THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1922, Page 5

THE PREMIER'S TOUR.

SPEECH AT MASTIERTON. « - STRIKE AND COAL SUPPLY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Masterton, Night. What was generally admitted to be Ihe largest political meeting held in , Masterton was addressed by the Prime .Minister on Saturday night, on arrival from Eketahuna, where he briefly addressed a meeting en route from Palmerston North. Mr. Massey was accorded an enthusiastic welcome at Eketahuna. , , i Addressing the meeting at Masterton ■he said statistics showed that the numI her of sheep in the country had decreased by four .million in the last throe years, and that was because sheep farmers wore unable to pay their way without sacrificing part of their flocks They were told that the decrease was due to increased dairying, but that was only partly true. Dealing with taxation Mr.. Massey detailed ’the steps taken tn effect econmies, and added that as a result ot the usfieit was oniy £200,000, or a little over. The Government was compelled to purchase large stocks of coal, amounting to £500,000, but otherwise the balance would have been on the right side. If the seamen’s trouble developed, —as he hoped it would not—the Railway Department had enough coil to run for five months. STRATFORD'S RECEPTION. Although the Prime Minister was enthusiastically received at . r.ra on on Friday night. bw meeting was not, free from opposition, and a number of hecklers, chiefly amongst .he , Labor section, kept np a fire of interjections more or lens pithy. Mr. Massey was in fighting mood and had an an.-yci • comment ready. Some questions e said lie "did not hear,” and others lie declared ho could not answer without mterprqter. Every questipner was silenced with severe satire. At the ( conclusion of the address a call • r cheers for Mr. Masters met a ready response. .. , . The attendance at the. meeting nmst have constituted a record for tlie Towij Hall, every part of the house ■being denselv packed. An unintended reflection on the “density’’ of the was cast bv the Premier when referring to an address to another audience, just as dense as that before me! By way of a welcome to Mr. Ma s the'lEltham Pipe Band was m Stralfcul last night and serenaded the liemui from the balcony of hie hotel. M>. Massey left for the Wairarapa by tlie mail train on Saturday morning. A number of prominent citizens gathered at the station to bid him farewell and raised a lusty cheer as the tram drew out.