POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 142, 10 November 1914, Page 4

POLITICAL.

PRIME MINISTER SPEAKB. GOVERNMENT'S WUUK REVIEWED. By Telegraph,—Per Press Association Papakura, Last Night. The Prime Minister opened tiLuo political campaign here tbiis evening when ho addressed a large and representative meeting in the Papakura Town Hail. Seating accommodation was overtaxed, and many of those present had to bo content with standing room, many more also standing outside tiie door. Mr 'Massey received a, very enthusiastic reception, and leaving and entering the hall lie was received with lo;'d and continued applause, and as he rose to Bpcak, he was gircoted with cheers and renewed applause. Mr Massty said it was now eighteen years since he was first elected member for Franklin, and ! he hoped to have the honor of representing it for another 18 years. (Hear, hearl) He was not there (hat evening for the purpose of making what might be called a lighting .speech. He might have occasion later on in the campaign to take the gloves oil, and when the occasion arose to take them off, he would not hesitate to do so. Ho intended on the first occasion to give them some information aa to the work that had been carried out by the present Government.

DIFFICULTIES THAT BESET THE GOVERNMENT.

During the past 2'/ 3 years, said Mr Massey, no Government that liad ever b*ld office in New Zealand had lhad so many difficulties to contend with as the present Government had had. (Hear, hear!) Ho was not complaining of this, ;as these difficulties, like all others, had a knack of disappearing when they were firmly grappled with. This was the-experience of the Government in handling the many difficulties that had Confronted them". The first difficulty that the Government had to face was the unsatisfactory condition of the 'country's finance Wnen it caniei into 'office. The outlook was bad, a.nd money was scarce and dea>\ This was not the only trouble at that time, as there were industrial troubles to face. When the Government assumed control of tiic Dominion affairs, the Waihi and Recfton -strikes were in progress. The Rcefton strike was soon sottled, but that at Wai'lli lasted for a long time. However, they got over that. °

THE MAORI EPIDEMIC. Their next trouble was the so-called smallpox epidemic among the Maoris last year. He did not know whether it was smallpox or not, but the effect that it had upon the finances and trade of the country was scarcely creditable. No one could ever tell to what extent the revenue of the railwavs and other departments was really affected by the epidemic. The outbreak also had an afterthne on tbe. settlement of native lands transactions.

However, in course of time they got rid of the epidemic, but no sooner were they free of thait than they were confronted with the big strike" of 1913.

passed to obviate panic. Prior to the | war, the greater part of New Zealand's produce had Keen carried in insulated ships. There had been a tremendous demand on those ships for the transport of soldiers from Australia and New 'Zealand for Britain's own use, and this !had created an awkward situation.

PLENTY OF SHIPS AVAILABLE. However, he was Banished now that 'owing to the arrangements made by the Government there would be sufficient ships to take away tho whole, of the country's produce for export up to the end of January. (Applause). All being well the New Zealand transports would bo back here in February next. He had arranged with the Imperial Government to send those vessels back without delay, and, if necessary, tho New Zealand Government would pay 'for theim-eturn in ballast rattier than allow the industries of the country to be tampered. (Applause). Mr Masscy wont on to outline what had been done to provide New Zealand with wheat and flour. In that connection he said that in addition to the quarter of million bushels ordered from Canada, he had been m negotiation with the Government of India for a similar quantity from there. That day he had telegraphed to Wellington giving . instructions lor an order of £109,000 bushels o£ wheat to be ordered from India by way of an experiment.

REGULATION OF PRICES. In referring to the Food, Commission Mr Massey said it was set up not to interfere with trade, but to prevent the exploitation of the. people. Ho asked the Commi9sion to investigate sugar prices. The Oonunission had reported ihat the Colonial Sugar Company had offered to give a guarantee that the price of sugar should not go beyond a reasonable price as compared with the price in other oountriis. The only provision was that the Government should not take on the sugar works.

BAILWAY IMPROVEMENT SCHEMJi Dealing with the railway proposals of the new general manager (Mr iiiley) the Prime Minister said that last seaj son the Government had been deluged with complaints from all over New Zealand regarding insufficient rolling stock illfe believed in forming brunch and trunk railways but if it waa not posI tible to handle the goods at the termini . they would soon be in difficulties.

GOOD COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK. Mr Massey said that before the outbreak of the war the Dominion was 5n a particularly prosperous conditionand during the! two years that tku present Government had been in office, ' the exports had been increased by no Tless that five million pounds worth. When the war cam.: to an end, he believed that New Zealand, with her enormous resources, her good climate, the industry of her population, aad thu many natural advantages, would recovei from the effects of the war more rapid ly than the other portions of the Brit- ; is-li Empire. (Applause).

| PROBLEM OK NAVAL DEFENCE. \ The Prime Minister tkon referred ta • the question of naval lletence, which, lia : said, should not be treated as a part)'

OUTBREAK OF THE WAR. As soon as the Dominion was getting over the effects of the strike, the 'European war came upon them like a thunderclap. The population at first 'was*almost stunned' by the outbreak of the great conflict, but it had got over the effect of the shock, and tile business of the couwtiy was now being carried on as usual. Referring 'to New Zealand's .share in the war, Mr Massey said New Zealand soldiers had been the first to o'ccupy the enemy's territory. (Applause). The taking of Samoa had been a bloodless victory, but it bad not been taken without a great deal of risk and damage. After the first expeditionary force had gone to 'Samoa, the Government commenced to organise the big expeditionary force. Few people realised the enormous amount of work involved in this organisation. However, i't had been accomplished, and it was an open secret now that New Zealand's second expeditionary force of 0000 troops was ' now ®n its way to fight for the Hag and for the Empire, and he was' satisfied the men would give a good account of themselves when t'ney reached the scene of operations. (Cheers). In fighting for the Knipire they were lighting for thmnselvcs. because prior to the declaration of war, v it had been stated by Genu an officers that in the. event

•I question. What had taken place (luring the last few weeks had convinced tile bulk of th« population that Jfew Zealand should do a great deal more in regard to naval detence than we arc. doing now. (Hear, Hear!). He referred i to what had taken place at Papeete, and said this m:ght have jiappened to any of the towns on the seaboard of New Zacland. He referred to the noncompliance, either through inability or ■unwillingness on the part of the Home Government with the naval agreement entered into in 1909, and said that although the, present U-ovejHinent had offered to increase the annual subsidy by £50,000 if the Imperial authorities '.tould carry out the agreement, the offer did not have the desired cll'eot. During the first few weeks of the war, New Zealand had been greatly indebted to the Australian Navy for its valuable! service to New Zealand in parj lieuhr and the Bmpiro m general. I (Applause). He believed we were now j out of the wood, so far as the danger lof immediate attack was concerned, j but we should profit by the experience of the past few weeks. It would' be | criminal to allow the present state of i things to continue. He was not going to quibble as to whether Uie ships , should be Imperial-owned or New Zeai land-owned, but the position must lie. ' faocd. i THE NK\V KDI'CATKLN AIT.

of hostilities Germany would take, •possession of Now Zealand and Australia, which would become German colonies. (A voice: Rot!) Mr -Massey: r think so, too. The British navy and army would have a good deal to say before that 'Happened. OOOl") BUSINESS RFjCOVERY.

'"' Proceeding, the "Prime Minister said that at the outbreak of the war business hod been paralysed, but now it was hack to normal. There was at tiret a great cry of unemployment; but now that' had almost come to an end. There were very unemployed now. (Applause). 'So far as the Government was concerned, he hoped and believed they would be able to keep public works going. Then had more men on now than for years past, and he 'believed I'hi'.y would be able to keep, this up. In that respect "New Zealand was much better off than' the other Dominions. Tn New South Wales, according to official returns, there worn thousands of men on public works only working th-ee days a week, and he sincerely hoped and believed'that nothing like that would take place in this country, I Applause). Loan money was much more difficult to obtain than before the war, but later he was hopeful of being able to obtain enough for requirements and to go on quietly.

DHMASJ) FOR PRIMARY TOSOWI'TS The outlook for our primary products had - never boon better than at. present, and there was a tromendoua demand for Now Zealand moat, and finwool and every other product which this country had been in the habit of sending away, but there 'had been difficulties in connection with kauri gum and flax industries. The former hiul, however, to it certain extent revived, though the price was not vet what it wan before the war. The Government had arranged in case of gum being unsaleable and of gun-diggers- wishing to go on digging the gum to advance a portion of the value, at which it stood prior to the war. (Applause). As a result, there was no chance now of guuidigsciN swelling the ranks of the' unemployed, lie would like to do the same for the flax industry, but it was much more difficult to Suindle find to to manage.

In speaking of the new Education ! .Act, passed last session,!' Air LMa'Miy : said that the object of the Government t'in introducing this measure was that | New Zealand should become one of the j best-educated countries in the world. \ (Hear, hear!) In the past there had , been a reluctance on tho part; of their / young men to take up the teaching • profession, but the ' betterment an tlie j conditions of teachers would remove this 1 reluctance and improve the lot of the I teacher.

T.H.K GOFEKNM.B.VFS PLEDGES. I llr Masscy then dealt with. tile j charges made by -the Opposition that the present Government had not kept ~its election pledges, but, save in< two ! :nstances, all the pledges had been kept.. •'.The Government .had pledged itself to keep borrowing within Reasonable bounds, and to prevent wasteful expenditure. This pledge Jmd been. kept. The Government hud also pledged itself to carry out a freehold land policy, and this pledge had also been kept. The present Government had provided settlors with all reasonable facilities for getting on the. land on a satisfactory 'tenure. Tho pledge in regard to the limitation of Iwldings had also, been kept. A voice: '•What about the advances "to settlers? Did you not vole against that?" Mr Massoy: 1 did, for thf. very good reason that 1 was plcdgtfl to vole against borrowing, in any shape or form."

XATIVK LAND LROLSLATIOX. The. Government had .also kept its pledges in regard to tfiet Native land legislation. Its aim was to place tho natives in the game position as the Europeans, with the same privileges and n sponsibilities. OTHER I'KOMJSBS KEPT. Amongst other pledges kept was that. to reform the Legislative Council, 'by making it elective. The pledge m regard to public service reform had also been kept. The Government nad promised a reform in local government by an abolition of the present method* of Parliamentary grants, but the Bill, owing to the delay occasioned by the war, had been allowed to stand over, lie hoped it would be .parsed next session. The pledges in regard to amendments of the pensian schemes, including the veduction of the qualifying ago vi women, from 05' to «0, had-been fulfilled. The pledge in regard to comjjulsoi'j; ik-

«OVKRft\'MRNT\S OTHER ARRAXdIv MENTS'. Referring to the oUtoer arrangements the Government had had to make owing to the war, Mr Masacy lpentioncd.that of the Moratorium law, ttr&eh: Iftd ,beej|

•wanee af*mat aickuefls and yiaanraiflv. «««t liaa not yet been jgj_ mow the Government desired to m t»« wksme introduced in Great Britain have a fair fowl. The Govemnwi* jw «»w pledged to bring about SbST trial peace, and, it g one a l*» 7 towards doing that Dy provida* that no strike should take place iritfc out a scerct ballot being taken undw * G office «SL* *> ?" not reasonable to Parliament much more would have been done than toOay the foundation" stone f * P 0 ' 1 ?/. but tho done muck more than thai

LAND SETTLEMENT. J!!,*? *T dby oae memb <* the £S V? y * at **? preßent Government £*, i-" iffl,t ' To Bkow h <>* incort Met this waa he quoted from a TWrt. mental return showing that fmm M 18182, to September •etttat. «d taken up land on 2! meat conditions, and that pastoral runs and miscellaneous tenures created for im Bdre, making 288 .persons had <*kea up endowment leases. The total area of land opened for sale or selection from July, 1012, to October 31, Is* was bo lose than 1,147,894 acres! % In its first session the Government haft jrovided for an increase of the jrroaV una led land tax on all estates of tta value of £30,000 and over. From too let April, 1912, to the 30th June, 19Uthe total number of subdivisions of rural land and land made available for closer settlement was 0198, represents 11,258,678 acres. Ten estates had been acquired for closer settlement. Altogether during the time the Government had been in office, 1,943,703 acres both pnvataly-owncd' and Crown lands had been sub-divided and set tied. Durine the year 1913-14, the area acquired by the Government for settlement wast 141,002 acres, as against i.ulv 13,330 acres in 1010-11, during the regime of the late Government. The total wait her of selector* who had purchased the fee simple of their leases under the Acts paast>ll hy the Massev Government was 1411, the total area involved beiitt [ 202 792 wires whilst the sum paid waa ji23o,!Vra. (Applause). ■ | It was proposed next rear to give municiipalitaos and counties the power ;of borrowing from the State for tne purpose of workers' homes. The prev- , lous Govwranent had in 6</ 4 years erected 200 workws' - hwiies at a (tout of £1*i,522. The • present ;year, March 31*t next, would have i erected 325 workers' homes in 2% years at an expenditure of £101,618. ' The present Government had paid for native lands in 1913 the sum of £Bl - 029, and in 1914 £257,711.

NEXT MONTH'S liIABILmB3. »«xt month tho Oovernment had to find £3,000,000 to .pay the creditors in Londen, who would neither convert nor renew their loans. .These lenders were |spccu!atorß who wanfcid, to force New Zealand Government into the open market.

> The Government had got the money, ■and the London creditors would be paid. Reference followed to the {Jovem■ment's action in raising l the limits of i the borrowing powers of settlers.' Owing to the war, these had had to be cut down, but from now onward tlhe j limit to settlers would bo £750, and he j believed that in a few weeks it would I be possible to raise the Uinit to £IOOO. (Applause).

I la the seven months from April Ttjl 'last, the Government Advances Department had lent to settlers the sum of £830,570, to the workers' £213,730, and to local bodies £135,215. • ' The Prime -Minister briefly reviewed 'his Government's legislation for the workers, mentioning' the increase of i 120 000 per annum in wages to railway .workers, and of £4ByOOO to public servants. ''l>., CHOICE BEFOIU3 TliE ELECTORS.

i Concluding a, speech of about an hour, I land three-quarters, Mr Massoy "We are now on tie ove of the general elections, ami it is for the people to choose who shall-conduet public affairs. On the one side, .you have a set of men, able, sincere, stroigfit-gning and upright, who have been criticised, but wltil »ivham no serious fault can hi found lond cheers), men>.who are not perfect for they have made mistakes —and you have got to ehooßof between these men and a set oi men ,j who, if they secure a majority, will have to pipe to the time played to thorn by six: or eight .filed Keds. (Cheers and ironical | laughter). T leave it lo the people and |'l have not the slightest, doubt they will choose fairly and well." (Renewed cheers). A vote of thanks to.the Prima MinI iste.r and of comidenee in the Govj ermnent was carried.