POLICY OF REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 6

POLICY OF REFORM.

SPEECH BY MR. HERRIES, LOT OF WORK FOR NEXT SESSIONA FRAGMENTARY OPPOSITION. The Hon. W. H. Herries opened the post offico at Waihou yesterday afternoon, and in tho evening was entertained at a banquet in Hie Waihou Hotel by residents of tho district. Tho chair was occupied by Mr. Chepmell, for many years chairman of tho Piako County Council, and amongst the sixty, guests who sat down were the Mayor of Te Aroha, Mr. Myers, and many of the oldest settlers in tho district. Mr. Herric3 met with a most enthusiastic reception. Replying to tho toast of his health', ho said with the funds at tho Government's disposal they had tried to satisfy tho people, but ho had found that it was impossible to satisfy anybody. Therefore he resolved to satisfy himself for the benefit of the Dominion as a whole. It was tho fanning community which was responsible in a big measure for the return of the Massey Government. The Ministry had had only three weeks in which to prepare a Financial Statement, and three weeks to prepare a policy and other important questions. It was generally agreed that they got through- tho session honour. (Cheers.) Nearly everything that thoy pledged themselves to do was carried out. They now only wanted to complete tho pledges made. (Applause.) They had already given the option of tho freehold—(cheers)—on several tenures, and they had pledged themselves to Teform the Upper House. The greatest credit was duo to Mr. Bell, their Leader in that Chamber, who exhibited a great command of all subjects under discussion, and was unequalled by any other' member._ They had managed to get nearly all their Bills through. It was intended to make the Upper House elective, ana if the Government had a continuance of their support it would make the Upper House equally responsible to tho people with the Lower House. Another accomplishment of tho present Government was in connection with the old age pensions. The idea had got abroad that since ho was Minister of Railways tho wages of servants in that Department had been reduced. As a matter of fact they were never higher. (Cheers.) As Minister for Railways he had raised the salaries by J>80,0(l(l per annum. Next year he intended doing more for the first division of tho railway service. He intended to do what the previous Government had refused to: do. The Native Lands Department t had also received special consideration, A claiisa in the''Act passed allowed every educated Maori' to be declared n European, just as .if born one. It was not intended to have one law for the white man and ono for the Maori. It was intended to assimilate the two races. (Applause.) And this Act alone should justify tho confidence and appreciation of the Natives of the colony. There was ono man (Sir James Carroll) who had had the power to do the same thing, but ho had failed. Mr. Herries said he himself guaranteed to do it before lie resigned the position of Native Minister. (Loud cheers.) When it was considered that the Government had formulated a policy of reforms and prepared a lot of work for next session, and had' not sustained a single defeat, the people should be proud of the achievements of the Government they were supporting. Mri Seddon was always proud when he had a majority of 20 or 'so, but there was not a single session that either the Seddon or Ward Government did not suffer defeat. Ho could not recollect one in which Mr./Seddon did not so suffer. '■ The present Government had gone through the session as untried men. and had never met a single reverse. (Loud cheers.) He was -proud to retain their loyal support. For a long timo it was a case of 13' or, 11 fighting against 50 or 60. Tho recollection of those trials was still with them. The Reform party-had achieved a great triumph. The most remarkable thing had been the utter demoralisation and utter ( rout of what is called, -the,.. Opposition—' (aoplause)—a party quarrelling with each other, a narty that could not agreo to indicate their policy 6imply because they had not got any. (Laughter.) 1 The old Liberal party had; almost -dropped- into oblivion now. The fragmentary Opposition, without a leader, would experience the same sort of fight, as the Reform party had had to wage. It was to those loyal supporters of the Massey Government that an appeal was made; They wanted every support at the next election. They must keep a tight rein and prepare for eventualities. In the afternoon Mr. Herries was entertained at a garden party in the Te Aroha Domain. Mr. Soraers (the Mayor) welcomed the Minister in a very happy speech, and Mr. Herries responded in fitting terms. There was a very large attendance of town folk and visitors, and a most enjoyable time was'spent.