MR MASSEY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9111, 2 April 1908, Page 4

MR MASSEY.

SPEECH AT WHANGAREI. Per Press Association. Whangarei, April 1. Mr Massey addressed a crowded audience here to-night. He traversed the recent speech of the Premier in Whangarei and other places. After dealing with various aspects of the Laud Bill on the lines of previous utterance, he referred to revolutionary Socialism, quoting Keir Hardie, the Fabian Society and other authorities. Under Socialism, as defined by these authorities, the community would be divided into two classes— State owners of land and State employees. Socialism and Liberalism advocated individual enterprise, but the most important part of the question was that in New Zealand the Parliament —including the House of representatives, the Cabinet, and the Legislative Assembly, contained a majority of men who were prepared to accept Socialism as laid down by the authorities quoted as revolutionary Socialism, which the Socialists claimed they wanted. This meant a steady progress towards the nationalisation of the land, and the stifling of enterprise and liberty. The only policy the Government had to offer was one of compromise. If the Government members were not revolutionary Socialists they had strong leanings that way, and were friends of the Socialists. Failing to find any Government policy, he offered to lend them two planks of his own, those being the security of tenure and Tgood roads, which, if adopted by the Governenmt, would be to the greater advantage of the country than anything else. The public debt of New Zealand was increasing so alarmingly that the time had come for rigid economy and the obtaining of value for expenditure. He could only account for the Premier’s mixed financial remarks at Papakura by the fact that the Premier had paid a visit that morning to the Waerenga vinery. The system of public accounts were kept in such a way that it wus impossible for anyone to understand them. They ought to be so simplified as to come within the comprehension of all. He advocated , the amendment of the local fgovernment system and revision of the public service. He was willing to support universal old age pensions. A vote of thanks for the address and confidence in Mr Massey as a political leaner was carried unanimously.