POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 950, 18 October 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

W ;- ; EMTHUSIASTiC MEETING; '' f5-^.^-eO^ENMENT;'POLICY KEENLY:' j££%sd'%o';^ f-§i-!y .iflectprs/pf ; thb;;TOlingtpri;/North/dis-; !"^-%iTict.'more than filled the Sydney,: Street f:;; evening, when, the ;;'/,; pPaftiameritary' representative ..,of,the:disC::i; ■ :,ltnct, /fir.' A.- L;'■•' Herdhi'an, gave a w::"■ »t£i, Ms/stewardship. "-:■ .A .number.:of.:';■ the -/,;■'.:- Wradience ;had to. be'- content.-.with /standvon Haasi;; ;; ;':;.;..'■'.!■ >i;V'". (:j:-n;^:^-r ; ':-sTy\ Chairman'^ L/vrt'^'J^iritrbducirig : :Bari7.6aid- he';; took-: the '■' chair; gladly .'v-He |f:-j':-::': : thpught. the■//meeting;:'.was,, aii.,excellent ! :.,-■:,w'iidea,:. as every -' member "should'.'keep J.'as f,;;.,: i,■■' inuch .ih touoh. with: liis; constituents as, t : .-..-":^dssibleV.and from'time' to:.time'should T>. -.'■ W' ;.them:'thei' ; position M- affairs, j"".;:-:': /Vias/dnlyVdne"cbui'd'.who wasinimine'diate ji<.:'\ /<touch7:witS:ithe/ParUameritaiy machine. r&Jri 1 [Everyone/of to;-. .get;, a j:,; r ;:'.':;teb.vei , rim^ : J: 7 vilai'd,:who..wished'.i6 see.a'new.ora.in piace,j:; ( \\ «f ithe pfeent inefficient, arid 'extravagant' \ -'.-.■;'"; [regime,: should:. help :to the,; utmost,; to ■:; .'■-.,: igain that' reform.: ; : Some of ..the old.:,iri-. K.S?. eidious v arid ■ pernicious'-iy- influences..',;.'were f':X'--::: : arrayed;'against;, the'"':•'reformefs:;'at :'pre ; ?SS^::isent,'"and : the'::pr6mises riof.;'roads.:and. ? ;<'[bridges'and public;.works'haS-to'be."cpni-' ,:olaeri;. days:,the; Govern-: jv '•■'..[,■ aneijt,usm to say,;'Tet'us.-go^out/and kill iifev -jßonSjone, 1 ' ; ; the 'present .GoyernmentJ.said; i S;? WkA vs go.out; aid', tax -somebody "±<M>-, f:- ;: 'SVjlatiseO;if.SoV-inariy :; p*f'/the. Gbyefnment: 1 so ill-conceived : andi.sb-.iljU' JV«%;:/tegested,: : that;.eve'ri^the'.;frDJhers/of : '(■!■■ "J" .-.the"; v effacti,bf 'Viheni;. K'i:->-- : :lwouldVDe, -■ hence the .'nee'essity!: for■ a ;,criti;jf ■• a.!l:een,; discerning t'l'. v..'^e:: ! 3^...Herdman.-J-.;He vwas,,■ afrai.d" ; :-|We . fW yid' ? ript/ all"rrad. : morning:papers/:-;He-himself.-;had , !?;i!v'i .turned; from:-!the j-clipiceydis'plays'-.pf fßil-: i:ari> the". House' to ■' the fy -'-rJ-XCourt/. to Imore.vdighified. vV:: speaker! QSx. ; vHerdmaii) "wonlditgivp. Is / ; :a recprd .of,the;bungling : ,bf .the::Go:rern-v:;>^,;3hent.";v:;f/:'':,y^^::^";,.,y.'-:-,'v:-:;:::';:,•]':; ;,;': te'KK:i^;^ ; Herdmiih;::, whb::-:was';;giyen.-;'aii, r ,en7; ', feceptiohj'/'EAid': that .■ry-"'->:; J :jglad. to'.:be,the, representative of f'\V^;VSni;constitiencj; ; iih:;:New Zealand.;,":, }.'■ '-. v : ; '.?;'!wassth'©re;a : ihore ; ' respecta,ble constituency. ■f;W^;^hanv:Wellington^Nbrth";: : f"Hji^iradeEfs':were : ithb..Prime«M $'r.i!i'.i'A.i nearly 'all.'the ;other : :MinisteT3,.'of:the: &$S?i Cfpwn::/ ;He; -■had; deceived;; numerbhsj; r?- ? sf;yW;.':s f ; yW;.': Vjueste iio'.'give:'a': sessional,/■addTess./::Aii'-. Vi:''li-< rthei^reasoff, : why\he-;dTd sb, ; was that the-jtK:.--people "were;nbt.satisfied: with /the: exist--. *':&/{- KSIt-jjaie;;. way:ih :.^hich:,the'couhtryi'was', I being. t.i/J.'S'ruii.'AThen thai every"meihber. should fc:' ; .jhimseli : with; | , S ; ili;?ofe ; j.eoiifi£iWencyJ-:-'.:lt-.t ri;.;:-'"':Nbered : power-was rotes., [?S'-.'Tb.-get.the' Goverhmeht/put..of;offic'o'yptos !?^i' ; !trer'e'.'needed. Ev%S platforms addresses. S/It -was. •-. theydutj*; of-, p;;Vf/ihe;;OppositionVto,:;Conie';:out,:/a ; miweU-bipwn: ff-: So : of 'the CrownJ; who :.tbo]teyery fe;n?'opportunity-;of ,4ddr'essing;-the'•electbrs -in; pO;:'jM©fent 'parts: of .'the/DbminibnJTTlieipbr jf'M"? :'ject ofrihe-Oppositiba-'was to. fv iS-' ; .thb'.fnianagement. 1 of i ;y ; :;v- : i;.the ;,G|overnnient:'«had .'.nbtl-.dohefariyi'igpdd.'', i : i' : X?i ind&ed,lne! ; would 'sayythaTih ithe; fM'fepres^which: deserved; the-sUpport-'ofithe K/'siJfesvhble: coinmirhity;;;: The first-of itheseiwas biSfttie'lLiefenbe Bill;?which; was;:fbunded::on; \.~b: K:'/' * -sound'ischeme; i-Th"en;. : %aiii;;.-th'ere.{waß : tevK-'.*.uo;!pand-':^ fir'? fvv ; :-M!U'ell6n't : :" "/measure;V.- ,wos vVtho;• tHospital p-?i»i'ifourth,'•;measure; which, was': |/;:;VSTf general l : support; iwas'.tho'/Grim'es-Ambnd-Bill. /;-/;;;{;;/:*; : ;/S\?- i: x'. •;'•?. k'£ '■ \ ,: £.';>>-/ '^h/'iJPiy^edingV'MrV'/Herdm^ | : (s ; .vSl'fe^; ; grca.t;ev^srbf;t'his/co.to t ;^ ; ;^jmaiiagemerit,; and v'ill-corisidered' ■■? / legisla-^ fji : :S';iy^fi.nii?i;';T^^ iSs.-jS^^igbod.'Govieinhient i.vFas'.taj-'remb.ve'.the^'pre-; f;;*/:''SiKritf':/GoTeihm^ i-.*^Mmears:)":-V..Tlie::Cp^itronlfrasT IS?M j^v^PsrfepHy ' t;bbnpra,'';vpertectly* plain. j:; S : .s;:iThe /mystery; to|,himWa's,ihat v the; ; pepple: t'; ; ":,;?';,'Siad: b&eii^sp"lbhgin^findihgVit'out^There \ ti'%■;•. isras';;hardly ..'a ..IJepartmeht;,in;/which'?a' |;:v:;:-/.. ! irayiew;pfjit^;Kistc^ f t&s,Ws- "disclo'se;Bad 'ttanageine'nfc'.-A' 'Goyert , :£ n^t,ehould:;bave/-3^ l'SiM /.^campaign.'- "should /be. sVi:.?P::; jallbwed '..to[ T*maii\ yin/officoJ.TOless-itihad t'- Administratipri-bught P;;f;-A ; .^5'-b'«'--aBlp-';io. f s»';-int6 KV;;" //jpicture'.; apprbxihiately/ajhi^/ideahi'But F': //S.rJhß/present'! .GOTenuneiitiihad/no 'plah.pf : [.i'/-:5.: ; :iMtion/!np3deal,,np/b t/^ftj;jno^oTOfnment/'couid;.rc^ [ r ;/;/;vr,lof ; -:::.h-um"anity:' ; *;'AltlM fe: ;•;',>>,. jablovahcl.-Ibicautiftil-./cbuitry/ existed;,-/, in..there: should.' be. plenty: to Sv.;;lv;:;*at;;;..'and.^^ p..-iSR : fc:s^-;-i J tifiiK:/;Hesdid;i»tythink\thatja 'y jeirnment -Iriuthe'*world was" iworth ;-;a'"' rapi j/.-'f./Kfnnless<it..could" go-;bei6re'N;the:'country j;:;, : :;;: ; ;/tand;;say: /^h^isiqurpplipy.a^We.lm- 1 P.):'.,-:.:.; .ptend-;to': stick ' tb:-it /.through "thiok''','.a < Ad:' f; : ,/.;-:;rthin.-. / or;-fall/by .it?': ?:-v.';/; (But/that/w*as;inbt/.the'-pbstioii':in';Tegard. |.'. .-'ySiittp.' present' Government';:;: What-, was iwrorig.'.was; th'at2the" Government 'proeeiid-k;;-S;\ed:on;the assumption./that T all "It:is:hbt t by,:the:;State:that;man: I^-/-/''/.ican.;,be;' regulated.::.ahd.'the'. terrible: woes. |-;:;.:.:,";::': of; this "darkened, world effectually: "dealt. |/:;/SvS;' ; :/ivThe' : " Humanitarian" -/Govflrrinienti*.;?:' i i/ -$':•■■ ■';. : always I-). -.;'.'-. ! > ! Sts tbeyl'-wererliiini'aniiar' |V ; -:,'./;sriari;ia ,c f, '■'■:'.i. :.',Jthis.jway". it. f::"//.J;vJDne; b ;fpr; humanity.;':; L;^t-;,Bidc r -cd i^°'; ;i wa ? : :i ll J the, /.the Ki-Ji;':l-;'lfeople. -,-; ;Jri-..Great, Britain,""f or ■ te : ra.;Bill. aiming :'at v de-{-'■''.'{-.)-p;;-fcnce-;it' .was. a:humanitariaii mesisure.-. So S : of ;;.;v";;s-/:pasahg,measures';b£:.ai Jitiihanirariaii'.'na-.' (?"' /?''' : f-;.ture;'.; Talk 'of, : the-kind,to.,which';he,had. f : fei:'; ,'^ve,'.':."/It/believed that.tho//aim of the i:;.;"v;';;;^pyefrinlbnt : :Shpuld/;be'. hot": to;; ; niake. |/';?;'y'; /cy-erybody dependent ■ on the .State,,not'to |;.;>:: ;'. linake, everybody;,lean on: ,the; State;.'when: ',': i /, "they-got.into; trouble,;;but,;to 'make the teach everyone:in.; E/;':;:.:: : their duiy'tb; [■: -? ;':•• /-.■exert..themselves':to their,utmost/in: their, P.'-/;,f^^//Tisual.'walks, of.life;':..;Tlio';.Oppbsition'did': '.;;.:/',:;>not believe''it/necessary, to "continually !\;' ':"■."'- "'pass ■■ ■; legislation '.".which ..wpnld.,,; Jydp' if'.V- ;■■'.pas section arid l /.which would':hamper. ;;. / "//.,.flnother:.eecti.bri.:: They ■■ did ' riot' believe !•■ ';.. :V';that' r :'the*.iState,'. was, an- institution/'tP'

: ; yhichv people"; should: look:'when: every :'Aempest came.' along.'■',': V It' should ' : notj : be ..'■: .an;.. institution : to '• which /all ■' the: un'ein-; ,-■; ployed -should. look; for -billets.' ■- They'lbe- . .. lieved that 'everyone- should be taught;-to : .rely, on: his.or, own resources as much;' ' •■', as If;'the people were taughti.to 1 ; ; -';je self-reliant,;the,resnlt would-;be great ,Lf,-national strength. ■; Certainly,-it was: right ". ,'th'at'people should look.to the State,listen ■''they were' in distress.:: But 1 it was; not "the, duty, of rthn; State to help the loafer - dr.those. who iwere-j-able -to: help; them-selves,-but would prefer'to rely on.chari;'table, aid. -, The. .whole ..trend ,of, public i'.]ife and,;public; management during ;:-'the. :.'past.ls years had, bebn^in,the- direction .;■•' of; "leading'•■.people" ; ..io',. believo that.- the .'.-; State was -a huge-charitable: institution, a .' huge .repository-; containing roads,: bridges, .billets, and. gifts.; for - the people.,, .;This country-would-never bo worth ,a,rap so ;- long: as that spirit; .prevailed. :' If. thii ..people were -taught/'a new, doctrine, that ./they..must, do their, best'as citizens of the 'coinmuhity, then,ho believed they .would ..: have a much; better and. a more whole- ;;: some conditionof things;;' '• ."■': ■ :';The Government-acted the part of the beneficent parent..: Just think of this.par- ■ ;ent of ours, said Mr. Hordman. It was ■ V-a-'composite^sort-of -parent, consisting, of : : ;: Sir: Joseph; Ward and'the. Hons. Carroll, -:, ,;ilillar,:. , Fowlds,,;MTvenzie, Mackenzie, ,■•■•,' Bhddo, and ";■;. Ngata. .It was a - partly ■bookmaker parent, and partly anti-book-maker; partly, freehold, and partly leasehold; partly -prohibition-and partly brew- ;■ orj'.and it was- sometimes', a single tax / .parent. .(Laughter.) ;. This. ; beneficent •s-jdreiit. oirr trustee, ; u>l,

our money, and squandered millions of it. Evoi-y day of its life this parent committed a breach of its tmst. Hostile parent) was a reckless old scamp. (Laugu,tcr.): But this was the sort of parent we- ;wero : asked;^to', place; our dependence on. It had no courage, "and no principle.

Why the Government Should be Replaced,

. ; There were a largo number of reasons 'why/this- Government should be removed 'from! office, but ho-would content himself ; by,"giving: four of those. /Tho firet was'! that, tho;Government had no courage ;,:secondly, it" was inefficient; thirdly, .it was ''.unwise; and lastly, it was unjust. ' Wien ho said the Government had.no courage, he"; meant that it was absolutely at the .mercy, of-the; bodies, of, people who; came '/ along from time ,; to -time;:and .appealed .to it. The• Government; '.-', had encouraged the .deputation evil;'!- A constant stream of humanity collected, in Wellington,.' and. •.;was constantly moving up the pathway' to; tho ■Ministerial doors and' laying its petitions ■at-. the /Ministerial feet. ■■ .Some: .time ago tho- Government determined to do away with'Athe Auckland': Government .House, .considering that■ ono' rice-regal residenceiri New. Zealand wiis sufficient. ; In fact, the' furniture- was -removed—soma of it to. "Wellington—but what' happened?: -As soon'.asthis was decided, and because tho people' of-Auckland got iinto a;- fermont,-. 16 'and/ behold, the determination. Ministers came'to was discarded, and to placate thbV'rtople.'of ..Auckland the Ministry 'decided to keep" this Government House. If it had stood to its guns—it the Goverament''ihad; . thought/it.:wiso .' that ■ there, should' be; no, Govermerit; House at Auckland—once "having made that -declaration .they;should have .stuck'.-, to their guns and, should:riot:ihave given,in. ,; (Applause;) Mr.': Herdman werit on to .quote, the comments of, the'.Dunediri"Star/' a strong supporter/'of -the Government,"in" regard ■to the;,above-'matter,', this".paper- haying stronijly.'condemned the position taken up by .the/Go'verimerit'. : ;.•;;'%': •■'-."■';, '■'■ "';'..

V ; - : % //;More \ Lack;-'of. Courage.:;,;.';■■.; ; ,;; '' .. instance in. which .the Govern-, roent/ .that it; lacked-courage, was •in regard: to. the, Knyveit; case.. :He did-'riot,', want; tb'go.sinto.-jthe,; details, of .this ma'tt'er, .but would point but; that'the Government" had,- completely changed /its .'attitude;.on -this'.question.;, The :position ;wh'ich".arose/-in-regards to ,vthe Coalmines I of ,;the/-West';Coast-,-was;"another ;! caso;in point, l -. If'.the.'.Governmerit.'had-teeri. firm it"./would': .'.havb': supported;, .the// mine; manager, -but a Minister ''..went- down'•' the Coast ; :an"d /• ■; the : ,.Governinerit'; retreated: .from'i'tho position .it -.'had.-'-taken.;''^p. 1 Soine'i, years :agb,;.'.the :.'GbveriimentVpassed. legislation:giving;:the':bookmaker a;;legal; .bookiaaker.'i'rais: iii extremis? but; with, the statuij 'given him':.by;.the. GbyeTnment/he flourished; /'Now ,'tho ■'Government -'came; 'to'.tho'House'.aji'd'j'said they./were'mistaken arid Had beeri' wrong;;-/ He,-was glad.of th« iatest' nioye,'.;bUt■..ho'.'only;Mentioned -the point! tp; show-'>the '.'complete';:','somersault; the ".!3oyernnierit ."had V;perfprriied; /. The most /.extraordinary. display/of /lack ;; of. courage; on", the ' part; ot the,,; Government, was in -. regard ■' to the /land /question:; -. Mr.; jHerdiriari proceeded: .to ;qupto:".thb various, .turns-arid'twistsi.ih:land'legislation since. -1907i-5 [when ■ thbvHori/; Mr': : ' : ■ M'Nab ;: intror; ;ducecl'lßS,'Land;,;Bill :arid::stated-.that; the • ;Gbve"r'iriitent:. was: going/tb'riail.its.cplburs ;to' .the.;.: masf? on ; . this.;:,' Bill;' ' The .mast must : have'been .ari insecure', phe,: because it,-w«ntioverbpard. /'.(Laughter.) .• ..Where the 'Gbve'rriment\lacked'Jcourage'.was/.iri the';.-t.actV.that ■iri:4B92,:;.a'rid:,later', :it:,was: .-re-' .cognised '■' .that;; public;,;bpinion;-; ;;was '■■':.• in favoiii': of /allbwing .the:-:small,.leaseholder.; to:,ocnvbrt'.;his':land irito*''.the;fTeeh:old,''arid < ' :recb£Msihg';';;;,this;; tp' -dropi their /principle/arid;,change- with public.;opihibn.;-,'.-Tliey:;ithrew": overboard'/ theiHlold .policy;'/ .This Jwas; a;display :■■ |.of ;■ labk;-bf.:courage:';; 'erninerit,.was".unwbrtnyitp, icpntiriue ; ''in'i: 'officej.he'c'auseiitv. ".'.-.The.; Depp,rtmerits of /State, conld.^he'.contended,' ;bp 'faanagedvthe",■ ft any,;.private.' :;v;'/ : n ■;: : /,';;

: K'^lsJi^^The^Hiitti Rajiway,;:[[[;[;[::;'' !*;;MK':^Her'dmaii--;pr6^dbi/-.to''\4™. ppsifioti l ;,'.wlhiolt-has,'-arisen.Yin;-regard to' the ' : Hutt Y railway /and.-road;! worts.. In 1803'- 0r. : ; 1901,.' the. [Government :passed a ..JBilll'giying'them'-power- W!bWrow,a. -.sum of money- to. : improve /the.;Hutt : Road/ ; : It hadlbecn'stated-that the -works would not "cost/more •:-ith«liv-i-:Sipp,oflj)!':^an4V-,:to>;-dnte-■.i£33SidOO.!--" n'att-K been j authorised.'.vjis - the ■Prime of.ieolaime'd: Und; might rmake ; up':the;,additional cost 'alri(;ht,:;butVhdV,(tho.;' speaker);relaimed thatt.ii the; Government ;was efficient'-.it 'wh'e:a ; 'the original BiU'/wa^-introduced/ /what/the", approximate [cost /would. be./ The pbsiybn./now/was/itlmt the/Government |h'adi!l^nV.^ante'dV: v iE33SiOPO, !! had's the vlt'.|had':Vbeen" : sug'ges|tedithaff members- for"the-City, of :Wellington ;liad ; !;doM : ;,wTQng ; ' thei'action'.".of''the ''(jbvcrrimerit: in /connec?; -.tipa \ .with.:the/Hutt/line,.and other'.;'Gov-, and,about'.Wellington. 'He-claimed;that it was/the;'duty of mem■bertf -[p>.;[protest' >against.'/extravagance,' .whether v in'[Wellington,- in /;Auckland,' or other/•part/, of .'the-.;Dominion. ;.(Ap-; ;p]aiise.);;.lVßen the; Hutt. rail-jvay "matter 1 :was- before" j;h©:House,,,the ; Prime ilihis'ter inad.'vieferfed'ito'i'.theimembers.J.'forYjyYel- ■ lihf ;ton ;■ as 'dumb/dogs/ but/ he [afterwards for the statement,;as members''weit)' able'.' ; to'.'':show /that'- their 'sfaioturesr'werejabsolutely''justified..'; "As regards Parliament' Buildings, he urged !that- if [the officient . the yi would-;: long. / ago> ■; have'',•; ; submitted ;a '..new/.Ebheme, in/; connection, with- the, • matter:'■•"-If.:''tn'ey'>"had- done so 'a: consid-;' erable' part'!of them'oriey., spent in. patching up: 'the/old;/Governor^;.Vresidence,: .etc;/ ; could; have/been' saved .mthbuV. difficulty. Respecting 'the-Governor's", vhew.residence,: : had;:beeh . paid.::for.!a ; piece 'of land ori. which''the ■;Government,valuation wa;f;i(s2sß.';''There seemed to/be/something: ['about/that:/'v./l/;^^^ y "''!r"''' : : The!' '■"'■ IJealiag' with'• retrenchment,/MT. .Herd-: man 'said-that when, the' Prime/Minister 'deiilared that : hecould: : per; Vaißnm:;'with6ut'\impamng:::;th'e/.;effioiencyV .of'the ;: public" service, 1 ■ he, . iil::'eftect," admitted ;/that/:in[.the,[past;,he:[had:,beeti wasting: that.sumvamiually.-;:lii.»iew'-of : 'that-'f.act,'iWh'at.;should;.they: , do. ;| with[lhe 'Government?-;-,:;-';; /;/ : . [///f.jv .-;.';'; .: Avoicei/Kick- it - out. -■ '■; :,'■ , Continuing, .'.Mr. .Herdman -, said he believed that the;Departhients^W6re'-at ; ;that : tiiab. : overmanned 1 and' that people had got; ■into" thb ; public, service/as 'the/result; of pblitical.-inn'uence.", In view of .the, posi? thin as to the management of: the Uvil Service, a; Royal ,Commission' should be appointed.::-; Ha ■ .would ■■.'.'.'agree- to an. export-'/in//bne of.,the; other.. States being '/'appointed ito/../- investigate ;v the position / in: regard', t0..-' the /whole, service." 'If'that /were;-done .he .was; satisfied' 'that' the:results '-.wbnlS"--be very, interesting. He could not understand why the Government. did; not supply details i asrto the retrenchment..' The excuse of the.Prime Minister that.'.it would not do to/make [names pnblio'.was trifling. ■■: Tt was ■ no ' disgrace to be;;retired, when" retfenchment was 'taking,-place. .The ;country was entitled not;only 'to the., names pi:-.the officials'who. had;■ .been retired, bnt. also the/names of appointees sjnco the retrenchment-scheme; was: inaugurated. (Hear;'hears.);:He-would refer.briefly to the appointment ;'of : Mr. : Diniiie to., the presidency of' one of "the Maori Councils. In, this regard he/would like to say that : hB was not reflecting in any way on Mr. Dinnie's ability ' or./[character, . ;He thought, that .'rather, than :tako a man back who :'ivas : right. but';of ■ the service the ■Government, should; take back one of the officials'who had';'been . dispensed with' under- .the retrenchment .scheme. The Government was unwise' because it set: class against class, because it legislated to stifle instead of tofoster industry, 'becauso it;.. spent 'money. ..without, regard to economy, and because it legislated to keep the industrial.: world in a state/of .ferment. Wlieii.the Government voted against a motion by. Mr. Wright that State advertising should' bo given regardless of the political convictions of tho newspapers.and with a view only to eettihg the best.return to-tho taxpayers, they dragged, the politics of this country os low -as' they could get., (Applause.) It was an unjust.Government.because of its taxation laws. ; It taxed classes, fits arbitration laws wore unjust.. It selected ' cine "class to tax, punish, or. oppress another class. If the people wanted a 'bettor state o£ things 'they would have to get another Government in power.

: v Railways and Public Service.. ■It was essential that .the public dcpartr roents should be properly managed. His experience of,public lifo during the past two years made him more convinced than ever ttiat.it was essential that_ it was in the interests of the public service jib'dof the'pamlfi^toiOTßa-ifiommisacinfir

in.complete control of the regulation of salai'ies, appointments, etc., thus taking these 'powers,..out. of the hands of Ministers of tho Crown. Tinder existing conditions ho was convinced that tho public service did not get justice. The railways, 'also, he thought, should bo managed by experts. The railways certainly showed an improved condition financially this year, but to get this fares had had to bo raised, arid, ho believed,, freights also. The Hon. J. A. Millar had made a genuine attempt to bring about a bettor state. of things, but ho/would never be able to dothe best for tho railways—ho .would never be able to resist tho evils of political control. "With the railways under the control of such a man as they had as Commissioner in New South Wales, we would bare the railways run on business lines, and in the best interests of .She people of the country, and. in a more efficient manner .than under Ministerial control. The root'of one of tho greatest evils of this'country was the roads, and bridges system as' it stood. ' In his opin-ion,-before any.money was voted for these works,/all application*'for grants should be renewed by a board. Mr.. LloydGeorge had incorporated this principle, arid in referring to the personnel of the board, had said the men should be absolutely independent of the Executive. If New Zealand had a Public Service Board, unci Railway Commissioner, and the roads and bridges applications were scrutinised by a; Public Works Board, a great deal of the evil' at present existing;in public life would be eliminated' ; ,and politics would be pure.. It was high time, continued Mr. Herdman, for the people of this country to bestir themselves. On every hand he heard people express "the opinion that the time was" ripe'for the Opposition doctrine. to.be preached "from different'platforms of the country.. : .. ■ Immediately. . after. Christmas;.- Mr: Massey intended to commence a ! political .campaign throughout New Zealand.'-He (Mr. Herdman) knew • that there was.a'tremendous amount:of apathy, and.it was time the people:woke up, and got rid of this apathy* and opened their.eyes',and lookd' at/things in' a. plain.', way., ■/; They!, should .also be told things, m, a plain way:-' If members of the: Opposition-, were 'to go : through ■" the oountry, and tell the people firings' in plain,' straight.language he had no fear as to' what the ultimate'result would be at the, next election: ' (Applause.) :;..■; /i/'Thanks/and'.-'Confidence:"."- ; "'.' > :. In proposing -. a: hearty vote:' of thanks to the speaker, Mr. Hadfield said it 'was gratifying, to see Mr. Herdinari come for-, .ward and';deal in so. concise and able a manner-,with, siieh/a: variety,of subjects. .After, hearing :what. Mr. Herdman had said, he, (the speaker)... was. sure all who hadiheard him,,.cpu}d assure himiof their complete confidence' in him ;as, their representative*.. (Loud applause.) /'':. He' hoped that other -members of.-the' Opposition would,.follow 'the ..example 1 set- by' ..-Mr! '.Herdmari'. ';-•:'::::[:,;:.; ,".,, '■'■';■■'■.■'■■'

;.:,:Mr. Blanchard;seconded"the motion./' ',: A'; ypte. of thanks was.':.passed" to '■■' Mr.'' Herdman, with; .'an,, expression .of."con-, .fidence in .liini:as the',re'preseritafive : of' 'thb/district.';';/ ~pV : .' ; v - '.:'.. ■-.. ';" ~;'.,;, ;.;lri a'brief reply,; Mr.;Herdman .'said[lie .had; no idea that such a. magnificent .meeting .could have" resulted,,at this time, of the/year.,' .'Hb/was; proud,; of ;, Wellirigtori 'North,- arid-.'prpud. to.Vbe.iits ineinber, arid, he .'hoped, that;,;wheri.the next- general ;e)ectionv:c'ame'round- theyJwould .return' ;bim;again.' (Applause:and'cheers.) :.