POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 5 December 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

. A HOSTILE MEETING AND A LIVELY RECEPTION. Auckland December 3. A large hostile clement was present at the Columbia Hall, Grey Lynn, tonight, when the Prime Minister delivered a political address, hundreds being outside and unable to gain admission. Several rowdy scenes occurred prior to the commencement of the address, occasionally endeavouring to force an entrance, and frequent anti-Massey and counter-demonstrations being made. During the opening remarks by the chairman, Mr W, H. Murray, a rowdy section, assisted by those outside the buildingy from time to time indulged in .cheers for Sir Joseptt Ward and John Payne, and hoots for Mr Massey and the Government. These outbursts, however, were drowned in counter-cheering and applause. Commenting on the demonstration of his opponents, when he rose to speak, Mr Massey said he had always noticed that the weaker party made the most noise. Some one smashed a pane of a window, the glass falling amongst the audience to the alarm of several women. Then a man tried to force I tjhrough another window, creating a i further disturbance.

Resuming, Mr Massey said a party who adopted such tactics as those they were witnessing, was a party which was going to lose the election (cheers). Men who had excellent chances in the beginning were going to lose many votes owing to the cowardly tactics employed. (Cheers and boohs.) This election beat anything he had ever Known in the direction of misrepresentation (A voice: What about the ostrich farm?) Mr Massey: There are some bad eggß at the ostrich farm, and there's one outside, (laughter).

, Mr Massey was proceeding to explain the steps taken by the Government to ensure a supply of wheat for New Zealand, at the present juncture, when he was interrupted by a noise aa of persons sliding down the roof, and by a disturbance outside. He remarked: "That is the noise of the people who want to, govern, this country.'' The premier | said he had arranged for a, shipment by tiic steamer Hesperus from St. John's ' Canada, in the course of two or three I weeks of 290,000 bushels of wheat, and 1 another of 100,000 would be shipped ' from Vancouver by the steamer Waitcmata. As regards sugar, the government was face to face with a monopoly, but had got an assurance from the Colonial Sugar Company that the price would be kept lower than the price obtaining in EJngland. (Applause). There had been a difficulty in regard to meat. If the price had gone up a little, New Zealand benefited in another way owing to the money coming in. There were a million bushels of wheat j at present held in the Dominion by I millers and by certain Otago farmers, j None was held by northern farmers, /despite statements to the contrary. There need be no trouble, no panic, and no uneasiness. He had notified the millers and farmers referred to that they would not be allowed to store wheat for a rising market. He would have the names of these holders soon, and if any of them showed a disposition to keep back wheat against the interests of the bulk of the population, they would not be permitted to do it. (Applause). The Government would face this difficulty (A voice: You won't be here). Mr Massey: Yes; I will. Don't you worry about that (cheers and laughter). Tactics of the noisy supporters of his opposition friends had made it absolutely certain that the Government would' bo returned to power. (Cheers and counter-cheers). WAR AND UNEMPLOYMENT. Mr Massey proceeded to review the ' legislation made necessary through the war, also touching upon the Moratorium and kauri gum industry. Regarding the public works policy, he said that the Government aimed at employing as many men as possible. There was very little unemployment in New Zealand. (Ironical laughter). When he was in Christehurch, he had received a telegram from the Minister of Publia Works, saying that he was in a position to put every man who was fit to work on to pick and shovel work. (A voice: We're not all pick and shovel men).

Mr Masse;,': If my friend has been only accustomed to handling knives anil forks, I cannot provide him with employment on the'public works (laughter), but the promise I ma<"e in Christchurch I repeat in Auckland. Mr Massey continued by comparing the conditions in New South Wales with those in New Zealand, where the Government 1 had not found it necessary to dismiss a single man off the public works. (Cries of "oh," and ironical laughter), on account of a shortage of money, though men might have, had to be dismissed for other reasons. The Government was able to employ men now, and keep on employing them. There had never been better times in this country than since his Government came into power. (Applause). In proof of that, the exports had increased by the enormous sum of five milions sterling in the period named. If a war had not come along he wan satisfied that during this year the increase in exports would have been maintained.

The rowdy elment, who had been very quiet for some time, except those outside, who were persistently noisy and 'continually trying to count out Mr Massey, here got a little out of hand, but the Premier's urbanity was undisturbed, and he went 011 calmly, with his speech. He said the public works expenditure for 1912-13 was greater than ever before, and that for 1)113-14 was greater still, namely, £2 - !)4!>,f)!)2. Had things gone on well, the department would have spent more this year. AUCKLAND'S RAILWAY BILL. Mr Massey went 011 to discuss the Government legislation and policy in connection v/ith the encouragement of industries, mentioning the proposed development in the fruit, iron, and fishing industries, and passed 011 to review the Government's Railway Authorisation Bill, th:. ' declared no bill had ever been before Parliament which was more likely to do justice to the Auckland district, whilst benefiting the whole of New Zealand, Some reference to the, obstruction of the Bill created a furflier mild disturbance, which, however, MX)» subsided. "THE OSTRICH FARM." Mr Massey next answered critics in the matter of tile ostricli farm and the Waiuku railway. He declared that he had nothing to hide. If ever there was a clean, honourable, straightforward transaction, this was one. Sir Massey referred to the comment on the matter in ! the Auckland Star, and made an offer j to the'proprietor of that paper that he was willing to submit the whole of the matter to any impartial tribunal. If that tribunal said that he (Mr Massey) ' had used political influence in connec- • tion with the Waiuku railway, or that he had done anything that was not perfectly proper and straightforward, he

would hand £SO to the Belgium Fund, on condition that the other party paid a like amount into the same fund, if the tribunal cleared Mr Massey of the accusations made. (Applause). THE FINANCES, The Premier dealt next with the Government's financial difficulties on coming into office. He quoted figures showing the amount lent. THE STRIKE. Referring to the recent strike, Mr Massey said it was a simple matter, There could not be two Governments in one country. (A voice. Would you do the same again to-morrow?) Under similar circumstances I would. (Cheers and howls). Any Government ! worthy of its position would at all risks maintain law and order. (Cheera). (Voice: You'll not go back again.' Mr Massey, smilingly: Don't you worry in the least. (Cries of "say Au Revoir," and "Massey, Leader of the Opposition," and uproar). I wish some of you people were as sure of getting to the better land as I am of going back to power. (Cheers, and laughter, in the midst of which an egg was hurled into the hall through the broken window). HUNTLY. DISASTER. The Premier referred to the Huntly disaster, deprecating the fact that attempts were being made to make political capital out of it. He utterly denied that the Government was in any way responsible for the sad accident, i (Uproar). When the noise ceased, Mr Massey remarked, "The Empire is at war with Germany; and the New Zealand Government is at'war with German'tactics. (Applause and laughter.) The real trouble was that the men had been working in Ralph's mine for Bo long that none of the responsible people believed there was any danger. The whole thing was going to be subject .to a Supreme Court inquiry, and he hoped sincerely the whole truth would come out. (Applause). • The Government might just as reasonably be held responsible for the explosion at White Island as that at Huntly. (Hear. hear, and applause). He did not mind his opponents making political capital out of 'legitimate political questions—he had been there himself —but they were in this matter shooting at the Government, from behind the shelter of 43 dead men. It was one the dirtiest, meanest, and moat' contemptible actions lie had ever known- in connection with an election, and the men who would do it were not only not fit to represent their fellow citizens in Parliament, but were not fit to associate with decent men and women in any class of society. (Cheers and boohs). When the Premier resumed his seat after' a speech lasting two hours, the cheering was renewed by the majority of the 800 people in the hall, the minority and the hundreds outside making a counter demonstration, and cheering for Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Payne alternately. A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Massey and the Reform Government, and in Mr Murdoch McLean, the Government candidate for Grey Lynn, ■was declared carried amidst loud cheering and a weaker outburst of counter cheering and boohing. A large hoodlum element , made another hostile demonstration around Mr Masscy's motor-car as the Premier drove away, but two or three mounted constables kept the noisy ones under control. LIBERAL LEADER'S TOUR. GREAT RECEPTION IN THE KING ' ' COUNTRY. (Special to Daily News.) Tautnarunui, yesterday. Speaking last night, mil dealing with the land question, Sir Joseph Ward said the singular thing in connection with the progress of the Dominion was that many of those who had been helped on the land owing to the Liberal Govern- I incut's legislation .in regard to the bursting up of large estates and- lending ■ money at cheap rates of interest were now , TURNING OT THEIR NOSES to heaven and somewhere else and absolutely despising the men and the party' who wero responsible for the system that made them. (A voice: Too true). Yes, it was only too true, and the men in' Parliament who had done everything possible to prevent the Liberal' Government placing laws on the Statute Book were now parading the. country and making out that they were the creators of the measures they had strenuously opposed. (Applause). Aggregation of land was going on, and he did not believe the present Government would ever stop it, but the Liberal party, after they came into office as the result of the general election would. (Loud applause).

HARASSING STATE BORROWERS.

In contrasting the treatment meted out to workers awl settlers by the Reform Government, as compared to the Ward Government, Sir Joseph Ward said that workers and settlers were immensely better off under the Liberal regime. He had seen numbers of notices withtlie last few days from the Advances Department, informing struggling settlers who were a little behind in their interest that they must pay up immediately or else be sued, and this in spite of the Moratorium Act, which protected other classes of creditors. The Liberal Government never harassed the struggling farmerp, and never would do so. (Applause). Political capital-had been made out of the fact all over the country that he had not settled the Waihi strike, although he claimed tliat he could have settled the recent great labor trouble. He had not had the opportunity of settling the Waihi strike, for the simple reason that he was not in office. (Applause). BIG INCREASE OF BORROWING. The criticism coming from his opponents was very extraordinary. They said anything but their prayers (Laughter). Mr Massey had said before lie tool: oiliee that borrowing should be taperal oJ!', and if the people did jjofc stop Sir Joseph Wnril. the moneylenders would, Tiie records which were available to all showed that during his last six years of office he had borrowed money aggregating IS millions sterling, including two million':-; for the gift dreadnought, (Applause), while in Mr Massey's two and a half years the present Government owned up to borrowing i just about in millions, and last session took authorities for -08,200,000 in throe Acts, while thov had now in their possession authorities amounting to ovel twelve millions .(Applause.) The "Reform" Government had broken their pledge to reduce borrowing, as well as their pledge to reduce taxation, and numbers of other pledges made prior to last general election. (Applause), The members of the present Government showed the signs of weak men. Their one. idea was to blame someone else for their own mistakes. (Applause). Referring to his Pukekolie. meeting, ; held the previous evening, Sir Joseph Ward said that some of the Reform i Jeda. (A voice: Well Feds.) came

in motor curs to try and disconcert him. He hart hail a magnificent meeting. Tiie I hall was packed from flow to ceiling, and the few imported Red Feds —or "Well Feds," whatever one liked to call them—had not had it all their own way by any means. "I had the fun of the world with them," added the speaker, amidst loud applause. A resolution of, thanks and confidence was carried l>y. an overwhelming majority, despite the organised opposition that had come to try and carry an adverse motion, ~