MR. A. L. HERDMAN'S CANDIDATURE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 121, 20 November 1908, Page 3

MR. A. L. HERDMAN'S CANDIDATURE.

Mr. A. L. Herdman addressed an audience of about 350 people in the Masonic Hall last evening. Mr. R. W. Gilbert presided. In his opening remarks Mr. Herdman made some reierence to the second ballot, and what he described as its follies. He pointed out that he had obtained at the first ballot a large and substantial majority, and hoped that the [ people would be so roused at the action | of the Government that they would all I vote on Tuesday next and express their disapproval of the Second Ballot Act. In placing that measure 'on tho Statute Book the Government had manufactured a rod for its own back. The Premier had estimated that there would be a dozen second ballots, but there were to ba twenty-two. He declared that the first ballot showed unmistakably that there was a change of feeling in the political thought of this country. The people were resenting the interferences of the Government, and its Second Ballot Act would prove to be a "first bullet act." He reminded electors that even if they had not voted at the first ballot they had a perfect right to vote at the second. Some misrepresentations, he said, had been made regarding himself. It had been said that he was opposed to old age pensions-. This was untrue. It had al&o been said that he objected to the employment of women in the civil service. This was untrue. : It had also been said that he wanted to disturb the present system of educatiofi. This also was untrue. All he had said was that clergymen might be permitted to read the Bible in the schools after school hours. He wanted to see the education of tho young people of New Zealand carried on on unsectarian lines. Similarly, it had been represented tha' lie was a prohibitionist. This was not so ;' be had never voted for prohibition. He declared against the reduction issue because he considered it was unfair and illogical. But these matters werq really "retail" politics. In a campaign like this higher political grounds than these should be taken. Again, it had been said that because he had been rejected for Mount Ida three years ago he was unfit to represent Wellington North. Why had he been rejected at Mount Ida? Because when he asked for grants for his district he could not get them, but when a Minister went down there and the people asked him for votes they were granted. He was seeking the suffrages of the peopleof Wellington North to stamp out this sort of thing. (Applause.) Passing on, he once again explained his position. He supported Mr. Massey. (A lady elector : "And a good man, too!") Yes, a good man, too. It was the fashion to speak in a disparaging way of the men who were in Opposition. Mr. Massey was conscientiously doing his best in the interests of the people of this country. He was a man of honour — (applause) — a man of the type New Zealand required in Parliament. In the old days the Government used to pat Labour on the back, but now Lafapur had been thrown aside. Labour was not good enough for the Government. He referred to the ideals of the Opposition on the lines of previous addresses. The Opposition appealed to the higher instincts of the people of the country and aspired to lead them. Referring to the civil service, he said the classification scheme of the Government, to a large extent, was good, but it would be advisable to have an alteration in the matter of appeals. It was ridiculous that an appeal from the board should be made to the board. It was on all fours with a litigant making an appeal from a decision of Dr. M'Arthur to Dr. M'Arthur. His scheme for the whole service was to have appointments controlled by three men, or one man, who had no connection with the service. In New South Wales, in the matter of promotions it was provided that the board should fcaKe into account capability, intelligence, and assiduity in the performance of duties. True, length of service had to be considered, but so had the other qualifications. In the worde of Sk Joaenh, Ward. "New Zea-

land did not want Tsars." (Applause.) The candidate also wanted to see the Post Office Savings Banic «.rH the A.jvances to Settlers Office placed under a board. The Govenimcjb baa not been faithful to its trust in the management of tho public estate, and deserved to be turned out of office. (Applause.) He referred to the loss made in running the railways year after year — a loss which was assessed by independent authorities to have been between £300,000 and £400,000 last year. A Royal Commission should be appointed to investigate the working of tne railways. (Applause.) A policy that would establish confidence in the country, both politically and commercially, was required. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Herdman was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.