SPEECHES BY PREMIER AND MR HERDMAN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13392, 28 May 1914, Page 7

SPEECHES BY PREMIER AND MR HERDMAN.

(Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL^ Iast night. , This evening tho Prime Minister addressed a meeting which crowded the Municipal Theatre m all parts. Standing room was at a premium, and all accommodation at the back of the stage was overtaxed. Mr Massey was loudly cheered on entering, and again on rising to spoak, and, while there were a number of interruptions m the course of his address, they came from a limited section, tho Premier's reception from the meeting as a whole being extremely cordial. In somo respects the address was on the lines of those delivered elsewhere, but the Prime Minister replied to one or . two statements made by Sir ' Joseph Ward at Blenheim. He said he was not m the habit of shedding crocodile tears. He had never stated that the population had. decreased, but had pointed out that ten years ago the population - of the country districts was greater than the population of tho towns and cities. That position had been reversed, '' and the greater percentage of the population was now m the towns and cities, and that was not a safe position for a country like this. . That was his contention m regard -to population, and he stood to it. > ■ _ It was quite true, ho said, that the Government had borrowed largely, but the reason was that it had to meet the debts of its predecessors. That was the real position, and any politician touching it should be candid enough to explain it. The statement that the Government had increased Customs taxation by 3.93 per cent, was absolutely and wholly incorrect. Tho Government had not increased Customs taxation by a fraction of a farthing, but the people, being more prosperous, were buying larger quantities of dutiable goods. Dealing with a statement that workers paid nothing towards the cost of the gift, battle-cruiser, Mr Massey said the payments were made from the Consolidated Fund, to, which every man rtnd woman contributed. The statement that workers did not pay was only put forward for electioneering purposes. The leader of the Opposition was inaccurate when he said that the Government succeeded to a surplus of £780,000. That surplus existed on March 31, 1912, but owing to interest and othor payments the amount, had dwindled to £1*38,0. *0 when Hon. Jas. AU?n took control of the Treasury. Financially, the Dominioii was now out of the wood. j Referring to Sir J. G. Ward's claim I that he could have settled the strike m j two days, Mr Mass.y quoted figures showing that 13 strikes had occurred during Sir Joseph Ward's Premiership, and iisked why on earth bo had not settled some, of these m two days? In conclusion, Mr Massey expressed Confidence that when, the people bad to chooso whom they would support at the ! coming elections thoy would, choose wisely and well. A vote of thanks *»nd confidence was moved by Mr J. E." Watson, seconded m several places, and carried by a very large majority. METHVEN, last night. The- Hon. Mr Herdrhan. addressed a meeting of about 200 here to-night. - Referring to the Liberal- "flying squadron," he said ho believed the effect of the travels of the Opposition members was to strengthen , the Government m pubbV. favor. Tlie fact that tho people bad to remember' was that Sir Joseph Ward could not get into office except by hanging on to the skirts of the Federation of Labor. It would be a disaster, m his opinion, for the country to be ruled by rticn like Sir Joseph Ward and Messrs Russell, Atmore, Webb, and others. Mr Herdman , proceeded to accuse the Liberals of misrepresentation of. tho Reform Government.s attitude artd actions, and mentioned the ; lloyd Garlick affair, and traversed m some detail the charges made by Mr Russell regarding borrowing. He said Sir Joseph Ward had accused the Reform Government of increased borrowing. The facts' were that during the. 20 months the Reform Government bad borrowed £13,619,000, while during the similar period preceding their loss of office the Liberals borrowed £13,866,000. Instances of similar misrepresentation could be multiplied. MY Hordman sketched the legislative performances Of the Reform Government, and said that while it was' difficult to guago the direction m which political feeling was trending, he believed the country was turning towards the Reform Government.. The people . believed the Government was not likely to undertake any extreme or revolutionary schemes or to cause any upheaval m the community. Tho Reform Government had already redeemed many of its promises, and would do more m tho next session. Electoral lawj Legislative Council, education system, and distribution of Parliamentary grant? Avere among matters to bo dealt with' during Ui*.. session. ■ , ' The Minister proceeded to deal with' tin*, strike, and charg.d Sir Joseph Ward .an*, the Opposition v/ith having poured kerosene on the fire at 'the time of the crisis. He said the strike would not have been settled quickly*, as Sir Jo3eph Ward suggested) but it would have ended sooner than it did if the Opposition had expressed approyal of the Government's n-ettidds and had given hearty support to law and order. Tho Minister mentioned financial matters iii some detail, and closed with a defence of the Government's naval pclicy. He said the Government, had not committed tho country to a local wivyl and the whole question would go befo/e tho Naval Conference next year. A vote of thanks and confidence m the -Government was moved and declared carried fairly unanimously.