POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3034, 3 November 1908, Page 5

POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

MR MASSEY AT PALMERSTON

NORTH.

REPLY TO THE PREMIER,

By Telegraph—Press Association,

PALMERSTON N., November 2. Mr W. F. Massey replied to the Premier at the Opera House, tonight, and was accorded an enthusiastic reception, the building being crowded. The soeaker dealt at length with the principal points of the Premier's recent speech. Referring to the audit system he criticised the Government post audit proposals, and said that a complete return of every penny of Government money expended should be made—for what purpose and by who received. He further criticised the lands policy and after quoting from "Hansard" many opinions of Ministers characterised the policy as being detrimental to the interest of the whole country. He quoted the words of Sir Joseph Ward "that the policy of the Government was first to find out what the people wanted, and then to do it as they wanted it done," which he referred to as a humiliating position. He read a speech purporting to have been prepared for Government candidates. He reiterated the statement that the new Government buildings would cost £500,000. Referring to the advances to workers Mr Massey said that a proposition of his first suggested that to the late Mr Seddon. As, however, the Treasury thought it unwise for such a proposal to come from the Opposition it was defeated and re-introduced by the Government. He repudiated the suggestion that members of the Opposition were not in sympathy with the workers.

A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded to Mr Massey.

A LIVELY MEETING. DUNEDIN, November 2. The Hon. J. A. Millar addressed a very large gathering of Dunedin West electors in the Garrison Hall to-night. As a political meeting it was quite the liveliest that has been held during the present campaign. A section of the audience consisted of d number of Socialists and many ot that section of the Labour party that is at open war with the Minister of Labour. These kept up a running (ire of hoots, interjections, and interruptions, but Mr Millar received a very cordial hearing from the great body of electors present, and at the conclusion of the meeting received from a large majority of the. electors a vote of thanks and confidence. A member of the Socialist party sprang on the stage • and attempted to move an amendment, but the audience would not tolerate him, find howled him down.