MR. HERRIES IN THE SOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1129, 17 May 1911, Page 4

MR. HERRIES IN THE SOUTH.

A SUCCESSFUL TOUR. (By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.! Christchurch, Hay 18. Mr. W. IT. Herries, M.l'., arrived in Christchurch last evening, after a pleasant tour of the West Coast. He addressed meetings at Wakefield, Murehison, Eoss, Rimu, Hokitika, and Kitmara. Ho visited Wostport and Greymoiith, but did not speak in those towns, the Speaker's constituency being regarded as neutral ground. Ho had good meetings, and was delighted with the trip through tho West Coast He only wished that more members of Parliament would visit that part of the Dominion and become alive to its potentialities. Ho had been struck by tho apathy of the Mines Department, which lie thought could do more to develop the Coast than it was now doing. There seemed to bo any amount of gold-bearing areas there, anil' only water wanted to develop them. The characteristic hospitality of the West Coast was cordially extended to Mr. Herries during his visit. Ho thought, so ho said to a 'Tress" reporter, that the political situation had quite changed since the timo of Mr. Seddon, and he found a very strong feeling existed against the Mines Department. He was considerably impressed with the possibilities of ports of the country from a grazing and agricultural point 'of view, particularly about Murehison and the Grey Valley. Of course, on the Coast agricultural development had been neglected in favour of mining, lie was tuld that in South Wostland there was agricultural land whioll could bent anything in the North Island. Speaking on tho political outlook, Mr. Herries said ■that, the members of the Opposition travelling through the country found very little enthusiasm for Sir Joseph Ward as compared with the enthusiasm that existed for Mr. Seddon. They believed that the people were bocoming tired of the continuous Ministry, and that the Opposition would at the next election win as many seats as it did at the hist election. The very fact that Opposition speakers were well received on the West Coast, formerly a stronghold of the Government, was a sign of rho times. At the next election the Opposition would endeavour to put up a candidate in nearly every constituency. Mr. Herries will deliver an address at Tcmuka on May 13, and at Timn.ru on May 19. Ho has received an invitation to speak in Christchurch, but his engagements will not 'permit of his acceptance of the invitation. He will, however, return to Christchurch at a later period, and will probably givo an address then. At the beginning of next month he is to given some addresses in tho North of Auckland.