SPEECH BY MR MASSEY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10031, 29 April 1910, Page 5

SPEECH BY MR MASSEY.

GOVERNM I',NT FEARLESSLY CONDEMNED.

"OPPOSITION WILL WIN AT NEXT ELECIIUN."

By Telegraph—Pres3 Association HOKITIKA, April 28.

Mr W. F. Massey, M.P.,.Leader of the Opposition, delivered a political address at Hokitika to-night,.lastJ; ing two hours, and received a hearty reception. The speaker criticised at length the administration of the present Government, and the matter of the financial adviser's appointment was traversed, also the financial pjsition of the Doirinion, Mr Massey demonstratmg th&t fo.* the past two years the public debt and taxation had increased by 33b per capita. He claimed to first initiated the Advances to Workers" Act, for which the Government claimed the credit, which was always the case, as they had no policy of their own. His original proposal was knocked out at the time, but the members on the Government side had clamoured until the Premier introduced a Bill in which was embodied his idea. He was told to say that that particular department was now doing good work in regard to the Land Act. He believed in giving the people the right to have the option of making their holdings freehold. The people had been told that the freehold system conduced to the aggregation of large estates. This was not so if they were governed by proper legislation.

In connection with native land matters he strongly advocated that the natives should be placed on ex ■ actly the same tooting as Europeans. He considered it most unfair that the natives should reap the benefit derived from the reserves, not by their own industry, but owing to the expenditure of public money.

The matter of Parliamentary grants came in for severe criticism and the speaker stated that members of Parliament were unaware of the amounts to be allocated to the districts represented by uthers. Local government reform was absolutely necessary, according to Mr Massey, woo said he would be very «lad it he never again heard the words road or bridge mentioned in the House. He condemned the present Act by which the local bodies were put to increased expense in the way of Joans. The speaker deals with the retrenchment scheme, the new Defence Act, water power question, the methods of Government advertising, and various other matters pertaining to the administration of the Government, and concluded by voicing the opinioD that his side would win at the next election.

Mr Massey, who leceived a good reception throughout his address, was accorded a vote of thanks for his able and statesmanlike address, and for the valuable services he had rendered for many years in the Parliament of New Zealand.