THE LIBERALS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 14

THE LIBERALS.

ADDRESSES AT DARGAVILLB. (By Telegraph.—Kress Association.) Oargavllle., March 27. A packed hoiiso greeted tho Liberal members' appearance at Dargaville last evonin-g. it. was t'iio largest aiid most enthusiastic political meeting held in the district, and tho appearance eji the platform of Messrs. 'I nomson and Maci>onald was .greeted with cheers -and ap* plattso lasting for about three minutes. Also- on tho platform _ wero Messrs.' Coates (member -for Kaipara) and. 11. Hoe (the selected Liberal oandisjato for Kftipari). Mr. Goates Was the first- to 6p<ja-k, and received a great rescptio-n.. 110 said he was not there to plead for. the Government. Ho hoped at- » fiat-tire meeting to fully address the electors. Sir. Thorn son j in his address, referred to.tke good ivork of tho Liberal Party during its tfrenty-ono years of office ; the Acts passed by it were, ho said, a monument to it. Acts not seen oa any oilier Statute Book in the world] It was aii honour and a pleasura to be- ! long to siieh a stra.ißliUohvard set gentlemen. Ho alluded to tho. ilasfey i '"square deal" farce, and «aid that overytliing passed by .tho•present QovcrnmeHfc haa originated with tho Liberals.' Ho dealt with the subjects of taxation, settlement of _ lands, tlio StatoGuajautced Office, railway canstructioii t labour, and.tllo alleged spiteful wisr-ts-presentatian of .tJifi Liberal Party generally ia reg.a-rd to the recent strike. The strike, ho was sure, -could liave been squashed wit'liout trouble two days after it had started. Tlie success, of tlw loans negotiated by Mr. AllcV. was; mainly duo to Sir Joseph Waxdj to whom' no .credit had been given. Mr. MaoPonald and ho were not there to expound a Liberal policy, but to put! fa-ots and figures before tho electors' - and leave it to them to work put., the j positive, ultimate result. . The ..Liberal. Party had'been treated shabbily by tlib 1 Press generally, as the Government was buying up papers. Now Zealand couW ■ iwi l'tavo a local navyj it wo.u:M bo too j expensive. The Imperial Navy was our in-aia thought. Though.. Mr. Massey contended that the Liberal policy regarding finance was wrong, they were, now proving that they had done tight in. adapting it. Mr. Mac Donald spoke mainly on the subject of land settlement. Ho compared the settleffl-fent during the. Liberal regime witli Mr. Massey's. With regard to the I'riroo Minister's stalement tiat ho had put 20,000 settlers in the way of tlae ireohold s Mr. Mac Donald E-dixl that was sot. true, Tho Liberal Governnlent in 1007 had given these settlers Crowii lands with an optional clause. The fart was that-.the land Mr. Massey liad said was good for settlement was useless, and no first*das.s land was to- bo bad now. Ho knew land which had been on the bauds of the Government fo.r thirty year 3, aad which had -not yet been taken up. There had been a big deoMaso. in land' went since the Conservatives assumed tho reins of Ctovtminiewt. Tho l»g roe-n were not mating the revenue for tho c-euntry, but the small man on thirdclass .land. Mr. MacDon-ald then dealt with the financial position, advances to settlers, railways, and publio works generally, aivl resumed his seat amidst applause. A vote of thanks to and cfj.hfide.ttc© m the Liberal members wlio Imd spoken and confidence in the Liberal ]?arty and Sir Joseph Ward, a-s leader was carried by a large majority.