A STRAIGHTFORWARD OPPONENT.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13277, 30 November 1911, Page 3

A STRAIGHTFORWARD OPPONENT.

It is pleasant to turn once morel to the Itotorua speech of Mr. Herries, because every time he speaks he indicates that were his influence on tho Conservative side equal, to his ability he would clean the party very considerably. For example, ho was very emphatic in scouting tho doctrine that tho Government "punishes constituencies" for not returning supporters of the jVliiiistrj'. Such assertions have been freely made by members of the Oppoistion, but they evidently rouse the scorn of 3Jj-. Herries in a very strong degree. He repeated, in fact, the statement made by the Whip of tho party, Mr. Okey, at Now Plymouth that the Government is entirely free from blame of this kind. In support Mr. Okey mentioned that no stronger instance could bo found of the the fairness of the Government in the distribution of the votes for works than tlie treatment accorded to Taianaki. These two have actually gone out of their way (says the "New Zealand Times") to clear the Government of the charge of favouritism so wildly launched by others of tho Opposition from many platforms. Mr. Herries went further than this a good deal, for ho had nothing but praise unqualified for some of the things done by the other side. For instance, he declared that one piece of Maori legislation of the year 1909 was a credit to the men connected with it. Presumably he referred to the Act which consolidated all the Native Land Acts, a work considered by nearly all experts to he impossible. Mr. Herries was emphatic in his praise of what he knows to have been a splendid bit of work. Hr. Herries frankly admits there is -a land policy in tho Budget, and treats it as worthy of consideration. This is a tremendous contrast to bis chief and the party barkers who airily declare that the Budget "discloses no policy whatever."