SPEECH BY THE HON. W. H. HERRIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1708, 27 March 1913, Page 8

SPEECH BY THE HON. W. H. HERRIES.

NATIVE LAND POLICY. TO UNITE THE TWO RACES. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, March 20. Speaking at tho banquet' tendered to liini at Cambridge last niglit, tho Hon. W. H. Hcrries said lie was now accustomed to tho description that ho was tho worst Minister for Railways because ho could not find a portmanteau when it was lost, and as tho worst Minister for Native Affairs becauso ho did not immediately sell all. the Native lands to tho pakeha. (Laughter.) - . Kecalliug old memories, Mr. Hemes paid that when ho first entered politics his district was practically olio-fourth of tho North Island,

Speaking of the Massey Administration, Mr. Ilerries said everyone recognised that tho Government had achieved a great deal in a very short time, in spito of great difficulties. The policy of tho previous Governments could not be reversed in half an hour, and without advocating the "tqihoa" policy, he asked the friends of the Government to give it time to bring its policy to a successful conclusion. The dismal predictions of the party's opponents had been, proved during tho last few mouths to be entirely fallacious. The entrance. of tho new Government into power had been followed by a period of good pricos, for all the products of the Dominion had risen, and that the credit of the Domirfion was good was proved by tho success of the Hon. James Allen's loan flotation. When the party faced the country again at the next general election, ho believed that tho Prime Minister would propound a policy that would win tho confidence of the peoplo and show them that the Reform Government was not a Government for the squatters and the Tories, but a Government for the small farmers. (Applause.) • . "I want as far as possible to unite the two races, instead of separating them as was done byl tho previous Government,' said Mr. Hcrries, in explanation of his policy in regard to Native affairs. "1 want to try in every 'way to give tho Native a title to his land and to do away with the communistic system. I want to give better facilities for any settler who wishes to acquire Native land to deal ■fact to face with the .Native, so long as lie does not render the Native landless, and so long as the Native gets a price tfiat is fair. (Applaus<s.) I hope to make a step in advance next session by introducing legislatidta to amalgamate tho Native. Land Boards and the Native land Courts. That, I believe, is absolutely necessary." ■ "My whole endeavour," added Mr. Herries, "will Ire to do justice to tho Natives, to give them a chance to farm their own land, and in the case of Native land which tlic owners do not wish to farm themselves, to enable the pakeha to settle under the freehold." (Applause.) Mr. llerries concludou his address amidst prolonged applause, and was heartily cheered. Tho following resolution, proposed by Mr. Richard lieynolds, and seconded by Mr. M. Wells, was carried:— "That this meeting of the residents of Cambridge and surrounding districts tenders to the Hon. W. H. Herries its heartiest congratulations on his accession to tho office of Minister for Bailways and Native Affairs, and trusts that he may be long spared to serve his country, and that the present Government will for m.anv years continue to guide the destinies of tho Dominion."