POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 81, 25 May 1911, Page 8

POLITICAL.

A TRENCHANT CRITIC. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Levin, Last Night. Mr. Herdman, ALP., addressed a public meeting at Levin this evening. There was a big attendance. The speaker contended that the Ward Administration during the last five years had not been exerting the same force of control as the Seddon Administration. There was a general public distrust now, and il would be shown soon in an unmistakeable manner. He referred to the Hon. R. McKenzie's Opunako speech, and said the statement that “the Government would help people who helped the Government” was one of the most pernicious doctrines that had ever passed from the lips of a Minister of the Crown in any British community. Referring to the public service, he asked how it came about that a Christchurch police commissioner, after, being dismissed as the result of an enquiry into his conduct, was speedily back into the public service as an employee in the Native Land Department in the North Island. He also stated that a convicted Australian thief who had got into the New Zealand police force and was dismissed on the discovery, was again in the public service, this time as a member of the railway service. He twitted the Government on the negative nature of its land policy. Once it was straight out Hr leasehold. Now it was afraid to say which it favored. He advocated putting the public service and railways under the control of commissioners. Mr. Millar had striven hard and fairly to carry out his trust, hut his trust was too great. Since 1803 the public debt had been increased by 42 millions, and since Sir Joseph Ward took office it had been increase by 1!) millions. How long would the British money-lender tolerate that rate of borrowing? Heavy borrowing meant heavy taxation, and this resulted in less money being available for investment in industries. More self-reliance, more independence, and less harrassing laws were necessary. A hearty' vote of thanks was accorded the speaker.