POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 28 November 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL.

PREMIER AT HAWERA. Us CROWDED MEETING. REPLIES TO OPPOSITION CRITICISM. (Special to Daily News.) Hawera, Last Night. The Hon. W. F. Masse/ addressed a crowded meeting at the Opera House this evening. Every available portion of the huilding was occupied, and it >s estimated that the attendance was from 1500 to •2000. There was a good deal of interjection <'rom a large section at the back "of the hall and the stage, but the interjection was mostly good-humoured, and evoked good repartee from Mr. Masaey, who appeared to be in good fettle, and spoke for over two hours. Supporter* from all parts of the district were precent in good force, but. did not applaud very vigorously until war the conclusion, though there were occasional bursts of applause. The Mayor, Me, Whittington, presided. Mr. Massey was given a good reception on mounting the platform, interrupted with cries of "What .0, Bill!" "What about the Waihi strike?" "What about the Waiuku railway!"

I . THE BATTLESHIP DISASTER. Before commencing his address, he expressed regret at the disaster that liadjust overtaken the Empire, in the of the Bulwark and practically the wholj.' of the crew. This brought home to aH that they could not have war without suffering reverses, but ho trusted that these would be borne with all equanimity in the same way as wo would later receive success without undue exultation. Our hand was now at the plough. We would not turn back until the German aggression and Kaiserism was a thing of the past. THE LAND. , j> Mr. Massey's speech took the lines of previous addresses. He dealt at length with the land question, showing that the * policy of the Government had been to advocate 'freehold, without in any way . injuring the leasehold tenure, but the man who had leasehold could obtain the freehold when he so desired on deferred' | payment. Previously the money re- ' eeived for Crown land sold had gone to swell the surplus, but the Government was now using it for the pnrchaso of other land for settlement. Referring to the work done by the Government in the way of settling on the land, ho stated that >4537 settlers had been placed on the land in a little over two years. The whole prosperity of the country depend- * ed on land settlement. Recognising that there was a defect in the present method of appeal against land valuatiofi, he had appointed a Commission to take evidence, and furnish recommendations of a more satisfactory form of appeal. WEST COAST LANDS. Referring t° the amendment of the West Coast Settlements Reserves Acts, . he said this had placed the tenauts and natives in a much better position, and would lead to a very satisfactory settlement in regard to these lands.

The Government had benefited workers by the provision for the erection of workers' rural homes. He denied that they had increased taxation on Customs. They had increased the graduated land tax, and also the tax on incomes over £2OOO. WAE TAX INADVISABLE. He considered it would cause a depression to impose a war tax. He estimated that the war cost us probably over ronr millions. It was far better to get the money from the Home 'Country at a low rate, and have a financial , eleaning-up after the war. He showed that, despite' the stringency caused by the war, the Government had loaned £798,308 to workers, settlers, and public bodies. The prosperity of the country was evidenced by the fact that the deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank exceeded withdrawals by over a million in ten months of this year. HUNTLY DISASTER. He dealt at length with the attempt to make capital out of the Huntly disaster. He pointed out that the Act provided the necessary machinery for safeguarding miners, amLthe accident might have been averted had proper precautions been taken, and if the character of the coal dust had been better known. THE STRIKE. He outlined the history of the 1013 strike, and the attempts mado to settle it. He took full responsibility for everything in connection with its settlement, and would do the same again, if necessary. Was the Government to be punished for doing its duty ? A big majority of the country would say, "These men have only done their duty, and we are going to send them back." An unholy alliance existed between the Wardile's and the. Red Feds to oust the Government, but the people would not trust them. They would never bo given the opportunity of repeating the strike of 11)13, and the chance of mismanaging it. He hoped they would be guided by those events. ■• THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. ; Amidst considerable uproar and "counting out," Mr Barton proposed a vote of thanks for the address and confidence in llr Massoy as Premier. This was seconded'by Mr J. T. Quinn, and declared carried amidst great din, an amendment of thanks only being lost. GREAT RECEPTION AT AUCKLAiN©. ' (Specal to News.) Auckland, Last Night. A very flattering reception was accorded to Sir Joseph Ward, leader of the Opposition ,to-night, when he delivered a political address in the Town ■ 'Hall. The building was crowded to the ; J doors within a uarter of an hour of th» ' 'opening of the doors at "7.15, and the ! , seats on the organ loft were all occu- , I pied. Many also stood, and hundreds •■ were' unable to obtain admission. Prom- . inent on .the platform:were the local i Liberal candidate. Air. J» Troycthick, of the Liberal .presided. A storm of prolonged applause greeted Sir Jose pli ais Hie stepped on to ■ the platform, a scene of tremendoup en- '■ thus'insm being witnessed, i In conclusion. Sir Joseph Warfl said! ' thut if returned his party's policxTTOliild - bo on the lines of -practical progress. " He was proud that in Auckland .was ? well received and courteously .listpa^d 7- ,' 'A. VAt a .»f>ffl^l^^MSliß^llkabasSL