HON.W.FRASER AT WAIKAKA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1914, Page 2

HON. W. FRASER AT WAIKAKA

LEGISLATION BLOCKED BY OPPOSITION! (BI TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) GORE, 29th November. The Hon. W. Fraser last night addressed the largest political meeting ever held at Waikaka. He referred to the fact that he had represented Wakatipu for twenty-one years, and said he felt sure that nothing he had done during that lengthy term would offer any excuse for tlfe electors declining to give him support in the future. He claimed that he had in every way possible done his utmost for his electorate and the Dominion. The Minister went on to say that every Government expected criticism, but he did not know that the Opposition criticism was always fair. He did not think any Government could have administered the Dominion's affairs more satisfactorily during such a short term in the face of so many untoward events. The work had been most arduous. The Government had to face the tail end of the Waihi strike, and the following year the smallpox scare, then the waterside workers' strike, and now there was the war. From Sir Joseph Ward the party in power had received very little help.' Sir J. G< Ward said he could have settled the strike in two days. • Yes, but in what way? He would have given way to the strikers, and that would have been only a fresh beginning of the trouble. (Applause.) Mr. Fraeer referred at some length to the action of the Government in regard to the war aad the sending away of the men. The task had not been a light one, and, although slight unavoidable mistakes had occurred, he maintained that the greatest credit was due to all those responsible for the despatch of the Expeditionary Force. (Applause.) From the first week the Government had assumed office it realised that a deliberate plan was afoot to block legislation. The Huntly mining disaster wa6 referred to at considerable length, the speaker giving details of the steps the Government had taken. He said that those who knew the facts and were concealing them were not playing the game. It was a despicable thing for opponents to attempt to make political capital out of the disaster. (Applause.) The Minister next dealt with the charge* of extravagance brought against the present Government. He pointed out that during the last. two years he had spent £46,000 less than the Minister in charge during the previous two years. He could not help the fact that the expenditure on public buildings had been greater, as the present Government had to carry out the old Government's programme. Amongst other matters, the Minister also referred to allegations of increased taxation, in which he said there was not one word of truth. The Customs tariff had not been increased one penny ; the increase, so far a* the present party was concerned, was due to the increase in the graduated tax. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the Minister in the face of an amendment that this meeting thanks Mr. Fraaer for his address, but ha-s no confidence in the present Government. The amendment was lost by a very large majority, and the motion was carried with cheers, as opposed to a slight counter demonstration from the back of the hall.