INTERVIEW WITH MR. MASSEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2178, 30 April 1908, Page 2

INTERVIEW WITH MR. MASSEY.

COMBATTING SOCIALISM,, THE POSITION MADE CLEAR. ' (Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, April 29. Politics in New Zealand are, at itlie present time, so to speak, in the melting pot, and probably they will remain there for some considerable time. What the final result will be no man can tell. The general election im December may give an indication of it, but the final result may not be apparent for some years to come. With ,a view to throwing some light on the position, I sought an interview with Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, who is in Wellington, en route to Gisborne. Mr. Massey has just returned, from a visit to the South Island on the business or the party, and though he refused to go into details regarding his mission, he states that he had every reason to be satisfied with it.

“It has been stated,” I ventured, “that your business in Dunedin - was to arrange for a coalition or a coalescence between your party and the Government for the purpose of curtailing the iSocialistic tendencies of the Radicals.”

“Absolute nonsense,” replied Mr. Massey. “I have already given Itli-at statement a flat denial, land I don’t mind saying that my business on the present (trip is to meet the Opposition members and some of the prominent supporters of the party in the different centres. But' let one take the opportunity of suggesting to those people, who are alarmed at .the spread of Socialism (that the proper thing for them to do is to assist the party that has stood up, .and with a certaiai amount of success, against Socialistic proposals in Parliament and Socialistic proposals, s|:h as the nationalisation of the land, and tile nationalisation of the industries of the Dominion. I believe the question of Socialism will he very prominently before the electors at the coming" elections; and properly so, because I think .the sooner the position is faced the better; but I would (ask the electors to think for themselves which party is the more worthy of support, the Government party," of which a large majority are by their votes prepared to .accept Socialism, or the Opposition party, which, while anxious to give every mum a chance to improve his position, is convinced that the destruction, or even discouragement, of private enterprise pud private industry would be th every worst thing that could possibly happen to this or any other country. (On this question the electors should see that there will be no running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, but that every candidate will be called upon to make-his attitude perfectly clear.”

“Do you wislh do say anything about the financial position?” “Only d'ha,t we rare all pleased that the financial position, as disclosed iby the Treasurer the other evening, as ait present so satisfactory. It- is well, however, to remember-, in consequence of tine preferential pant of the Tariff Acts oidy coming into operation niter the 31st of March, a very large sum was collected by way of revenue prior to the end of the last -financial year, that- would otherwise have stood'over until (this year, and ihero I mav point out that .1 think ,n. mistake is being made in borrowing in New Zealand! The result of this local borrowing on the parit- of the Government during the .last, few years is that the Government itself liras come into competition with those who require borrowed oapital.- ‘Thus thiv raU> of interest %n s been increased to the farmers and merchants ami manufacturers of New Zealand. Neither do I -agree with ttie policy or borrowing i„ Australia. Ihe Governments Of the Australian .Mates are ab,o to go to London for Urn money they require, and. New Zealand shou-Id be m at least as mood a position to do likewise. 1 notice that the .1 reasiirer in ibis concluding icmai-ks the other evening was not nearly so optimistic as usual, and even hinted at a possible increase of taxation. Mol.!, taxation is already pressing very heavily on the people of this country, and I •a-m sure that i t , < ’, arolul 'administration there should be li'o necessity for anything of the sort. The present taxation, when one considers the increased cost m .lying, ls quite a sufficient burden tor the .people to bear. It, would lie lar better to curtail some of the unnecessary expenditure that goes on than to suggest even the possibility 0 f increased taxation.”

Asked it he had any other point on whioli he would like do .touch, Air. Massey said iho found in his travels through the -Dominion that tho two political questions uppermost in the M it'iie great, majority of (Jm . wero the question of the •i • -bi.-tpiideney to .Socialism ami t,u; administration of the Arbitration A i .- 1 KIV0 " lns views in re. gird to tho ioriner. With regard to uio In.otor. tlu» y;oiio.i'iil oniuiuu. ntul it \vat» ono .wthioh ho shnroil, \\\»i* thnt the Act h.ml praetieally-hroken down •am! it it is to remain on the Statute Book, or to die of -any value in (ho tut lire, it, must lm minonded so ns to make it more elastic ami less irkmTii J'm T ,,oym " ml ’"ovknuMi. \\ lietnei the Government. will insist upon making the -necessary nmemlinonis next, ■session or not, the was, of eom-tfo, uwibta «U:> m tv.