MR. MASSEY'S STATEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1919, Page 5

MR. MASSEY'S STATEMENT.

•vmsoA'm return* to ow PARTY STRIFE. CONFIDENT CAN CARRY ON. CABINET TO BE RECONSTITUTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.

A few comments on the situation as it is at present were made by the Prime Minister to-night. Asked whether »« was surprised to receive news of Sir Joseph Ward's resignation, Mr. Massey f-aid: "1 cannot say I" am surprised, because when I was in Paris' I noticed ii> die Now Zealand papers forwarded to mo l hat a meeting of the Liberal party had I'een held, and that with the concurrence of their leader they had decided to dssolve the partnership &hd bring the Coalition Ministry to and end, but I did expect we should have had more notice than had been given. I think the distortion of pahiership Should have taken plaeo directly on our a'rtival in Nett Zealand, or it should hate been held until we Had got through the business of the session. We are BOW within" seven days of the meeting of Parliament. The speech of the Qovernor(ieneral has still to be drafted. The financial statement has still to U fife' pared, the amount Of soldiers* gratuities has still to be faed, and agreed to. In addition, the Minister for Lands and his Department has made an estimate of the mm necessary to carry on the wet* <H •epatfiation. This has yet to be eonsidered by Cabinet, and) later on, wilt 'iave to be submitted to Parliament. "Then there is the question of (reduction of taxation, which the country :s looking forward to eagerly. I still hope something will be done in connection with this during the coming ees s'on.

"In calling Attention to these import ant matters I should just like to say I have personally no fear for the future. I have absolute confidence in the Country and absolute confidence in I lie good sense and intelligence and patriotism of the great majority of the people of the Dominion. "I understand Sir Joseph Ward lias taken advantage of the opportunity to put forward his policy- lam not coing to complain. J simply ask the public to withhold their judgment until they ntte had an. opportunity of comparing his proposals with those .which I hope to submit later, but I want to make it c.uite clear that I am utterly opposed to setting party aaginst party. It is very evident there is a section of people in the community who are .inxtt to return to the old system of party shibboleths, the old bad wayd of seeking party advantage, without regard frst to the interests of the country. This is hoi the time for anything or w.» sort. I hope to seo a strong p»ry, whatever tliey may call themselves, of jjl'ie very best men the community can elect, icturned to Parliament at the comjng nleetion with the one definite object of maintaining the prosperity of the Dominion, Jnerpasing the production of the country, and so en'abling people without inconvenience to -meet the enormpus liabilities which we have incurred ',by doing our share during the War period. "One is tempted to expound in so/me detail the proposals which my Government will put before the country. We nave in view definite and practical proposals for 'ho development of the country by settlement, improved transport facilities. In our scheme of settlement we must, and we will, have regard first always to the claims of the letnrned soldiers, and we hope to be nble to givo them good opportunities of making a success of their farming ventures.

"When war broke out, on behalf of my colleagues, I laid down the policy of the Government, it waa that we should do our full share in the war and keep the countiy prosperous., That we have been successful scarcely requires demonstration.

"It is hot necessary to refer to what was done during the war, but with regard to the prosperity of the country the statistics for the last six month's ?how our exports have been for that ;.criod valued at over twenty-nine millions, more for the six months than the total value for tho preceding twelve rnonths. Admitting this wat; due to shipping h:ivin? become more plentiful the fact remains that for the whola period of the war our exports were over Oiirty mlll ! ons per year."

As to tho future, Mr. Massey was quite confident in his declaration that he expected to be able to carry on the Govefkiment. He said he could;not go into detail.-? as to his intentions regarding the formation of a new Government, but there.would he a reconstruction of the Ministry in the near future.