OPPOSITION REPLY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10627, 4 May 1912, Page 5

OPPOSITION REPLY

TO MINISTERIAL UTTERANCES.

(By Telegraph — Fress Association.)

AUCKLAND, Last Night

Ait tile request of tihe Leader of the Opposition, Mr Lang, M.-P,., 'to-day repliied to tihe recent utterances of Ministere. . When intervieweitl, Mr Lang said that the Prime Miina&ter was touring thei cbainitry eartetfully ctultivaftdnig the idea, that" the. parent Cabinet in general, and be (the Prime Minister) m particular, were devoted, to the interests of the fatfmer. Mr Mackenzie omitted' to correct tihe impression' ttihast lie 'himself was a farmer. Mr Mackenzie was not a faimneir, and ne<rer was a fairanter. If the Prime Minister was go' sb'lfcitoU'S' for the welfare idf the* and tihe interests of the i'freeholder-si why was it that when- he had the opportunity of forming a Gabiinetfc he excluded: 'thic farmers from it? Mr Lang said, that the Governwierot attempted to lead the public to (thank that the ytote of warnt of confidence moved hy Mir Masisey was Io&t> by tine 1 reading of a fetter by Mr Mas'sey. The only thing that saved the iGsavermimeiit was' the promise of Sir Jbseph Ward to resign. The attack made upon Mr, Maseey iby the Prime Minister 1 ,in wjk'di he accused l the Leader cif the Opposition of political airifair ploy in. decerning 'a pair for Mr Wjlfbrd., wh.o was not sworn in, and wife hflli refirarVncd from asking for a pair', was particularly uncalled for, ii. view of the wiire-puEitaig indulged i» to defeat thic nb-confidence motion, aaid in view of 'the feet that the Government elected to take office by virtus of the support of two men who had' promised to vote for the motion. The Prcmr!c<i" in nha-i'&tehutch tiried u> tell the public that the present Cabi'iibb had tlie support of the country, which, it had not, amd never had. Tlie teforta Paiiw required, none . of; the Premier's advice, aaid had a thorough appreciation of its- 'leader. "I am not feurpd'sed at Mr Mackenzie," added Mr Lang," "tryinig,' t'ogeher with some (others, to injture Mr Massey' in the estimation; .of the ~ people,, awd to injure, our party at the' same time, because Mr Mackenzie and friends; fear- Mr Mapsey, and fear the' Reform party, hait we knbw Mr and trust him, and w also kr.r>w Mr Mackenzie. I