MR MASSEY AT AUCKLAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10291, 20 July 1911, Page 5

MR MASSEY AT AUCKLAND.

- ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

HE EXPOSES NATIVE LAND TRANSACTIONS.

By Telegraph — Press Association. > AUCKLAND, Last Night, j Mr W, F. Massey, Leader of the i Opposition, addresised a largely-at- j tended meeting in, the Choral Hall , this evening. The .building was ' filled, and a large number of people ■ (estimated at about a thousand), were unable to obtain, admission. Mr Massey, who had an enthusiastic reception, and an excellent hearing, outlined and explained the Opposition platform on the lines of bis Wellington and other speeches. This platform, he declared, was the most Liberal, the most democratic* and the most progressive that had ever been put forward .by any political party in this country. In speaking on the Native land question, he repeated his previous remarks regarding the transaction in respect to the Mokau lands, and went on to say that the firm of lawyers ,who 'acted for the individual who purchased the lands from the Natives was that of Messrs Findlay, Dalziell and Co. (Ohs!) The gemitleiman ,who signed the Order-in-Coun-. oil was Sir James Carroll, ActingPremier, whilst the chairman of the syndicate was an ex-Minister of/ Lands with .strong leasehold tendencies—Mr R. MoNab. ("Oh!") Since •then, he understood the syndicate had been permitted to acquire a further area of some 17,000 acres, making a total of about 70,000 acres. Why was this syndicate permitted to acquire this large area? Why was not a sufficient area reserved for the use of the Natives ? Not a single acre had been. reserved for the (Natives. Why .was not the land isulbmitted it© auction or tender? He intended to press for an inquiry into /why the land was allowed to pass into the possession of a gang of speculators. Sir James Carroll had .said that he (Mr Massey) knew nothing i about Native lands. He thanked God that he did not know as much i ahout ttiese lands as the AotingPrime Minister. Neither he. nor any other member of the Opposition hadj ever trafficked .in Native lands. *'

The following motion, proposed iby Mr E. G. B. Moss, and seconded by Mr J. G. ißutherford, was carried, amidst applause: "That this meeting .of Auckland citiisens thanksMir Massey'heartily i for his' interesting and lucid exposition of the political situation ; congratulates him' upon the aibje and staftesmanjike policy he has ■urafoldied* on behalf of the Opposition party; and wishes him every success in his desire to secure more, economical administration and a genuine reform in the Government of the country." ' An amendment in favour of a/ vote of •thanks only was not seconded.