THE NEW PREMIER

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10504, 16 December 1911, Page 5

THE NEW PREMIER

MR MASSEY ADDRESSES TnE PEOPLE.

HIS POLICY OUTLINED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association./

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The folowfing letter to the electors has been handed to the Press Association by Mr W. F. Massey:-j"I desire to tender my moat cordial thanks to the people of New Zealand for the splendid testimony tihey have accorded the Reform Party by gjry-ing-itar majority at v the election®* The electors .have emphatically de•cided thai there must be a change in the administration of the affairs of the Dominion, they lrave expressed their confidence in. the party that I have the honour to'lead and that has served their interests faithfully and well for many years.. The Reform Party hhs> won. iia proud position in a fair and open fight, and against the whole strength of a Govejiment which.. was, en* . tr^cßed-Kn-, office' .and, of; the resources and OTgafliaatioin de-i nded to lis. Much laboured effortf and much paper and ink will no doubt be wasted m the endeavour to explain away the decisive defeat . I tof the Government, and to belittle 1 the victory of the Reform Party; but I ask the electors to estimate such effusions at their true worth, and to rest assured that the Reform Party ! Hill' do its duty; unflinchingly, that (it is solidly united in' the 'interests of the people as. a whole, and that, it will'aot when .the time comes. The people and .all' the people oah accept, together with my thanks, my assurance -that.,- the Jtieform ; Party ,is (guarding- their best interest*,; and that' it wilii be found a true friend, not of one, but of all. 6tections of the oommunity. The electors*, by bo substantial an, endorsement' of our polricy, have indicated their desire to place the stewardship of the Commonwealth, in the hands of the -Reform Party, and this high trust will be accepted in a full consciousness I of itsi honour and' its> responsibilI Aty. "The Reform Party is guided by (high aims land high ideals for the advancement f os the Dominion on true demooratio lines, and 't w?li, ' witen 'the opportunity comes, proVit itself t jji (t true. Liberal party, It is -not 1 concerned with ,the vain boasts , and foolish misrepresentation,, indulged in by its opponents. Ito answer will come by deeds', not worcfe. There hove been many rumours and suggestions made with reference to the Iteform Party's- Cabinet. I have' not yet arrived at tht> Cabinetmaking stage;. "When I have, I shafl> take care tMat ali sections supporting -the parts are properly 'represented). No nasty or/fill-oonaudered - steps wiW be. taken, by the men the Sectors}., have! entrusted with the duty of reforming the administration , of the national affairs. The Reform p(a-rty' has trusted the peopley and. "the people may trust the Reform party. We; will not hesitate, wheji. the. ltdme comes, to proceed with the. poUiioy outKned in. our platform. It is a sound, progresefive,' and self- ' reliant policy. The electors' may take the assurance of the party thbt it will be oarrifed through- It makes, ifor economy of, administration; sound and sensfiible land settlement and development programme; the ffeducttkm of taxation m the fiscad isystem wCbenever possible, in order to lessen the cost of living;' a Legislative Council's, representative of the people proper; efficient control of the Civil' Service; better local' government, "and socrial <ind industrial legisliatjiom,, with' democratic principles, together with wider and higher opportunity for the (people and the (advancement of alfli forms' of indus*ifari'al activity. Again I thank thte electons, on behalf of my party, as» well as on my own behalf, for the confidence imposed in u», and for the emphatic answer to the misrep-resen-tations we had to fight against. The Reform Party; wiJl do 'its' duty fearlessly, confident in the trust of the people.— W..iF.'MASSEY."