POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 44, 14 August 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL.

MR. MASSEY AT MASTERTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Masterton, Last Night, Mr. W. F. Massey, )e Jl dcr of the Opposition, addressed a crowded meeting in the Town Hall last evening, and met with a cordial reception. The chair was occupied by the Mayor (Mr. J. M. Coradine).

Mr. Massey, on -rising, was given an ovation. After dealing briefly with local affairs, he expressed the opinion that the party which was at the present hi the minority in Parliament was in every way capable of managing the affairs of the country. This was a time for political stocktaking. The past five years, though years of good seasons, nign prices and the expenditure of loan moneys, had been prosperous in many respects. However, matters were not satisfactory. Mr. Massey proceeded to refer to the land question, stating that the present Government had practically destroyed the optional system, and by the renewable lease had made settlers tenants for all time. His party would give the settlers the right of purchase of an estate, whether large or small The renewable lease was in many respects worse for the country than the lease in perpetuity. The Opposition approved of money being raised by way of loans for land settlement, and roads and bridges. Authority had been given by Parliament for the raising of £soojooo annually for the acquisition of land for settlement, and for some years this was expended. Last year, however, only £158,796 had been expended from the amount authorised. There had Wen neglect and want of energy in prose . cuting settlement of land, which did not reflect credit on the Government of the country. It was a great mistake having as a Minister of Lands a Maori who had no practical knowledge of the business and good settlers were leaving the country because they could not get land to suit them. "Give us settlement." said Mr. Massey, "and the country will prosper." (Applause.) In reference to roads and bridges which were urgently needed (for the dwelloprnjcnt df the country a sum of £590,084 had been asked for and appropriated last year and only £255,983 expended. This was not fair to settlers who had to face bad roads m the winter months. Mr Massey contended that the estimate for pubhc works should be brought down earlier in the session. Dealing with finances the speaker said that durino the past five years there had been aS increase of £2,220,703 in the amount extraded from the pockets of the people. Th lß was out of all proportion to the increase in the population, and was a nn r n o f ng J n l! Cati ° n 0f extra ™gance on the part of those at the head of affair* (Applause ) Laboring classes, thouch weaving higher wages in certain casts, were m actually a worse position to-dav than five years ago. Railway faros were higher to-day than five years back, ,1,1 /"T was hT g* ] y in seconders foxes The national debt of the Dominion had increased from £O7 wr head in 1900-7 to atout £Bl per hea d h«t year. He stood firm as a New Zealander and was proud of his country and its potentialities, but there was something wrong with the administer tion when the national debt and railway fares etc., were increased to such an extent m five years. (Applause) THE MOKAU CASE

Mr. Masscy then proceeded to deal briefly .with the Mokau case. He claimed that the statement laid Wore the House by Sir James Carroll did not touch an y 0 f the assertions he had made in Auckland relative to the transaction He said that the consent of the Governor-in-Counci) must be obtained before a larger area, than 3000 acres of native land could be paired with, a nd y e t the confirmation of the Mfc of the Mokau lands to private individuals had been completed seven days 'before an Order-in-Couneil had been issued. Fifty-three thousand acres of land rich in minerals had been sold at 10s 4'/ 2 <l per acre, and now the ActingPremier proposed that an inquiry be mad* by the Native Affairs Committee, which was comprised of nine Government members ami three Oppositionists. I can sit down and write the report of that committee now." said Mr. Massey aitir it. (Loud applause.) jf r \r as . My referred to the fact that the' block of land at Kawhia had been advertised for sale on qptional terms, but after the people had come from all parts of the Dominion to view the land, the GovernEml h . n(l Wit lV' raWn the optional tenure, because the land was supposed to possess minerals, which should not be parted with by the State. Yet the same Government allowed the Mokau lands and minerals to go to speculators. (Laughter.) Referring to the proposal m -the Land Bill of last year, Mr Massey said it had been made a. penal offence for a person owning over 333 acres of first-class land to acquire a further area. Yet an area 0 f 53 n00 acres of native lands could be disposed of to speculators without the slightest risk of imprisonment. "If that is Liberabsm," ne said, "it's ~ot Liberalism as I understand it." (L ou d applause.) THE OPPOSITION'S POLICY. The speaker proceeded to detail the policy of the Opposition, as outlined m ins Wellington speech, dealing with finances, the fiscal system, the reform of the Legiskt.ve Council, reducing the a* limit of old ngc pensions to women the reform of the Civil Service, etc He claimed that the moneys of the Government savings banks, instead of il,ein" borrowed by the Minister of Finance* should be made available to borrowers m the Dominion for the development of internal resources. This would ensure increased interest to depositors and assist small settlers and others. (<Vpp anse.) Mr. Massey strongly criticised the _ withholding of information conceriiing the cost of raising the five , million and other loans, and said this I was not fair to the representatives of the people. (Applause.) He did not believe a five million loan would have been raised last .year unless the Government ■wanted plenty of money in the back ground with which to influence the elections. Referring to the death duties, the speaker said these affected small estates as well as large ones. No country on earth could be claimed to be made prosperous by increased taxation. (Loud applause.) In dealing with the land policy, Mr. Masscy said his party desired that the leasehold be retained as a stepping stone to the freehold, which every tenant should have the right to acquire if so disposed. He (believed there should be limitation of area. Dealing with native lands, he stated there were hundreds of thousands of acres up north producing nothing, and contributing nothine in taxation. He admitted that some slight movement m the settlement of native lands had been made under the Act of IflOi). but this was not sufficient. They should give the natives every encouragement to occupy and work their own lands, but if they did not do so. the lands should be utilised for European settlement. (Applause.) They should do everything possible to break up the communistic system of living, which was a curse to the country and to the natives themselves. Dealing with borrowed money, Mr. Massey reiterated his former statement, and exhibited official

documents in support of his contention that only 63 per cent, of the l«an money had been expended upon "what was known as "reproductive works.". The balance of 37 per cent, had to be found from the pockets of the taxpayers, and meant a substantial increase in taxation. Sir James Carroll had said that 130 Europeans owned thirteen million acres of freehold land. That was utter nonsense. There was not a single European owner in the Dominion owning 130,000 acres of land. (Applause.) In reference to the Legislative Council, Mr. Massey said this at present was infinitely worse than the House of Lords at Home. He advocated the election of Legislative Councillors on the proportional representation system over large constituencies. Mr. Massey resumed his seat after speaking for nearly two hours and a half, with a strong appeal to the electors to return to Parliament men of honor and integrity, irrespective of party, men whom they could trust and whom they would consider themselves justified in appointing trustees in their estate, (Loud and prolonged applause.) On the motion of Mr. J. C. Cooper, seconded by Mr. S. R. Edwards, the following resolution was carried by acclamation and without a single dissentient: "That this meeting heartily thanks the leader of the Opposition (Mr. Massey) for his able address and the declaration of his policy, and is of opinion that the time has arrived when a change of administration would be in the best interests of the Dominion." Three lusty cheers for Mr. Massey terminated what the leader of the Opposition considered one of the most successful meetings held in the Dominion.

Mr. Massey speaks at Pahiatua tomorrow night.