POLICY SPEECH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 250, 12 March 1913, Page 5

POLICY SPEECH

PRIME MINISTER AT CH.RISTCHUECIL A MIXED RECEPTION. By Telegraph.— Per Press Association. Christchurch, L:;st Night. The Prime Minister addiesscd a large audience in the Theatre Roval to-night. The building was full bv seven o'clock, and when the meeting commenced there were as many outside as there were inside. The Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. H. Holland, presided. When the curtain was drawn up pandemonium reigned for several minutes, cheers and groans alternating, until Mr. Holland rose .to his feet. "[ want to say,"' said M". Holland, "that there are a'great many people outside, and if you don't want to listen you can let them have your seats. 1 appeal to you to give Mr.' Massey a fair and impartial heaTing. and to'uphold the name and reputation of our fair city. I now call upon the Hon. the Prime Minister to address you." (Cheers and groans.) Mr. Massey, upon rising, was greeted with further cheers and groans, but these soon died down, the Prime Minister smiling heartily the while, and waiting calmly till the noise subsided. " I thank you/' he said, "for the very hearty reception you have given me. The Mayor has ' suggested that you should give me a fair hearing. Let "me : tell you that I am going to say to-night what I came here to saw" '(Applause and; a voice: What about Waihi?). L spoke in Waihi, and 1 S ot a fair hearing in Waihi, and in every other, centre I have spoken in: I am 'joing to I maitt a policy speech. The public \\av>\ no\y had eight months' - experience of the] present 'Government, ami a huge majority of the people say (the rest of the sentence was lost through' interruptions). The Mayor- again., appealed, for., order. "A lot has been'said about a sipiare deal," he said. "Give the Prime Minister a square deal." (Applause).

j FINANCE. Mr. Massey, continuing, said: "We liavie had numerous -difficulties, financial and; otherwise, pur linancial difficulties caused our Finance Minister to go Home. I ati speaking of the legacies left -ns bv our; predecessors—the short-dated debentures, which, in the case of the loan last; year meant that the whole tiling has; to be gone into again. The policy of the present Government is to spend loan moiiies in a manner calculated to bring the greatest benefits for the Dominjoii and the people of -the Dominion. \Ve:-are giving local bodies money at the same rate as it cost us to get it. That is what 1 call a square deal. Let me refer to ! SOME OF THE CANARDS.. sent round the country prior to last election. (Applause). One of the best financial, barometers is the I'ost Office Savings Bank. The, deposits,now exceed . the jwithdrawals andf weHiope'that'the money will he cheaper.'- (Applause).• Mr. Alleii deserves to be congratulated upon the . success of his mission (applause) and,the country deserves to be congratulated upon what he achieved. Tt proves haW well the country and its Governnieni stands in the estimation of those at Horns." Mr. Massev then dealt with the £.>,- 000,000 loan', which lie said had eo.t £4 b2s S'/od per cent. The loan of last year! cost £5 2sßd per cent. "The loan we raised a month.dr.two ago" lie said, "cost lis £4 5s (id per cent: That proves that' it was easily the most successful. It speaks well for . tho' Goverunient of Ih.c Country,"

• | THE SOUTHLAND' LEASES.' A j Voice: AVlmt a>«jnt the .Southland land; transaction? .'.Mif. JMajMey ..(laughing), Yes! What about it? Who is 011 too now? What did j nil,<jo Williams say '? ■' A• Voice: How ni'uWi did yo:i pay' him?! Mi'. Massev: .Suc-li a remark is a disgrace to the city Of Christchurcli. .fudge' Williams is a man whoifi we hold in the highest respect. (Applause). Proceeding. Mr, Masse'y quoted 'figures'in regard to finance. ' I t'wa'snecs-saryj-for the people to understand how prosperous, from the point of view of ordinary revenue, the country undoubtedly'is. * ; TIIE DEFENCE ACT."Now." lie continued, "f want to talk to these military people or antk-iilitary people. We amended the Defence Act last year and a refusal to take the oath was met with a fine, which if not paid was by imprisonment:'' (Cries of "Shame.''). "The Act was altered, and 1 instead of imprisonment the penalty 'was altered to military detention." Al'jter some interruption' and interjections, a section of tiie crowd sang 'Tulle Britannia" lustily. The Mayor again'had to appeal for order.

. THE LAND QUESTION. Mr. Massey. speaking on the bind question,; said that authorities the world over l agreed that the freeholder was a greater asset to the country than the leaseholder. There was.no unearned increment. Where was it if thev had to wait: 1)1)0 years for it? They had given the l.i.p. settlers a square deal by enabling them to acquire the fee simple of their; holdings. He believed that the Reform; Government's land policy had been s«. good thine; for the settlers, and was a good thing for the country. Mr', Massey then proceeded to refer lo the Southland laud transaction, which he described as an Opposition mare's nest., WAII-II AND REEFTON. Mr. Massey's references to the Waihi and Beeftou industrial disputes were punctuated with frequent interruptions, but in the end the Mayor's appeals for order were practically acceded 10, and the speaker was given a fairly good hearing. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. ■ , Mr. Massey foreshadowed amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. which he said the Government would stick, to and endeavour to make perfect. WAR VETERANS. Mr. Ma-.scy's references to the .provisions made for Maori War Veterans and widows and orphans were greeted with | hearty applause, and the address eoneluded amid loud cheers and clapping that drowned the groans of the opposing section. MOTION AND AMENDMENT. Mr. IT. D. Aclaud, moved: "That tit's -neeting of citizens thanks the Prime Minister for his address, and expresses its confidence in ids edministration." Mr. V. Cool.-, a socialist and antimilitarist, moved as an amendment. "That this meeting of Christchurch citizens has no confidence in Mr. Massey or hi-, brother Ministers, and expresses its dissatisfaction at his whole policy, as being against, the best interests of the country, and that we believe the Government's land policy is in the interests of the land-owing classes." The. amendment was first put, to the meeting, and then the motion. [ A great many held up their hands t for each, amid cheers and groans. . The Mayor declared the motion carried, and the meeting closed.