"NO FIXED IDEAS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 112, 13 May 1911, Page 9

"NO FIXED IDEAS."

— »■■ GOVERNMENT POLICY CRITICISED. SPEECH BY MR. HERRD3S. ' [BY TBLKGBAPH — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] . HOKITJKA,.I2th May. Mr. W. H. Hen-ies, M.P., delivered . a. political address in the Princess Theatre to-night. There was a fair attendance. ' The Mayor presided. In the course of his speech Mr. Herries compared the personnel of the present Government with the original members of the Liberal Government, and showed how deterioration had taken place in personnel and policy. He commented on the vacillatory policy, of the present Government, showing that they had no fixed ideas. He dwelt at some length on the financial aspect, pointing out that though borrowing was necessary, a great waste was taking place in connection with the expenditure of public money. He commented adversely on the flotation of the five million loan, and criticised the financial operationa of Sir J. Ward generally. Referring to the policy of the Opposition, ' Mr. Heme4 described the land policy which they would adopt, on the same lines as Mr. Massey and other Opposition speakers. He dealt with the proposed native, land policy of the Opposition party, the essence of which was the individualisation of the titles of each native by area. ' He next dwelt ,upon the necessity of a change in the appointments to the Upper House, which he contended should be elected on the same franchise as the Lower House. He pointed out the danger to the democracy of the power at present exercised by the Leader of the Upper House, who did notrepresent the people at all. Dealing with local government, he said the Opposition were prepared to do what the Government were afraid to do, that is, bring down a Loca] Government Bill giving the local bodies an ' assured finance, and do away with the present pernicious system of grants on the Public Works Estimates. He severely, commented on the mining .policy oi the present Government, showing that though the House was liberal in its votes, especially, in regard to prospecting, the Minister would not expend to any extent what the. House voted. He ' compared the action of the various State Governments in Australia in mining expenditure with .that, of New Zealand, showing how much more was done over there in comparison with the Dominion. He briefly dealt with labour and other social questions, declaring himself to be in favour of the Arbitration. Court, and against any interference by Parliament with its work, and condemning the' pin-pricking policy . which was adopted by, the department in bringing petty prosecutions against employers. Mr. Herries spoke for two hours, and was accorded a vote of thanks, carried by acclamation. Messrs. Baldwin and Rayward, Patent Agents, Wellingtoa, report that they have filed the following applicpjtions for patents in New Zealand, during the week ending 9th May. 1911 :— W. J. Sparks, Otaojo, improved means for attaching leading chains to spreaders ; J. Gitsham, Victoria, improved process for the recovery of gold and silver i'roim antimonal ; W. )S. Kobertsj Taranaki, improved device for cleaning drain*; J. Bunion and others, Scotland, an improved apparatus for producing oil ga* ; ileesifi. Johnstone and IloskiiK, Pahnerston ' North, an improved apparatus for heating and cooling milk, whej, anrl the like ; W. A. Eraser. Melbourne, <in improved proceed for the manufacture of whit© lead.— Advt.