THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9664, 1 December 1909, Page 7

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

HIS VIEWS ON INCREASED TAXATION. COALITION OUT OF THE QUESTION. Interviewed by an Auckland pressman, Mr W. F. Mass2v» Leader of the Opposition, stated that the present Parliamentary session has been most unsatisfactory and productive of very little work of any importance. "As a matter of fact," Mr Massey remarked, "the session has been completely spoiled by being postponed from June to October. There have been no obstructive tactics during the present session. On the contrary, we have Riven the Government every facility to get on with the business and every encouragement to put their proposals forward. There is a certain saying about giving some people rope enough and a certain result will follow. We have now got! the Government's policy, so called, and find that it includes serious increases of taxation in four directions, including seven methods of increasing the burdens ot the people; a land policy stolen for the occasion, ar.d which I believe they do not | want to give effect to, which in 1 fact they are now unwililng to bring into operation, and which 1 think they dare not give eliVct 1/. The excuse for the increases of tux;'.-

tion is that money it? required for defence purposes. That may be, but, if such is- the case ths amount of increase should be limited to thi; amount required for this partwukr purpose, and should not be c ill.ctei until it is wanted. But th? increase of taxation will commence almost at once, and so far as I am able to judge it will be more than double the amount required for defence." "Do you think that the Land Bill will come before the House this session?"

"I doubt if ii will," was-the reply

'"Rut if it does we shall endeavour to improve on it fo as to give the option of the freehold wherever possible, and without any complicated or unfair conditions. As f or the lands which were locked up by the Act of 19C7 because they are supposed to ba en dowmenta, I btlieve the optional system should be extended to those lands, and the moneys received therefore used for purchasing land in cities 01 suburb, and the latter kept as endow merits. By so doing settlement would be encouraged and public interest would not suffer, but would probably be greatly benefited." "The new members of the Opposition party," said Mr Massey, "are r. solid, sensible lot of men well able to take care of themselves and to look after the business of their constitu ents. They are gradually picking up experience, and will be heard from before the Parliament comes to an end.

"As for the t;ilk about coalition, which seems to have been started in Auckland since the surrender .of the bovernmant on the land question, let me say at once tlu't anything of the sort is out i'f the question. There are a few men o.i the Government side who o'.ight to be with us, and we shall be j.'lul to havi them when they choose tj cnm\ That is the only form t.f coaiiUon which is possible. The 0o ition members are true to each other and true to their principles. We are neither to be bought nor sold. I think W3 can claim that our influence in the past I:as been for good, and until the electors see fit to give us a ma-

jority in a proper manner we a''e satisfied to sit on the left of Mr Speaker."