POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3157, 7 April 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

MR MASSEY AT BUCKLAND

By Telegraph—Press Association,

BUCKLAND, April 6. \ The Leader of the Onposition delivered a speech at Buckland to-night, in reply to Sir J. G. Ward's Upper Hutt speech.

Mr Maasey dwelt on the constitutional point re the battleship, and said that Parliament ought to have been consulted. He went on to advocate a system of national training. The duty of the State was to set to work and establish that system forthwith. The heads of Governments here and elsewhere in the Empire seemed to wait till they saw a war cloud before thinking about getting ready. He claimed that Sir J. G. Ward's speech on the Public Service was a complete justification of Opposition criticism. For years past the service had been stuffed with political appointees, and there would be no complete or permanent improvement till a Public Service Board had been appointed which would select candidates on account of merit, and not political influence. He suggested that a start should be made by the reduction of the number of Ministers, and also a reduction in Ministerial salaries.

Mr Massey was accorded a vote oi thanks and confidence.