WELLINGTON NORTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1293, 23 November 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON NORTH.

MR, HERDMAN AT NORTHLAND. Mr. A. L. Herdman, Reform candidate for Wellington North, addressed a meeting of electors at the Methodist Schoolroom, Northland,. last night. Mr. Isaac Clark presided, and there were about 70 people present. On rising to speak, Mr. Herdman tfas received with applause. He stated that this was his sccond address at 'Northland during the present campaign, and since he last spoke there the contest had waxed hotter. He believed that the prospfcts of the party to which he belonged were brighter at the present time than they had been for many a long day. It was evident that the people wore now beginning to look into pulilii questions, and there was a current belief that the Ministry had outlived its period of usefulness, and that tho time had come for a change. Mr. Herdman went on to refer to the Government declarations that the party was still solid and compact, and that the members were hanging together. No doubt, said the candidate, they would hang together because each knew something that would hang the other. (Laughter.) The Opposition were seeking reform in tht Civil Service, in the railways, in the administration 'of the Public Works Fund, in the Legislative Council, and in finance. He believed that, if four or five of the reforms which they were seeking were carried out, a great change would pome over the public life of tho country. What the country wanted was a' strong antiseptic. There wero too many Govornmcnt bacilli'floating about in tho political atmosphere. The Government machino had grown put of date. The country was suffering from bad government through the misuse 'of power and the passion for power. The Admin istration were governing ' tho Dominion by controllng big sums of money, by controlliiijr the Public Service, by the Orde'r-in-Council, by purchasing li certain section of tho community, and by intimidating another section. As an instance of the misuse of power, the c.vi didate referred to thn Dreadnought gift. It was true that Parliament had ratified the action of the Prime Miuister after the gift, but Parliament should have been consulted before the country wis committed to tho expenditure. (Applause.) The candidate, however, made it clcar that he was strongly in favour of tills country supporting tho British Navy. Touching on tho waste of public money, he referred to tho entertaining of ' Mr. Geo. Fowlds on his return from South Africa. No Minister of tho Crown had any right to spend <£70 of public money entertainiug some Miuistrr who had returned from attending a big function in South Africa or anywhere else. (Applause.) The candidate then quoted one of Mr. Fowlds's utterances to an Auckland reporter as an indication that tho lato Minister evidently did not think that tho present Government was on a democratic basis. This Government (continued Mr. Herdman), niter 20 years of office, has attracted to its fold peoplo who hopa to gain something from their allegiance, and who are not influenced by princinlo at all. What the country wanted was not men who would do anything at the bidding of a Minister. It wanted men who would go to Parliament, not for any personal interest, but from a sincere, desiro to do tho country good. In the course of further remarks, tho speaker dealt with defccts of tho present Administration, illustrating abuses that had crept into the public works system aud drawing attention to the extraordinary increase in borrowing during the past six years and tho difficulties which confronted members of Parliament and the public when they sought to obtain information which they were justly entitled to receive. He also referred at length to the railways. In answer to questions. Mr. Uerdman stated that he was in favour of the licensing laws remaining as at present, the vote beius ;n tho hands of the people. He was in favour of ctiual pay for malo and female if they did the V:;,uie work. He also repeated in detail his views on the l:md question,_ pointiug out the desirability of encouraging people to iuvest capital in industrial concerns, rather than driving tkeai aud tlim c;plX t»l oat of .the country.

Mr. Goo. Williamson moved that (lie candidate be accorded ?, vole of thanks ami confidence, and that in the opinion of tho ine-stintr the lime i-5 opportune for a change of Govenuuent. Tho molion was greeted with applause. It was seconded by Mr. 1L K. Gunn ami eariied unanimously. A DDK ESS TiY MK. K J. CAREY. Mr. E. J. Carov, Labour candidate for Wellington North, addressed a well-attend-ed meeting of doctors in Cloake's Hall ni«jht, Mr. A. I'arJano presiding. The candidate stated thot then s was no need lor the Labour party to apologise for its participation in this campaign, for-there u;as extreme discontent and dissatisfaction with the existing stale of affairs. Three parties were offering policies for alleviation of tho gTievancos complained of. Only .the policy advocated hy the Labour party could satisfactorily remedy the existing discontent and promote a general betterment'of conditions. A .vote of thanks and confidence was rarritvl unauinwuslv.