REPLY TO THE LIBERALS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 2

REPLY TO THE LIBERALS.

BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE. SUCCESSFUL MEETING. THE GOVEENMENT APPLAUDED. Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 17. The Hon. A. L. Herdmah, Minister of Justice, addressed a crowded meeting in the Wellington Town Hall this evening. There was a very large body of the opponents of the Government present, but'the interjections on the whole were good-humoured, and did not seriously interfere with the speech. Mr Herdman, who was received with prolonged cheering, said that during the last half-dozen weeks the political sea had ben troubled, and from what he had read in the newspapers there were signs of storms and tempests. Proceeding, he said that he had read with very much interest a, speech delivered a week ago in that hall by Sir Joseph Ward —(loud cheering)—and after reading that speech it appeared to him there was very little to reply to. ("Oh.") Sir Joseph only seemed to deal with the past, with little matters that concerned himself personally, and it seemed to him a pity that a man who had been so long connected with the public life of this country should be so sensitive as he was. NEXT ELECTIONS.

When the next election came round they would have a most interesting political menu to discuss. They would have Liberals or so-called Liberals, So-cial-Democrats, members of the United Labour Party, and, best of all, Reformers, seeking seats." He was confident when the people of New Zealand generally came to express their opinion on what the Government' did during the last session, they would express it in no unmistakable terms in favour of the Reform Party. (Cheers and ironical laughter).- He knew that the Reform Party were supported by a large army of working men, solid, sound, thinking men, who realised that if a country like New Zealand was to prosper and progress, it could only do so in a condition of things where society was kept in order. The old Liberal Party was fast declining. ("No.") It consisted of hangers-on, of men who were hoping to get something, of disappointed billet seekers and of a declining body who believed that Sir Joseph Ward was still a statesman. (Loud laughter and counter cheers.) THE CIVIL SEEVICE. Mr Herdman spoke of the position of his party when it first took office and incidentally paid a nigh tribute to the members of the Civil Service in this country. He also pointed out that every public servant in New Zealand owed obedience, not to politicians, but to one person, and that person his Majesty the King. (Loud cheers.) Next Mr Herdman enumerated steps which, he said, the Government had taken to improve the general condition of the people, and said.it was a record worthy of any Governmnet. The State machine had undergone a thorough spring cleaning and business principles had been introduced where before there was no homogeneity and no proper supervision.

The Government had fought hard (ironical laughter) to keep up their wicket and had put up a very good; score against the trickiest and googliest of howlers (loud and prolonged laugh-: ter). Promises before last election took time to fulfil, and the Government had; a right to expect that the people would' wait till next session before they could ■ declare, that the Government did not, stick.to its promises. ' THAT STRIKE. The question of the strike of 1913 was next referred to and Mr Herdman said that the Government had simply done its duty and it hoped it had done j it well. .As Minister of Justice he : would tell them that if a similar state: of affairs arose again he would take precisely the same action as he did in' 1913. (Loud cheers and booing, during which a constable removed an inter-' jectox). "I hope," said Mr Herdman, "that we shall never witness the same state of affairs as we witnessed at the end of 1913." (A voice: "You will.") "But if wo do then the Government will again have to do its duty. (Cheers.) He ridiculed ■ Sir Joseph; "Ward's statement that he'would have stopped the strike in two days, and said that every speech delivered by Sir Joseph and his supporters aggravated the strike. If their heaven-born genius could have settled, as Sir Joseph said he eould have settled, the strike in two, •days, why did he remain in the House and not explain how lie could have done, so 1 ? The speaker said he was satisfied that no settlement eould have taken 1 place except by agreement among all: the parties, and anyone who looked; fairly and impartially into the history) of the business must recognise that the! Prime Minister, from the inception of! to the end, had done his; level best to bring it to an end. STAGGERING WORK. When Mr Allen was called upx>n to assume control of the finance of New: Zealand it was enough to stagge-r any: man. The position was beset with diffl-; culties created by his predecessors. It; was extraordinary how Sir Joseph Ward! made wild statements when dealing; with matters of public concern. His statement that this 'Government had, increased the borrowing of the country! enormously was grotesque, because as a matter of fact within the twenty mouths preceding the Reform Party's coming into power the Government had borrowed £20,000,000, and in the first twenty months of this Government's regime borrowing accounted for £13,000,000. Mr Herdman quoted figures in support of -his contention and said that these figures revealed the fact that their opponents when in office muddled their finance, cared little about the future, and that the figures las had disclosed snowed that Mr Allen had manifested both care and prudence as Minister -of -Finance.

On the land question the speaker declared that the torpidity of the Lands Department during the Ward Administration was lamentable. Since Mr Massey had .become .Minister of Lands he had put • a considerable amount of energy into the department, and had placed more surveyors upon the land than had ever been the Ease before, and still people were calling out for land. THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME.

Although he was not there that ovening to -explain the Government policy—(cries of "Oh!") —he promised them that before the election the Government would introduce legislation that "would carry with it the approbation of this people. Next Mr Herdman referred the Public Service Act, and said that he was glad to think that generally speaking through the public service of New Zealand the Act was a

success, and the system thoroughly appreciated. The Commissioners, too, bad done splendid service. Under the Act the public servants of New Zealand "were "working under infinitely better conditions than had ever been the case before. (Loud cheers.) Having enumerated the advantages accruing to the public since the Act came into force, aid having stated the advantages members of the service now enjoy, Mr Herdman said that, taking it all round, the New Zealand public service was, in. comparison with other public services; well paid, and he felt confident that the public were getting a more efficient service.

In conclusion, Mr Herdman referred to the opening of the Panama Canal, and said that they were on the eve of great changes in the Pacific. New Zealand trade was growing rapidly with Vancouver, and slowly with San Francisco. This country was only in its infancy. He believed in its natural advantages and in the ability of the people to take .advantage of its opportunities. His only fear was lest this attractive possession got into the hands of adventurers.

Mr Herdman concluded his speech shortly after nine o'clock, having spoken for a little Over an hour. An amendment to the resolution of thinks and confidence was declared lost, and the original motion was carried on the voices.