POLITICAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 905, 2 April 1908, Page 5

POLITICAL.

MR MASSEY AT WHANGAREI. B* TELEGRAPH —PKESS ASSOOi. TION. WHANGAREI, April 1. Mr W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a crowded audience here to-night. He traversed the recent speech of the Premier in Whangarei and other places. After dealing with various aspects of the Land Bill on the lines of previous utterances he referred to revolutionary Socialism, quoting Mr KeirHardie, the Fabian Society and other authorities. Under Socialism as defined "by these authorities the community would be divided into two classes, viz., State owners of tie land and State employees. Socialism and Liberalism were not synonymous terms. True Liberalism advocated individual enterprise. The House of Representatives, Cabinet and Legislative Council contained a majority of men who were prepared to accept Socialism as laid down by the authorities quoted. Revolutionary Socialism, which the Socialists claimed they wanted, meant steady progress towards the nationalisation of land, of enterprise, and of liberty. The only policy the Government had to offer was one of compromise. If thß Governmpnt members were not revolutionary Socialists they had strong leanings that way, and were friends of the Socialists. He offered to lend the Government two policy planks of his own, those being security of tenure and good roads, if adopted by the Guvarnment these would ba of greater advantage to the country than anything else. The public debt of New Zealand was increasing so alarmingly that the time had come for rigid economy and obtaining value for expenditure. Th« public accounts were kept in such a way that it was impossible for anyone to understand them. They ought to be so simplified as to come within the comprehension of all Ha would be willing to support universal old age pensions. A vote of thanks for the Address and confidence in Mr Massey as a political leader was carried unanimously.