MR MASSEY’S VIEWS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9134, 1 May 1908, Page 7

MR MASSEY’S VIEWS.

Xu the course of an interview with a Dominion representative Mr Massey said I don’t mind saying that my business on the present trip is to meet the Opposition members and some of the prominent supporters of-the party in the different centres. But let me take the opportunity of suggesting to those people who are alarmed at the spread of Socialism that-the proper thing for them to do is to assist the party that lias stood up—and with a certain amount of success—against Social-istic-proposals in Parliament. And by Socialistic proposals I mean the nationalisation of the laud, aud the nationalisation of the industries of the Dominion. I believe the question of Socialism will be very prominently before the electors at the coming elections, and properly so, because I think the sooner the position .is faced tlre|botter. But I would ask the electors to think for themselves which party is the more worthy of support—the Government party, of which a large majority are by their votes prepared to accept Socialism ; or the Opposition party, which, while anxious to give every man a chance to improve his position, is convinced that the destruction or even discouragement of private enterprise and private industry would be the very worst thing that could possibly happen to this or any other country. On this question the electors should see that there will be no running with the hare aud hunting with the hounds, but that every candidate will be called upon to make bis attitude perfectly clear. ’ ’ “Will you say anything about the finauciarpositioa?’ ’ “Only that we are all pleased that the financial position, as disclosed by the Treasurer the other evening, is at present so satisfactory. It is well, however, to remember, in consequence of the preferential part of the Tariff Act’s only coming into operation after March 31, a very large sum was collected by way of revenue prior to the’end of last fiuancial year that would otherwise have stood ovor until this year.

“And here I may point oat that I think a mistake is being made in borrowing in New Zealand. The result of this local borrowing on the part of the Government during the last few years is that the Government itself has come into competition with those who require borrowed capital. Thus, the rate of interest has been increased to the farmers and merchants and manufacturers of New Zealand. Neither do I agree with the policy of borrowing in Australia. The Governments of the Australian States are able to go to London for the money they require, and New Zealand should be in at least as good a position to do likewise. “I notice that the Colonial Treasurer, in his concluding remarks the other evening, was not nearly so optimistic as usual, and even hinted at a nossiblo increase of taxation. Well,* taxation is already pressing very heavily on the people of this country, and lam sure that, witii careful administration, there should be uo necessity for anything of the sort. The present taxation, when one considers the increased cost of living, is quite a sufficient burden for the people to bear. It would be far better to curtail some of the unnecessary expenditure that goes on than to suggest even the possibility ■of increased taxation.” Asked if he had any other point ■on which he would like to touch, Mr Massey said he found_ in’ his ■travels through the Dominion that the two political questions uppermost iu the minds of the great majority of [the electors were those of the growing tendency to Socialism and the administration of the Arbitration Act. He had given his views In regard to the former With regard to the latter, the general opinion —and it was one in which he shared —was that the Act had practically broken down, and that if it was to remain on the Statue Book, or to be of any value in the future, it must be amended so as to make it more elastic and less irksome to both employers and workers. Whether the Government would insist upon making the necessary amendments next session or not he was, of course unable to say.