CORRESPONDENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 66, 26 March 1913, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor “Stratford Post.)

THE REFORMERS. Sir,—Mr Massey went to Christchurch to deliver what he termed a policy speech. I have carefully read the columns of your paper, and have failed to find it (that is, the policy). I then read the Christchurch papers, and the “Squatters’ Organ,” and again drew a blank. The Christchurch Press says: “Mr Massey proved to their satisfaction that it took ten of his audience to make one man..” But the admisvsion was by ticket only, and if it takes ten Reformers to make one t man, we will have to accept Mr Massey on that item of policy. (No. 2). “The Government had gone through hundreds of divisions without defeat.” There were, according to Hansard, twenty-two divisions in tho House and sixty-six in Committee. (What about those cats now?). (3). “The Post Office deposits for the first time had exceeded the withdrawals. (Cheers.)” 'Jhe Seddon-Ward Government had as much as a-million and more of a credit ever withdrawals, and large surpluses of deposits every year over withdrawals; hut probably Mr Massey was .-a/mg a joke with his audience. (4). A small chip of a policy plank: “He advocated a Widows Pension Bill.” Does lie mean the one Sir Joseph Ward put i n the Statute Book, or is it a new one for squatters’ widows? By the way, i t consistently opposed the Old Age Pension Bill before it became law.

Then he began to talk. The dominion was never so prosperous; the revenue, was never so buoyant; New Zealand sechrities were never so low on the London market (only he did not tell them that); every boat leaving Auckland was full to the last bunk (he forgot that too). Did Mr Massey telf -his audience that Mr Allen had offered another dreadnought aid 10,000 New Zealand boys for foreign sen ice without the f consent of Parliament ? (Not much). How they howled when Sir Joseph Ward offered a dreadnought just when it was wanted, and .how rhey cheer now at the mention of the bat-tleship-New Zealand. Surely consistency or inconsistency is the refuge of fools! Which is it? Now as to the new loan. When they approached Moses Jacobsen for a few millions, they told how the late Government had spent the past loans in reproductive work® and how wisely and well it had been done, and there had been no waste. Surely Mr Fisher is right—“ Consistency” is the refuge of fools. “Who” * were tlie crowd that stumped the country prior to last election saying that the money had been used foi; party purposes? The dreadnought gift ms also condemned wholesale. And how does their statement to-day f t in with the tales (all fairy ones) they pumped into the electors a little over a year ago? Verily, I say unto you, brethren, “Consistency is the refuge of fools.” In conclusion, I trust, sir, our member will not forget the Railway Deal and the Orphan Girl Case when Parliament meets, and will take the rake with him.—l am,etc,, REFORM. Stratford. 21.3.13.