THE OPPOSITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2332, 27 October 1908, Page 5

THE OPPOSITION.

MR. MASSEY AT FEILDING. REPLY TO THE PREMIER, [Press Association.] FEILDING, Oct. 20. There was an overflowing audience at 11 1 0 Drill Hall this evening, when Mr. \Y. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, replied to the recent speech delivered by iSir Joseph Ward. The 'Mayor occupied the chair, and Mr. Massey received a cordial reception. After alluding ih graceful terms to the retirement of Mr. Lethbridge, lie explained that the Opposition policy comprised the restoration of Parliamentary control of the public finances by improving the system of public audit, and by restricting the power now possessed by the Ministry of the day of expending upon one object moneys voted by Parliament for another, the establishment of a Civil Service Board, with the object of excluding political influence in making public appointments, the establishment of a sound and assured system of local government finance with a view to the equitable distribution and economical expenditure of public money in place of the present system of arbitrarily varied Ministerial grants and doles, the encouragement of land settlement bv restoring the system hr granting Crown lands upon the optional plan, with power to alii existing and future tenants to acquire the freehold upon equitable terms, but subject to provision for preventing the creation of large estates, settlement of the Native land question by the rapid individualisation of all Native titles and by affording to the Native race the privilege of disposing of their lands to the best advantage in the open market, but subject •(].) to a sufficient area of good and accessible land being reserved inalienably for the support of each Native and his descendants; (2) to the same restriction to area to ho acquired by any one'settler as pertains to Crown lands with the object of preventing tlie aggregation of largo estates, the maintenance and improvement of our national system oi : education, and in particular by increasing the minimum remuneration and raising the status of country teachers, tlie reduction of duties oil the necessaries of life, tlie reform of the system of carrying on publicworks with a view to assure efficiency and economy, amendments of the Arbitration Act such as will provide a sufficiently powerful deterrent against strikes, or failing that to secure simple attempts at conciliation, the reduction of duties oil appliances required in the Dominion s industries, the encouragement of immigration or the right stamp of British settlers, the improvement of tlie defence forces of the Dominion by encouraging every citizen to take a personalsiiarein the defence of his country and his home, the encouragement or private enterprise and individual effort, and the opposing by every legitimate means of that tendency to socialism and dependence on the State which is sapping the vitality and the independent character of the people, the promotion and encouragement by everv proper means to the candidature for .Parliament of honorable and capable men, so as to ensure purity oi politics and honesty of administration. He condemned the Minister of Education’s statement that teachers would not receive a higher increment than £5, which Parliament never intended He compared the land tenure on the optional system with present provisions to the advantage of the former, and ridiculed the setting apart of nine million acres as a national endowment as bound to please a section of the community. He said increased taxation had taken place, especially in the so-called unimproved values and in the Stamp Department, lie admitted concessions had been made in tlie tariff on some articles, but taxation had been put upon others, particularly agricultural and mining implements. In ISSS the taxation per head was £ 10s od, and in 190 S £5 Os lid. He condemned the Government’s proposal for new buildings for Parliament, etc., saying they would cost altogether £500,000. Regarding native land, not a single acre had been settled as the result of tlie operation ol the Native Lands Commission. The Opposition were willing to assist the Government on the question if given the opportunity. He generally condemned the Second Ballot Act, and spoke in support of the volunteer system and encouraging the cadet corps. Ho would require youths under 2-1 to learn the use of the ride and drill. The dairy regulations he condemned as too stringent. The amendments to tho Arbitration Act had improved it, bub did not go far enough in the direction of tlie Canadian system. He referred to the liberal laws of the old party from the Hon. C. G. Bowen to Sir H. At kinson, and condemned tlie Government for borrowing too much locuL~money. They should borrow in London. local bodies should be allowed to do a great deal of the work at present performed by Parliament, and should be given an assured finance. 31 r. Masoy concluded : ‘‘Support the Government candidates if you believe in the leasehold and Maori landlordism, if you believe in the single tax (putting all the taxation on the land); remember that tho single tax is represented in the Cabinet; if von believe in taxing the dairy farmers’ cows—remember the proposed dairy regulations ;if you want the drift towards the worst form of socialism to continue. Remember the statement of Sir Joseph Ward and Dr. Findlay ; if you believe in waste and extravagant expenditure of public money, think of the scheme for rebuilding the Parliamentary buildings and other- similar schemes, if you believe in taxing appliances for agricultural and mining purposes, if you believe in© the Second Ballot Bill with tho gag clause and its underlying principle oi>-al-lowing majorities to tyrannise over minorities, and preventing minorities from haying any representation in the Parliament of the country, vote for the Government candidate, but on the other hand, if you want satisfactory legislation and economical administration, if you want Parliamentary control to he madedirectly representative of the people, if you want the Native lands settled with satisfaction to both races, if you want to have private enterprise and individual effort encouraged, if you want a. better system of local government, if you want to sec volunteering encouraged and the defences of tho colony placed on a satisfactory footing, 'if you want to see the" country prosperous, and every map giveu a

chance of improving his position in life, vote for tho Opposition candidate. He . concluded a two hours’ speech in a perfect furore of applause, which marked his address throughout. After several questions had been satisfactorily answered, a cordial vote of thanks for the honor done to the town by Mr. Massey’s visit and confidence in the Opposition. were carried by a large majority.