THE EGMONT SEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10465, 1 November 1911, Page 5

THE EGMONT SEAT.

MR MASSEY AT ELTHAM

A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

ELTHAM, Last Night. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Massey) addressed a public meeting m the Eltliam Town. Hall last night. There were about eight hundred people present, the Mayor, Mr G. P. Wake, presiding. » Mr Massey received an excellent hearing. He said the big question on polling day was: I>oes the Government retain the confidence of the He was glad to say that the whole of Taranaki province was represented by men oil the Opposition side, and it would continue to be so represented. The Opposition members offer honest and willing service, and he believed the time was coming when men of greater energy and ability than thovs now in power would be required to manage the affairs of the country. "VY e could not go on piling up debt and increasing the taxation as in the last few years; but woul dhave to keep the expenditure much, nearer income than was at present the case. | Referring to the' Financial Statement, Mr Massey contended it showed i no hint of reducing taxation, or of the I cost of living.. There' was no evidence j of a land policy, of reform of; the Legislative Council, of an improved method of appointments to the Public Ser- j vice, of dealing with dissatisfaction in : the railway service. It was an eleo-1 tioneering"Budget, without any policy worthy of the name. ,| He "went back five years since the time-the present Ministry took office, j and dealt at length with the unsatis- ; factory land system and criticised the j various Land' Bills' brought down, by ■ the Government. Despite the immigra- j tion system, arrivals scarcely balanced, departures. As settlers could not j get access to the land now unoccupied, | ! he supported Sir John Findlay's sug- | ' gestion that the natives should be placed on the same footing in regard to their land, and urged the right to acquire the freehold and offer of security of tenure. ' He complained that the Government did not excercise the authority granted in regard to the purchase of land for settlement. The only farmer in the Ministry was Mr Buddo, and they did not give him the portfolio of laJids as he had repeatedly expressed himself in favour of the freehold. So Sir "Joseph Ward, who knew nothing about had:to hang oir to that ■' folio. ;V Mr Massey adversely criticised' (the. Mokau transaction, contending : that'. facility .was, given for. tion :as against the ordinary settler. He h«ld;<thafc anyone for, a Ciovern-r ment candidate would excess ap-1 proval of the Mokau transaction. Mr Massey was not against borrowing. He admitted that the country had favourable assets, but its indebtedness was increasing at too great a rate, while the Government was anxious to do all financing of the coun-' try. When' New Zealand money could j not be invested in the country, there must be something \wrong. He complained that details, of the cost of the loans could'not be'obtained. People had a right to know how money was .expended. He strongly urged the' reform of the Legislative Council, making it an elective body on the proportional system. Though the public service was a good one, political influence prevailed, and New Zealand lagged behind other countries in'this respect. Regarding public works,, he favoured something in the lines of the English Development Board political influehco 'and'preSs'ure. * - The local Government system was out of date. Money voted for roads, and bridges in any one* year should be spent in that year. It was extraordinary that increiases to railway j men were made just on the eve of an election. As an objection ■to the functions of Parliament being handed over to Ministers, he quoted proposals under the last Tariff Bill, giving-the Minister power to decide whether articles were dutiable or hot. M Taxation had been increased on articles required in the dairying industry. The Minister of Public Works had power to take away the money voted for certain work and spend -it elsewhere. Salaries fixed by the Act should not be altered exoept by Act of Parliament. Increasing the payment of Judges appointed to -Commissions was tampering Avith the Judicial Bench. He was proud that New Zealand was the most Imperialistic Dominion in the Empire, but he considered Parliament should 'have been consulted about the Dreadnought, instead of the Ministry usurping the functions of representatives of the 'people. ' He detailed his Family Home Protection Bill. He dealt with the amounts paid to the Government and Opposition papers for advertisements. A proper system would be to give advertisements according to a paper's circulation. He quoted criticisms of the Government 'by Messrs Ross, Graham and Barclay, tand urged electors to vote for the Reform candidate at the coming election. 1 A vote pf thanks to Mr Massey and confidence in the present member for Egmont was carried. Mr Astbury, one of. the candidates at last election, desired to move an amendment, but would not rise till, the chairman proceeded to yut the motion. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie speaks at Eltham to-night. ,