POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 288, 8 May 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL.

>IR. FISHER IN TIIE SOUTH., By Telegraph—Press Association. Clinton, 'Last Night. Tlit Hon. F. M. H. Fisher addressed a large audience at Clinton to-night. In a vigorous and trenchant speech he criticised the Opposition, apad indulged in scathing gibes at their alleged absence of policy, and contradictions of each other. The speech, which was on the lines of the one at Winton on Monday niglirt, dealt with the alleged understanding between the Liberals and the Federation of Labor, the land and naval policy of the Government, and the old age and other pensions. Replying to a question re holding military camps in winter, he explained that it was due to Sir lan Hamilton's visit and the camps would toe held earlier in future. The Minister was accorded a cordial and attentive hearing, with frequent applause, and at the conclusi#n a vote of thanks and confidence in the Govern, ment, and cheers for Mr. Massey were given. i. i .

LIBERALS AT AWAKING. Awakino, Thursday. A largely: attended meeting took place last night, settlers coming long distances to hear addresses from Messrs Forbes, M.P. for liuriumi, and Jennings, ex-M.P. for Taumarunui. Cheviot's member soon got into touch with the audience, when lie told them that he was a back-block representative and a farmer, lie made a vigorous defence of Sir Joseph Ward and the Liberal Party, and stated that Mr Massey had not placed a single settler 011 the land under his own land proposals brought down in 1912. He was simply carrying out the land settlement policy of the Liberal Partv.

Mr Jennings was received with enthusiasm. He quoted olliei.il figures, showing what the liberal Party had dniie in ten years in connection with land settlement, and siid that there was practically 110 mure Orown lands left for selection in the Wellington and Taranaki districts.

A rote of thanks to the speakers was met by an amendment of tlianks and confidence in the Liberal Party, which was carried with enthusiasm, there being t'ew dissentients.