Political

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 18 April 1914, Page 5

Political

m —— MR. HERDMAN AT WELLINGTON. THE GOVERNMENTS RECORD ' OF WOitK. ; By Telcgraph-I»r BSS Association. ' u„ u a We, ' i , n «! ; on. Last Nitght. Mr. Herdman, Minister of Juste. ad- . dressed a crowded meeting in the Wellington Town H„ii thi, evening The r « was a v ,.. r y krge bdy rf i of the Government present, but the in ■ tcrjections on the whole were good-hum-ored and did not seriously interfere with the speech. A GOOD RECEPTION. Mr. Hcrdman was received with prolonged cheering. He had rea d with very much interest a speech delivered a week «£° rl '" «*»* M{li by iSr Joseph Ward. (Loud eheersjA It appeared to ~£?, .n e ? '? s v ? ry " ltl « to «ply to. ( Oh. ) Sir Joseph only seemed to dart with the past and with little matter that concerned himself personally, ajd it seemed a pity that a man so lone connected with public life should be so sensitive. \ THE PAkTY'S SUPPORT. He was confident tnat when.,the people of New Zealand cumc- to*express their opinion on what ttfe Government did during the last session they would' express it in no unmistakable maimer in' favor of the "Reform" party. (Cheers and ironical laughter). He knew, that the "Reform" party were supported by a large army of working men, solid, ' men. OLD LIBERAL PART* DECLINING. The old Liberal party were fast declining. ("No.") It consisted of hangers-on, and men who wera hoping to get something; of disappointed billet-seekers, and of a declining body who believed that Sir Joseph Ward was stil! 'a, statesman. (Loud laughter and counter .cheers.) Mr. Herdman spoke cf the position ot 'the Party when it first took office, and incidentally paid a higu tribute to the members of the Civil Service in this country. FOR EFFECT. He also pointed out that every publie servant in New Zealand owed obedience, not to politicians, but to one person, and that person was His Majesty the King. (Loud chcerß). THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD. Next, Mr. Hcrdman enumerated tho steps which he said the Government had.' tuK.en to improve tho general condition ' of the people, and said it was a record , worthy of any -Government. The State machine had undergone a thorough spring-cleaning, and business, principles mid been introduced where before there was no homogeny und no prioper supervision. The Government uad fought hard ' '(ironical laughter) to keep up their wicket and they iiud put up a very good score against the trickiest and googliosl of bowlers. (Loud and prolonged lauglitcr). The Government had a ribht to expert that the people would wait till next session before they could declare that the Government had not stuck to its promises. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE • STRILE. The question of the strike of 1913 was next referred to. Mr. hordinan said tlie Government had simp) done its duty, delivered by. the right honorable gentleJustice he would tell them that if a similar state of affairs arose again, he would take precisely the same aclUu as he did' in 1913. (Loud cheers and booing, during which a constable removed an interjeetor). "I hope," said Mr. Hcrdman, "that we shall never witness the same state of affairs as wo witnessed at tho end of y 1913. (A voice: You will!). But.if we do, then the Government will again have to do its duty."! .(Cheers). He ridiculed Sir Joseph Ward's statement that he would ihavo stopped the strike in two days, and said that every speech i delivered by tho right honorage gentie.nian and 1119 supporters aggravated the strike. Anyone who looked fairly and impartially into the history of the business must recogniee that the Prime Minister from the inception of the trouble to the end had done nis level best to bring it to an end. OUR FINANCES. When Mr. Allen was.called upon to assume control of the finance of New Zealand, it was enough to stagger any man. Thd position was beset with difficulties created by his predecessor*. 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 months 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 the borrowing accounted for was £13,000,000. Mr. Herdman quoted other figures in support of his contention. Mr. Allen had manifested both care and prudence as Minister of Finance. THE LAND QUESTION. On tho land question the speaker declared that the torpidity, of the Lands Department during the Ward Administration was lamentable. Since Mr. Massey hud becomn Minister of Lauds he had put a considerable amount ot energy into the Department, and had ' placed more surveyors upon the land than had ever been the caso before, and still people were calling out for land. ■ Next, Mr. Herdman referred to the Public Service Act, and said that, generally speaking, through the public servants of New Zealand the Act was a success, and the system thoroughly appreciated. 'The Coinmisisoners had' dons splendid service under the Act, and tho public servants of New Zealand wero working under infinitely better conditio™ than bad ever been (he case before. (Loud cheers). AN OPTIMISTIC TONE. In conclusion,' he referred to the opening of the Panama Canal, and *rtid that we were on the eve of great changes in t.lii! Pacific, New Zealand trade was . "v....:.; r.'.iuiHy wif-i Vancouver, and j;-'"' ■ '"''■'•' I'raiieisco. This coun- ,::•, v:.;,.-, t ».]y ; :i ;; ;i infancy. lie believed in its natural advantages and tho - lability of the people to take advanj tagc of its opportunities. His 'only I fear w.;w lest this attractive possession | should yet into the hands of adventurers. I Aii amendment to the resolution of I ilmuKs and confidence was declared lost, » and the original motion was carried on the voices.