MASTERTON SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1309, 12 December 1911, Page 5

MASTERTON SEAT.

COMBINED REFORM VOTE. SPEECH BY ME. HEEDMAN. (By TolceraDh.—Special Correspondent.) Ekctahuna, December 11. Although the Masterton seat, has been ■a Government stronghold for 21 years tho majority registered for liefomi at tho poll on Thursday was upwards of 1200. The two lietorm candidate* fought tho contest in the most friendly possible manner and they agreed that in the event' of a second ballot beiug necessary tho beaten man would help his more fortunate rival. The compact has been loyally kept by the dd'outed candidate (Mr. A. U. Herbert), and his committees are how working in tho interest of Mr. G. R. Sykos, whilo all tho lieform influence,in. tlie electorate is being exerted to .consolidate tho Keform vote. Mr.' A. L. Hcrdmun, M.l\, went to Eketalnma yesterday to assist in the cementing pro-, oft*. He was met at the station by Air. Herbert and some of the members.of. his committee, and ho was afterwards the guest of Mr. Sykes and the members' of Air. Herbert's committee at luncheon.'

In the evening 11 r. llerdman addressed a meeting of 100 people in the l'ublie Hall at Eketaliuna. The chairman was the defeated candidate (Ml , . A. 11. Herbert) who, in introducing Mr. llerdman, congratulated .Mr. Sykta on his sneoess and bespoke for him tho undivided support of those who hud declared for llci'orm last Thursday. ' Mr. Sykes, in the course of a five minutes' address, said that Mr. Herbert had acted tho part of a men and a sport. Since the declaration of the poll last week ho had loyally fulfilled his pledge. Ho esteemed ■ Mr. Herbert as his personal friend, and if Mr. Herbert had happened to be the mere lucky candidate he (Mr. S.vkcs) would have given him his support. /The fact, that Mocal jealousies looKcd likely to influence the election, slightly was wholly' to be regretted, and, if elected, ho would endeavour to eliminate such petty jo'al-" ousies from public lift. ' ''.

Mr. Hcrdmnn was received .with , a round of lienrty npplours when he rose, to tpeak, and throughout, his address,ha. was applauded <U frequent intervals* Wβ were, he said,' in the midst of one' of tho.' most interesting political lights that/had, ever taken place- in this country, and fortune- was liko to be on the side of Hip narty to which ho belonged. . Reports irom various parts of the Dominion. indicated that those who had been struggling for a chango of Government and lor l>ettor things in the 'political life of this, country saw success ahead. '. Ho was glad lo sco tho two rival Reform candidates on tho sumo platform, and (he defeated one rently t.i sink any differences for the sake of tho cause for which they had both fought. (Applause.) The action of Mr. Herbert was magnanimous, and tho action of a gentleman. (Applause.) Ho hoped that Mr. Herbert's good example would influence voters to sink their individiii'.l differences, and vote solid for Koform. The question before tho electors wsis ft national question. They must consider how .their vote was going to influence this country. What the country wanted first of' all was belter government, and the first stop towards Bolting better government was to got a good House of Ticprcsenlalivcs. The people now hod a chance to put tho Lower Iloux in order, and, (hat done, the Uppei llouso would soon be put right. It would no longer remain a refuge for plnyoil-oul politicians. Then Mr. Herdman s*<t himself to answer these questions: Has (h< Government intelligence? Hae the Ciov nrnmonl backbone? Has the Gorornmpir a conficienco? As proof of no intelligence, he instanced tho bad admiuiM.ra lion of the Government, as shown by tinscandals unearthed in the Police and It, como Tax Departments some time a;o. As proof of no backbone, ho inslanci'd tho Government's attitude in tho face of certain popular agitations, especially those relating to the Auckland Governnxini House, tlio Knyvett-caBO, and tin.-

bookmakers. - The' Government had also adopted and dsopped., several land policies, and rimy they would etand'by none. The Government conscience." was kept partly by Mr. R. M'Keuzie, • who had preached tho doctriiio that public works votes'.lwere'given most freely to'those who voted for tho Governmoht. Air. Herdniah explained the Opposition's lnrtd policy, tho aiiri,' of which was settle the' country by s.jnnll -freeholds, tor tho Opposition recognised, as otnersdid, that tho day of large holdings in this country was past. '(Applause.) Tho Opposition would also support n scheme for the settlement of nil unoccupied and unused Native lands. - .'.After Mr. Hcrdman hnd answered n number of questions! , the meeting accorded him n hearty voto of thaiiks, with loud acclamation and cheers. Tho meeting dispersed with ringing cheer's for Mr. Sykes and Mr. Herbert. -