THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1911. MR MASSEY'S SPEECH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 1033, 14 August 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1911. MR MASSEY'S SPEECH.

The speech delivered, by Mr W. F. Massey, M:P., Leader of the 'Opposition, in Masterton on Saturday night, was one of the finest efforts that (have ibeen made in this district for .many a; year. The large audience went in the expectation of hearing a declaration, of Opposition policy; (but few expected so complete a crticisin of the Ward- Administration; and so lucid an explanation of the proposals of the Opposition Party. The speech was entirely devoid of personality. It was* throughout, characterised with a ring of sincerity, and it carried conJvicjtion to the hearts of hundreds of .people. The electors were prepared to learn that a Government which had been in office for a score of years had -committed many blunders. They were hardly prepared tfor the complete, proof thiat an Administration which has been under one head for only five years could have involved the country extravagances, and have so flouted the .will of Parliament and the people, as the Ward Government has done. Mr Massey's exposure of the weakness of the administration of the land laws, the public works fund and the finances was most effective. The policy outlined " as that upon which the Opposition would stand or fall was more Liberal and democrattic than the most sanguine supporter could have expected. All the rubbish that has been spoken and written about the Tory-Conservat-ive proclivities of the Opposition was dissipated as Mr Massey .unfolded in clear, concise language the Liberal, nay, democratic platform upon which he intends going to the country. He does not .pander to the classes or the (masses. He does not promise huge public buildings here, railways there, and roads and bridges somewhere else. He saysi plainly that, if returned to power, his first effort will be to put the finalises straight and to endeavour to reduce the cost of living. The former task will be by no means «asy, when it is remembered that Departments and official* have devel-

oped like mushrooms. The latter will Im> exceedingly difficult until the ■cost of Government is substantially reduced, if a change of administration doc-s no more than restore confidence at home and aibroad and enable th© taxpayer to get a glimpse behind the scenes and ascertain what has really been going on, the experiment which the constituencies* are determined to make' would be worth the while. When the vast audience in Masterton declared that the time had arrived when a change of administration would 'be in the best interests of the country, it warnot unmindful of the many useful measures which the Government lias placed upon the Statute Book. It was influenced by the sole consideration that the present Party lias exhausted its power for good; that it lias run its course; that it is devoid of policy; that it has .become reckless in * its undertakings; and that' the only means of restoring the political equilibrium is to oust the present Administration. Five years ago the currying of a vote- of no-confi-dence in the Government in Masterton, without a. dissentient voice, would have been utterly impossible. The change which has come over the scene is the same change which is taking place in a large proportion of the rura-1 constituencies of the Doj minion, and there, is reason to hope that November next will .see an end to the career of a Ministry which has ■ forfeited all claims to the confidence of the people, and has made the ■ name of "Liberalism" a by-word and 1 a reproach. •