POLITICAL ADDRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15501, 7 January 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

GOVERNMENT'S "BAD PATCH."

An address on political matters was given before the members of the Auckland Reform Club, at the clnbrooms, by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher last evening. The president of the club (Mr. J. P. Campbell) presided, and there was a large attendance. Mr. Fisher spoke of the worfc of the past session on general lines. He touched on the difficult questions with which the Government had had to deal since their accession to office, including the adjustment of the financial position of the Dominion, the Maori epidemic, the Waihi and Huntly strikes, and, lastly, the recent big strike. "If ever a Ministry struck a bad patch we did," said Mr. Fisher. As to whether the Government had emerged from all these troubles in a satisfactory manner, the public might be safely allowed to judge. A great many members of the Liberal Party, he went en to say, had changed their views regarding the Massey Government, and now admitted that Mr. Massey had proved a better leader than they had given him c [ ed,t for - « The large majorities by which all the Government's policy measures brought before Parliament had been passed into law was also referred to Jay the Minister. It should not be forgotten, he added, that the Reform Party had had to face the task of overcoming the effects of 21 years of prejudice and disbelief, and that this Had been successfully accomplished in a very short time. At the conclusion of the address, which was greeted with frequent and loud applause a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Fisher.