Pre-Sessional Speech.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 18, 13 May 1914, Page 5

Pre-Sessional Speech.

The Ward Government had been trading on the Consolidated Fund to keep the country going. The surplus shown this year was only some £-100,000. It was' not so large as in previous years, but was accounted for by the extraordinary expenditure on the smallpox outbreak and on the strike. Last month the Advances to Settlers Department had advanced £90.000. In 1912 there was a financial stringency before Mr Massey took office, and the Ward Government reduced advances to £SOO. The Mussey Government was blamed with this reduction, but it was caused by the previous Government's maladministration. To-day the maximum advance was £IOOO. After coming into power the Government had stuck to the lower maximum because they were compelled to clean up the finances. Sir Joseph Ward had limited the local bodies' advances to £SOOO, but to-day a County Council could get £IO,OOO and a Town Board £SOOO for necessary works. Probably as time went on the maximum would be increased. He 'the speaker) had differed from the Minister for Finance, holding that he was too severe

in rectifying the financial position. It was said that when Mr Massey came into power The Old Age Pension and other Acts would be repealed. The present Government was young in polities but they would see that the business of the country was carried on on Liberal lines. The party supporting Mr Massey was pledged to progress. Had the Old-Age Pension Act been repealed or improved? Mr Massey had reduced the pension age for women from 65 to 60. A Voice: How many times did you vote against it? , Mr Hine: Come out of the past. Think of the present and the future. A Voice: Give us some of the future. Mr Hine: In the future there will be pensions for the blind and the .bait, and it will be done by Mr Massey. The pension Act, said Mr Hine, stood in no danger of being repealed. When the Reformers were in opposition the public believed that if they came into power there would be soup kitchens and wages would fall; but the fall would not go down when they wero in: power and were pursuing a policy more liberal than the Liberals had ever pursued. The Government also hoped to repeal the restriction on thrift—the provision regarding the value of house property.

As to the Navy Question, ; the defence question had always been a' non-party one, and when Sir * Joseph offered the Dreadnought he (the speaker) had agreed to the proposal. He objected to the attempt; being mad,e to make party capital out-of the Navy question. He stood for one control for the Navy. The Government had no desire to create a local navy under local control. The country, however, had an export trade of £22,000:000 and something must be done to protect it.

A Voice: Our exports next year will total twenty-four millions. Mr Hine; And twenty-six millions the next year if Mr Massey remains in power. (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Hine said the present proposal was to make no subsidy to the British Government, but to keep the money for the construction of two British cruisers. There was no suggestion to create a "toy Navy." But the Government could be relied on to do the very best in their power for the defence of the country. In his opinion there should only be

One Opinion about the Strike. It was a most deplorable thing for the country. Everybody must recognise that there could only be one Government in a country, but the strikers had attemped to set up another Government. One striker had said he would not be satisfied until the Socialist flag waved over Government House. A Voice: The Government did not step in and take action.

Mr Hin<>: There was the Arbitration Act for the workers if they wanted it. They did not want it. Continuing, Mr Hine said the strike was no credit to the strikers. Mr Wesley Sprang estimated the resultant loss to farmers at £120,000; but a greater Joss than that was the loss of wages to the workers. A voice: The Union Co. did not loso much. Mi Hine said that if it was a quarrel between the men and the Union Co., why did the men refuse to work other' bents. He did not think there would be another strike in New Zealand for | many years after the lesson given by the Government'in the recent strike. Sir Joseph Ward said he could have settled the strike in two days, but was the slaughtermen's strike settled in two days, or the Waihi strike? A voice: Mr Massey was on the side of the Union Co. Mr Hine : Mr Massey was on the side of fair piny. Did they think, asked Mr Hine, that any Government would allow the streets of the capital city to be overrun by a crowd of men who said they would make the streets run with blood ? A voice: What about the specials? Mr Hie: Does anyone deny that the Rimutaka was rushed and Whitcombe and Tombs' shop raided before the specials went to Wellington? A voice: What about Waihi? Mr Hine: The Waihi strike was started long before Mr Massey took oflice. Tt was allowed to drag on from week to week, and the Government had to take decided steps. Mr Hino went on to speak of the Labor Disputes Investigation Act. Under this there was n provision for

the talcing of a secret ballot in connection with a proposal to strike, which was supervised by a Government oiticial, so that there could be ho intimidation. The Government believed thai, strikes were fomented by agitators, and the Act was designed to stop intimidation. The Bill was approved by nearly every member of Parliament. Messrs Payne and Webb opposed it, but Messrs Veitch and Millar upportJed it. A strike was always, .aga'nst ithe worker. The worker could always get his wrongs righted if he was guided—- ) A voice: By Massey.

Mr Hine said the workers Mould get justice if they were guided by their proper leaders. He was not endeavour. ing to show an alliance between the Liberals and the Bed. Feds—time would show whether it was so 01 not. As to the second ballot, something better would be offered when it was discovered. He did not believe in the second ballot. He thought it was bad for the morals of the people and was only wanted by people who desired to make a secret alliance behind the backs of the electors. He did not say that 1 the will of the people had out Mi' Massey in powen, but the Government was doing its best to carry out the programme it had promised. A voice: What about the Opunake railway? Mr Bine: 1 did my best,, but I did not promise it to you. A voice: What about prohibition? Mr Hine: It is coming, and fchfiu, I suppose you will be trotting out of the country. They could rest assured, said Mr Hine, that the second ballot. would not be used next election. As to the \ ' :,: -- Leglslatlve Council, the members of the Council had "e----fused to allow the law to be altered. Next session it was hoped that there would, be sufficient supporters of the Government in the Upper'House to parry the amending Bill, which provided for the members being elected. Somebody had asked about the Post Office. A Voice: We want a new one here:< Mr Hine said that for the quarter ending March 31st, 1912, before Mr Massey came into power, the withdrawals from the Post Offices Saving Bank exceeded the deposits by £57,091, but for the quarter ending March slsfc, 1914, the deposits exceeded the withdrawals 'by £291,000. Money had beeh"dear for some time but he hoped it would soon get "back to nor- j rnal, though t'he normal state of money 'j

ivas hard to discover. A voice:! When Massey is in office. Mr Hivie i Qfl Mr Masse?-continues in power I hope the rate! of interest will ; ome <jlown,< Ki I! ;r ■ • ■ i • In Conclusion. Mr Hine thanked the Audience for coining to' hear his ,'preUessional acount,of politics at the present juncture. Whatever had been done by the Reform Tarty, he said, they were :>ut,for a fair, and a square deal. (Laughter.) There bad'been two o; three little pinpricks of kite, but he could tell them that" the Massey Party were''out to "continue their woodwork.' 'They had''hot carried put all their platform, but'fie would 'ask his hearers" and the cmnitry to give them an, extension of titae to complete their promise—(AVoW: : You can't do it)—applause. The prospects were bright; they'were, rie'yer brighter, gauged at any' riit'e by the" activity of iihe other side; that was because the' latter were anxious to get back. •'They are nearly dead," came the interjection. "Oh, don't say anything like that,'" replied Mr Hine, "but they are up against a pretty hard problem— (A Voice: "Brains!"). Mr Hine: Yes, that's a good word for it! (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Hine referred to the statements that were made by the other side concerning unsound finance, that wages would drop, and so on, when the Massey Party got into power. But, he asked, did the wages drop? Then as to Mr Wilford's remarks concerning tlie boilermakers being reduced from 6s to 4s, that was not correct; he had got information from the railway department that besides the 4s they got 2s for night allowance and another 2s for work done. Further remarks brought forth some dissent from the body of the hall, an interjector stating that Mr Wilford was speaking of the general manager getting 21s travelling allowance and the boilermakers -Is, whereas there was no travelling allowance for the men of the second division, a, statement that elicited cheers and applause. Well, said Mr Hine, if I have been misled by tlie railway department, I will admit it in an open letter to the public; that will lie fair. As to the general manager having his travelling 'expenses increased from las to 21s, that was incorrect, as Mr Hiley applied for the position under certain conditions and got it. The 15s was the -mount paid to tlie former manager, and Mr Hiley's amount of 21s had never been altered. (Applause.) Mr Hiley, continued Mr Hine;' had already saved the amount of his salary in '<one workshop alone. (Cheers and applause.) "Why were 500 men sacked," roared an interjector. "They ilid not earn their wages," replied another of the audience, and the hall rocked with laughter. Tlie Chairman here called the meeting to order, reminding the audience that question time was coming. .Mr Hine went on to deal with the matter of engine-building. lie claimed that the Government had a perfect right to go to Price Bros., wlio had been building engines for years for previous Governments. At the same time, Mr Hine

said, ho was not a believer In that system it' it could possibly In avoided. Mr Hine thanked them all once again for the kindly attention tlioy had given him, and expressed h» hope thai they world all meet

again. He trusted that he would do his belt lor the country, ami also lor the district, and having done that, lie would come hack to Stratford and place himself in their hands, feeling sure that any good work he had done would he recognised at the Forthcoming election. (Loud and continued applause:)

NO LACK OF QUESTIONS.

ON DIVERSE SUBJECTS. The fii-.st question had ooen handed' to the Chairman, and''was signed by ffi C. I). Sole. it was as follows: "Would Mr Mine inform the meeting it the statement in the Hon Mv Allen's loan prospectus to the British money lender, that all t'.o past surpluses of the Liberal Government were genuine cash ones amounting to over 8 millions and had been transferred to Public Works, and that 3G millions of the borrowed money was interest producing, and the Public Debt Extinction Act was one of the fifiest measures on the Statute Book, were correct; or, were all these statements put in with the intention of deceiving the British money lender " -Mr Hine said the question was a rather vigorous one. "Yes," he said, "if those are. the words of Mr Allen they, are right." (Mr Sole: Thank you!) "If Mr Allen said *O, it is there." Mr Sole: "Can you inform me if the whole of the Opposition voted ;ig ainst the Public Debt Extinction Act?" Mr Hine: The majority did j in fact, I did. Another question by Mr Sole had been handed up to the chairman, and it, read :—-"Would Mr Hine kindly explain to the electors what he meant by telling Parliament he was replying to a coterie of goldminding speculators, when he stated in the Town Hall in reply, to a question that Mi Allen's' loan prospectus was made to look as attractive as possible hut underlying was the intention to derive ?"_Mr Hine said he would repeat what he said in Parliament. Ho made no reference to Mr Allen's prospectus at all;.in fact, when he spoke in Stratford before, he did not know that Mr Allen's prospectus was available.

In answer to Mr E. Jackson, Mr Bine explaimed the Otahuhu loan. The loan to the Otahuhu Town Board of £lo,ooo was granted in Sir Joseph Ward's time for a system of watersupply and sewerage, but Mr .Russell., among others, had concluded that it was the work of Mr Massey. An elector asked regarding the watersiders' strike -whether Mr Hhie. would admit that >the breach .of the agreement meant the abrogation of the award, and why was ths Union Company not prosecuted ?—Mr Hine said: That is a pretty question! It was not very clear,'-, but it appeared that the questioner wanted to allow the shipwrights to break the agreement, and then when the other side would not let them go back to work ho wanted the Government to prosecute them—(Applause.) The same questioner elaborated the position, stating that though an award was broken, it was not abrogated; When Mr Hine asked him for a concrete example he referred to the position in New South Wales, and here the crowd laughed loudly. in reply to a remark by Mr Hint 1 , the questioner said he was not dealing with persons breaking an award, and he mentioned the baking trade. Mr Hine: You mean to say that if the bakers locked the operative bakers out, and next day asked them to come back and they wouldn't, are the bakers liable to be sued? Surely not! (Applause.) In reply to the same questioner, Mr Hine said he did not admit that there had been connivance by the police in connection with the Waihi strike and the unfortunate death of Evans. In his opinion, the police stood a great deal from the rabble, and the members of the force in this country was an example to the police of other countries. They all deplored the dentil of Evans, but the fact remained that when people's blood got hot there was some excuse for what might be done hi thy heat of the moment.

In reply to another question concerning the watersiders' strike, Mr Hine said that if the men gave in to the employers, as had been said, well —that finished it. (Applause.) Replying to a question as to the cost of the defence system of the Dominion, and whether it equalled the amount spent on education, Mr Hine said the former was not so large by a long way and ho hoped it never would be. About £'500,000 was the amount spent on defence, while a. million was spent on education. Being reminded that the naval expenditure had to be reckoned with, Mr Hine ,said that would bring it up to about three-quarters of a million. In answer to Mr E. Jackson, Mr Hine said the Government did not advance anything from the Advances to Settlers Office for renewals of mortgages. Regarding the naval policy, and whether he considered that two Bristol cruisers were sufficient to protect New Zealand's trade of 1 22 millions, Mr Hino said the idea was to have vessels that might keep marauders off. He agreed with Sir Joseph Ward as to the gift of a Dreadnought, and would give two if they could afford it. The trouble was that Dreadnoughts became obsolete so soon. They should be guided by the decision of the Admiralty.

In reply to a question as to the amount of loans raised by the Massey Government, and the cost, Mr Hino wont fully into the matter. The £3,500,000 loan cost the country £4 S 3 5d lor ten years, being convertible for thirty years; Mr Myers' loan cost £5 Is Id for two years,, and Sir Joseph Ward's cost £1 lis ud, al-

though the last figures were not exactly lair to Sir Joseph Ward because some of the, loan had been converted into a 30-year period. Mr A. !•'.. Osmond asked if it was not a fact that the Government were guided by their financial adviser. If the financial adviser advised the Government to, issue short-dated debentures, would Mr Hiue condemn it as ;, question of policy?—Mr Mine: 1 should think the adviser ought to be sacked. (Laughter and applause.) Do you suggest that he should be sacked? Yes, if any adviser advised the raising of <H millions for two years he should not have the position. ( Laughter.) Are you aware that the Government adviser is the Governor of the Rank og Kngland?- I do.not think he is. He is one of them.—Still, 1 say it, is a bad policy. Viios of Thanks. Mr AY. H. H. Young moved a hearty vote of thanks to .Mr Hine for his able address; that this meeting express continued confidence in him as their member—(applause, boohs, ami cheers)—and the utmost confidence in Ihe .Reform Party. (Great applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr Orr and declared carried amid loud applause and loud "Noes." A call for cheers for Sir Joseph Ward was made simultaneously with ji similar compliment for Mr Hine, and there was a great uproar, and on the call of Mr Hine for a vote'of thanks to the chair the meeting ended.

MR HINE AT STRATFORD. A GOOD MEETING. A rev? representative gathering gieated Mr J. B. Hine, MP. for Stratfoi'd. in the Town Hall last night, members of the fair sex being amongst those present in large numbers. The chair .vas occupied by His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood), who introduced Mr Hine in a short speech. He said Mr Hine was so wellknown, even to new-corners, that it was a merely formal matter for him to introduce their member, who would deal with the political questions of the day.

Mr Hine was applauded on rising. He said that in accordance with his usual custom he was there that night to deal with the proceedings of the past session. The Reform party had not yet fulfilled their promises to the country. It would take several years perhaps—certainly more than two years. He intended also to deal with the frivolities of the Liberal Flying Squadron who had recently toured Taranaki. It was just as well that he (the speaker) would leave such frivolities and would seriously discuss political questions—all he would Ray would be facts. The Flying Squadron had not spoken on points of policy, but had confined themselves to a few errors inlo\ which he admitted the Government had fallen. All their speeches were about Jam6s, Garlick, and a little fishy tale. As to the James letter, he wished to dissociate himself entirely from such tactics used by any party. Mr Wilford had spent some time in dealing with the letter, but at the end of the speech did ho not fall into the same error? Did he not ask for three cheers to be given for the Liberals so that he could have it telegraphed to Wellington? Was that not what Mr Wilford complained of Mr James do-, ing? A voice: You will get the same tonight for the Government. Mr Hine: "If it comes, well and good, but I won't ask for it." Continuing he said that he coidd not say if shrimps were a good food for trout, but surely the people in the Fisheries Department could be relied on to know. The shrimps were not put in Lake Taupo to be eaten at once and to be replaced when the trout were, hungry again. The lake "was twentyfive miles long and some would escape and breed. Mr Wilford was an astute man and he must have badly Misjudged the Intelligence of the people of Stratford when he expected them to swallow his shrimp tale. In 1907 the Ward Government sent;- the-, i Director ■ ; of.. Fisheries .to America to bring out a shipment of cisca herring, which were to be liberated in the lakes as a natural food for trout. Eighty per cent of the shipment died on the voyage and the other twenty per cent could not be hatched after arrival. The Massey party did not go about and condemn the then 'Government, recognising that they were doing the best they could to preserve the fine fishing in the country. As to Royd Garlick, the Committee of Inquiry found that the evidence did not support Mr Wilford's charges and that the salary paid was reasonable, \hough it would have been better J* public applications had been called for the position. He thought that rather much Was being spent on technical education, especially among country children, The three matters mentioned were all that Mr Wilford could advance as a reason why the Government should be displaced. One other matter Mr Wilford had touched on was the Fire Insurance Department. He asked his hearers if they had not heard him previously from that platform speak in support of all borrowers from the Government insuring their buildings with the Government? He had always taken that view and always would. As a matter of fact the Ward Government's Act said insurance should be made with the State office or some reputable office. Alhough he vas supporting the Massey Govern•nent he

Did not feel Compelled to Vote with them if he thought .they were wrong. He had always mentioned that in his addresses. Everybody who had aji income of over £3OO had to pay income tax. Mr Allen brought down a proposal that every payer of income tax should have his assessed total of taxable income reduced £25 for every child he had, up to four, under sixteen. If a man had four such children and had an income of £4OO, the amount taxed would be reduced to £3OO, and he would pay no tax. He had opposed the measure because one of the party's planks was to reduce taxation, and he thought a start should be made with reducing the taxation on those men who were keeping families on £2 10s a week. To show the insincerity of the Flying Squadron: Mr Forbes spoke strongly at Toko regarding the concession, but he was one of those who voted for the Bill. He (the speaker) had called for a division against the Bill and could only get Messrs Payne, Brown, Atmore, Ell, Hindinarsh and J. C. Thompson to support him. Ho would like to see the Government reduce the taxation on the necessaries of life, and in doing that he would support them ; but he would not vote for the Government on such a ridiculous scheme as this income tax remission. "They call them," said Mr Hine, "the Flying Squadron: I would recommend the dropping of one letter." As to the policy of the Government, there was the vital change in the land policy. From the Liberal party they heard a lot about The Graduated Land Tax, 'hut nothing about freehold and le&*»-

hold. The graduated land was spoken of so much because the Liberals desired it to be thought that the Government was backed by the big landowner. But were they ? Was he (the speaker) ? (A voice: No.) It was stated (though he very much doubted it) that aggregation of Maori land was going on; but if it was, then it was being done under the previous Government's law. As regarded big estates the Government had increased the graduated land tax. The Liberals stated that the increase on an. estate valued at £40,000 was only £l2, and people thought that was a paltry increase. It was a paltry increase, but it was £l2 more than tho Ward Government was game to put on. The previous Government increased the tax by 25 per cent, on estates over £40,000, but thß present Government had reduced the maximum to £30,000, which constituted a substantial increase. The tax was imposed in "steps" and £40,000 was the beginning of a step. On £39,000 the increase was £6B, and on £49,000 about £IOO. The aggregate increase received from big landowners last vear was £46,000. A voice: How many Liberals voted for the measure? Mr Hine said he did not think there had been a single,division. The Liberals would like if tlie Government abolished the tax. But it must be remembered that there were just

As Advanced Liberals cm the Government side as in the Opthe reins of office and that was a pretty sure indication of their advanced views. The Government had publie opinion behind them—when & they lost that they would have to get out. The Liberals said that nobody had;been settled on the land under Mr Massey's Land Act; but no land ( bill stood by itself. Each new Bill was merely an amendment and had to work in with previous Acts. A total of 3193 persons had been settled on the, land since Mr Massey took office. Nearly half a million had been expended in buying up estates, which was a better record than the Liberals could produce over a like period. When the Government. had been in office twenty-one years they could make a comparison with the Liberal party on the question of the acquisition of estates. The Premier stated recently that during the present month 73,000 acres had been thrown open for settlement. The policy of the Government was: Settlement, more settlement, and still more settlement. Mr Forbes at Toko had made a point of the secret valuation roll. This roll was instituted by the previous Government. Mr Forbes diet not object so long as his party was in power, but when he was in Opposition he objected to it. He (the speaker) agreed with the principle of the roll, but could not see that it was proper to divulge particulars. The Massey Government had given the Land for Settlement settlers

The Right to Acquire the Freehold,

a right which had long been denied by the previous Government. When Mr Massoy came into power he found tliat Sir Joseph Ward had been pushing on with developmental work, and he found an empty Treasury. The Government wished to carry on the works, but naturally they could not for lack of funds. When Sir Joseph Ward was returned at the last general election, instead of borrowing as he should have done he borrowed on short-dated debentures. Mr Myers had also an opportunity to borrow properly, but he also borrowed at short date. When Mr Myers took ud the reins he was saddled with £1,185,000 of short-dated loans. Mr Myers borrowed another million on short date, which made a total of £2,785,000 to be deducted from the four and a half millions which was subsequently borrowed .Much had been heard of the pigeon holes, but if the Liberals had not gone out of power the details just given would never have been known. When Mr Massey took office there was only £475,000 with which to carry on the country's works. When Mr Allen became Minister of Finance he had a table prepared showing the position of the various State enterprises, and all were shown to be in a more or less bad condition. At the end of the Ward Government's year there was A Surplus Of £807,003.

but thero was only £IBB,OOO left la the Treasury. Nothing had beea tra«iif«n«(] ta th« Publita Workt Faod,