SPEECH BY MR. HERDMAN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XL, Issue 5773, 23 February 1912, Page 5

SPEECH BY MR. HERDMAN.

ITHLIC SivUVICKS CIMTK.'ISIOh

"Mr Herdimin next spoke, and at some length criticised the -manner in which the various-, public services had ■been carried out by the present administration, lie accused the "\linist'?rs oi the Crown with having utilised -public money i a keeping1 themselves in power, in the shape of money \oted in the Kstiinatos prior to elections. lie declared that the people Irani for such reasons' come to disc rod it. the Co^■ernlnent. He contended tluit the lands- for settlement policy (jf th(> (Jo\"-ernment and the Arbitration Act had both failed. The Government's method of finance, he submitted, was also remark-able." The (Jove'riiment hud been living on its youth," he declared. "What d<x\s it matter what the Government has done in the pa.st eight, ten. twelve, or fourteen years '.' AY-hat we, as representatives of the country, -have to decide is, has (he (Jovernment. as elected by the People of the .Dominion last December, the confidence of the House, judged by their policy and recent actions V We 'have to judge the. (Government, not in its young' days, but in ils tottering, decrepit old days. (O-eneral laughter.) The people <>f this Dominion have declared that the present administration has mismanag-ed the railways, have been shilly-shally on the land question, has not. grappled with the native land problem, has not properly administered ils duties as trustees for the people, and is no longer worthy of the coflfhlrnCr of tliu I louse."