MINISTERS IN THE SOUTH.

Evening Star, Issue 14607, 1 July 1911, Page 8

MINISTERS IN THE SOUTH.

JIT IXVEBCAIiniLL. In response to a request. Sir James (Carrol (Acting Prim© Minister) delivered a political address in the. Municipal Theatre, Invercargill, last night. The Mayor (.Mr Ott) presided. Sir Janies Carroll, who was cordially received, said he was in the South juet to .scatter a few seeds of kindness. Mr Massey had recently been on that platform, and liad described the Ministry ns dishonest and as being hypocrites and humbugs.. The Liberal party came into office in 1891 by the will of the people, and Ind remained there for nearly twenty yen is Such criticism as that he had alluded to did not do justice to the ' people’s intelligence or discernment. The Ministerialists ignored .such methods of criticism. The domestic circle .should bo kept inviolate, and critics should refrain from personalities. Mr Massey ami his party, with all their protestations, had merely ottered factious opposition, indulged in silly tirades, and obstructed some of the best legislation on the .Statute- Book. These were the people who wished to gel into power by abuse, misrepresentation, opposition tn reform measures, and crying out: “Oh, they have been in power long enough; give us a turn.” Sir James went on to explain that his mission in the. South was to corre< t misrepresentations in regard to native lands administration, and on this topic he spoke at some length. As to ix-rrowiug, while the Opposition raved and fumed over the country as to the moneys spent by the Government, they never voted against any loan. The Dominion’s indebtedness to-day was £81.000.000, and in laying stress on this fact Opposition members never told their audiences that £62.495,000, or 76 per cent, of the total National Debt, was iu- ' tom-t-bearing, profit-earning, or indirectly I bearing interest. That put quite- a differ wit aspect on the matter. It was a mistake on the pint of membeis, simply because they could not get on to the Treasury benches, 10 decry the country they lived in. To the Libera) Government Micce.es had com* because they bad kept abreast of the times—a true comprehension of evolution had been the cause of their continued existence. Ho predicted that when the Liberal Government were superseded it would be by a new party altogether—never by the Opposition uadei Mr Massey. Tho Hon. Mr Ngnta referred to State socialism. The State certainly did look after more things in this country than in other countries, but would they have the State step hack? Xot.whlistamTng thin Stale- assistance during the last twenty yeans, nothing had been do.no to lessen the true independent spirit of tho New Zealand settler. It was moved by Mr John Stead, seconded by Mr W. N. Stirling, and carried without dissent ; That this meeting most heartily thank | -Sir James Carroll and the Hon. A. T. I Nguta for their able, instructive, and inj teresting addresses, and also record their | continued confidence in the Ministry to I which they belong. I IN BUNK'D IN. j By invitation the Acting Prime Minister j and his colleagues will address the citizens of Dunedin and suburbs at the Garrison Hall on Tuesday evening. The- gallery will bo reserved for ladies or ladies escorted by escorts. The speakers will traverse the Native Land Question, but portions of their addresses will he devoted to general polities and to replies to Opposition critus. Both Sir Jam-os Carroll and the Hon. Mr ' Nguta are fluent and polished speakers, and as (his will be the first opportunity of I hearing cither gentleman from a public | platform in Dunedin it is expected that there will be a crowded bouse. The Mayor | of Dunedin will preside.