Political Meeting at Awhitu.

Ihe I'iinio Minhter (Rt. Hon, W. F. Massey) passed through Pukekohe 011 'J'hursday in route to Awhitu. He proceeded by motor car ti Waiuku. Owing to the incl.mency of the weather and bad state of the road* it waa decided to travel to Awhitu by launch instead of overland as at first intended. The parly, consisting of the Prime Minister, Messrs A. M. Barriball, L. F. Shakespeare and J. Herrold, left Waiuku in the latter's I unch "Kotiri" at 3 o'clock, and after a somewhat roiqh passage, owing to the squally weather, Awhi'u wharf was reached at 5.30 o'clock. Trap* provided by Mr H. Garland and Mr H. Hamilton, clerk of the Awhitu Road Board, weie in waiting to convey the party to Awhilu Central. The visitors were most hospitably entertained at tea at Mr Garlana's homestead, and at a quarter to eight a public meeting was addressed by the Prime Minister in the schoolbouse. •

Despite the wet and cold weather there was a large at endatice of settlers, the audience including several ladies. In the absence of the chairman of the Koad Board, who was unfortunately suirering from the effects of a recent accident, Mr James Hamilton presided Mr Massey, who was well received, referred to the fact that on the last occasion ho addressed the Awhitu people it was in 1 he dual capacity of their representative and leader of the Opposition. Now he spoke to them as member for Franklin and Prime Mioister, and he wished to tell them something of the way the affairs cf the country had been conducted since the Reform Government had taken office. Referring to the ?tatement th »t bed been made that the Governm:nt did not represent the maj .rity of the couitry Mr Massey said that at last general election 41 members were returned publicly pledged to oust the Ward Government and one member was privately pledged to his committee in the same direction. 'lwo of these members broke their pledges, with the result thit the motion of nj-eonfideice wai loat on the casting vote of the Speaker. The Ward Government later 011 resigned, but not one of the eighty membirs of the House were pledged to th:ir constituents to support the Mackennie Administration. There was, however, a majority returned to support the freehold as against the leasehold, and the rtsult was that when Parliament met the Mackenzie Governme.lt were defeated by N voles, and the Reform Government took office. He would also like to call attention to the three by-elections that had taken place since that time. At Kgmont, the Government candidate (Air Wilkinson) had been returned by a large majority over the old Liberal candidate. At Greymouth and Lyttolton. where the Social Democratic candidates were finally returned at the secind ballots, the candidate standing in the old Liberal interests was badly defeated on each occasion at the first ballot by the Reform candidates, and these were two electorates where the Reform Party had never previously contested an election. All this showed that tho Government was rapidly gaining the confidence of the country, the party which had gone down every time being the so-called old Liberal*. Mr Massey then dealt with the land policy of the Government, which was one of the mam planks on which ihev went to the country at last election. It was to Rive those who went on the land the opportunity to ccnvert their leasehold into freehold, and by the legislation passed by the present Government between fifteen and twenty thousand Crown tenants were given the opportunity of becoming their own landlords. The Government intended to pursue the policy of closer settlement, and as the area of suitable Crown lands became less, it was necessary to purchase privately-owned land for purpose of aubdivision for closer settlement. The Government had already expended over £550,000 in the purchase of land for settlement, and he had given the Lar.d Purchase Board instructions to repeat this policy this year. It was alio intended to pursue a vigorous development policy in regard to public works, and in the expenditure of borrowed money necessary to give effect to this, the Government would Bee that the set tiers got lull value for every penny spent in the way of improving their means of communication in the backblocks, in the building of roads and bridges and railways. Referring to the increase in the value of exports for the 12 months ending March 31st which had reached 23} millions, the Prime Minister said the Government was out to increase the number of producers and to bring every available acre ot land into cultivation. He explained the scheme he had instituted for country workers' homes, and as the experiment had turned out very successfully at Willowbridge, in South Canterbury, he was extending it to the North Island. The opening of new markets in America meant a big thing for the dairy industry, and the Governmen were fostering the interests of [ New Zealand producers in this direction. The new steamer contract would result not only in improved and larger vessels, but what was very important a reduction in freight 011 dairy produce to American markets. Following tho lead of other countries, the Governnunt had established a Board of Agriculture which would advise as to agricultural education and all matters affecting the welfare of the agricultural and pastoral industry. The Prime Minister then proceeded to deal with financial matters, explaining the difficulties encountered by the Government in the way of a depleted Treasury 011 taking ollice, the falling due of short dated loans, the smallpox and recent industrial troubles. He was glad to say that the financial position had greatly improved, and had enabled the Government to increase the limits of ad- | vancea to settlers, workers and local bodies under the State Advances Department, and even to those requiring advances to pay off mortgages not exceeding £SOO. lhe general prosperity of the country falsified the predictions of their opponents of the Government taking office, and the outlook was never brighter than at present. The Government had, in its terra of office, increased the pay of railwaymen, of the police force and provided for increases in the salaries ot school teachers, all of which were juatlv deserved, but which naturally helped to swell the annual expenditure, lhe Government had also done

justice to the Maori \v:ir veterans, which they had i ever secured before. The pennion ape for women had been lowered from (if) to CO wars. Mr Misaev also referred to the recent indußtiiil troubles, hut hi hoped that there would be no rccuirnice or such trojbles lor many years t) come. 'lho line of cleavage between political parties in the future would be drawn as bitwcea those who sympathised with the Ked Federation and their revolutionary doctrines, and those who stood for tlia preservation of law and order and good government. At tha conclusion of the Prima Minister's a 'dress, a voti of thanks was moved by Mr Mirrisun. Two ladies, Mrs il. Hamilton and Mrs Gat land, immediately rose to move an amendment expressing confidence in the Government, and this was earned without dissent and amidst applause. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the chairman and three lieartv cheers for the Prime Minister.

The Ministerial party left on the return journey from Awhitu at 11.: 10 and after an uneventful run reached Waiuku shortly after one o'clock on Friday niori ing. Mr Massey mo'ortd back to I'ukekohj and caught the Thames express for Auckland.