THE HON. W. H. HERRIES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1511, 6 August 1912, Page 6

THE HON. W. H. HERRIES.

A BIG TASK AHEAD. VICTORIES. YET TO BE WON. . Mr. W. H. Harries', Minister for Railways, followed Mr; Allen. Ho was received with tremendous applause. Mr. Howies said that it was something to bo nblo to address such a meeting in-the, city of Wellington,- especially when it was remembered that 15 years ago, when the party was a small band, they could 'not have filled this hall with people to hear them. . A voice: "Oh ye 3, you'could.' . (Laugh-1 ter.) '■■'-. " ■ Mr. Herrics, proceeding, said the .Rer'! form party had a big task ahead of it. It was a big thing to • piit, the finances of the country in order, to put various Departments in order, and to rectify mistakes which had been 'made in tho past. (Applause.) In his own Department thero was a great deal to be done, and the task of. the Ministry was not a light one. This applied particularly to the Minister for Railways, who had to deal with the people who wanted a train to their tack door, wanted the train to stop at their particular station, wanted the bains to go "faster—who had to do all this, and more, and make tho railways pay. (Laughter and applause.) It had been said that a politician needed three qualifications—(l) the hide of rhinocerous; (2) tho stomach of an ostrich-; and; (3). the jawbone of an animal, the.name".of which was',not always mentioned;- (Lauglyter.) A'.Jlinister-for'-R.ailwa'ys'ili 'New Zealand, added Mr:.Herrics, had to have the thick ' skill- of the-.tortoise,' which jio ■dar.ts'.-'e.dilM pierce. • ,Hc', was', gradually 'getting- .that skill.-'" This assemblage,., Mr. Herriwcontinued;.. was~vthe're 'to.'celebrate:- a .great victory..- -One might hare imagined; when the.'flashlight..had, gone- "nonf": that.it .represented the fate of: the Liberal party. (Loud-laughter.)'.' It was not for tho' Reform party in' the moment of their victory to' ease up in" their work. Thoro were other victories yet to bo won. The peoplo who were really to be congratulated wctc the people .who had worked against .such- tremendous odds to return the Reform .-party; However, the result of the v.'o'rk of those, people was the great victory at tho polls of December, 1911. Tho Reformers must not rest, they must be at work all the time:\that was what the organisation was for. Mr. - Herrics concluded by thanking the gathering for the reception which it had accorded him. (Much applause.) . , - ... ...