WEST COASTS & REFORM

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2150, 16 May 1914, Page 6

WEST COASTS & REFORM

HON. W, H. BERRIES AT GREY-, MOUTH. <Bt J€l9i*fapli.-.Prese A.esodaMo.n.l Creymduth, May 15. The Hon. W. H. Herries arrived afc Greynvout-h this afteriißon, ami received a deputation. from the County Council ro a grant for country works. The Minister ssrtseqUofiitly visited the lino to Bwenui tofriiinas, and the line to tho laverpool mine. Sir. Befrks addressed a meeting ni the %tm Hall ionight, l)ufc owing, to tho wot night Ilia attertctaflce web not- largo. Tho Mayor octmpied. the chair, jjr. Berries, who was given an excellent reception, devoted his nrain attention to replying to the attacks of tl» "Flying Squstlroij" on the GSovarnnumo. Ho showed that it was. incorrect to say that tlie Government represented a inmority 'vot& He fldifltefl out that the large majority hold by t;hft late Mr. Se'ddon had dwindled r.ipidiy uflrjer Sir Joseph Ward's leadership, showing that Sir Joseph Ward had not , the confidence of tho people. Sir Joseph Ward recognised this fiitit, and resigned tire Premiership. Tho speaker tool; the platform fesned hy tho Heform party priar Jβ the cleetton, and dealt with the items, demonstrating that the- promises the)) mado laid either been carried mil, or would ho carried out durmg tho comtoc sessiutj. He d«{cttde3 the appointrfleftt 6f Mr, B. H.. .Hilej' a-s Genoral Manager 'of the Railways, Mt. fflle.v, whon familiar with the 'Conditions, .would;, he said, miike. the ablest nianager there had ever been, not only in tho Dominion, bat also in Australia. Mr. Herries defended the Minister of Finance froaj tfia attacks niacio on him, and showed that the Minister- Was burdened with the legacy left by his pfedneessors. Mr. Herries ako showed the evils of sltoi't-dated dek-ntures, and referred to.. the > attiwbs niado on the tiovernment's .naval policy, and showed thai the policy was forced on the. Gow entnipnt by' the Admiralty failing to keep the 1009 Agreement. Dealing with the Native- iajuls question, tho Minister said the object of tho ptesent lejjisktion was to aUsw tho Naiivfes to sell their'land If they etiose to do so. The Natives were not compelled to selK us .a-sserf-od by tho Opposition, The aim of the legislation was p) plaeo tho Native on equality with tiret and weld the two races into one. Uefwrmji; to the strike, Mr. Herrios said that any Government worthy of ttiti iianni would act as tile presettt Government had done. The ijeforrii Governtuent was firopttred to stand or fall \>y its sttitudc o(t the strike, afid ff»s confident of tho approval of a majority of the people ef- ttie poininion. . T]ie Minister.was -heartily'applauded at the- coin elusion of his address 4 -ami was accorded it vote of thanks, . A vote of confidence in the ■ Government jvas declared carried ty a large itiajoritjv ■ - .