POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 661, 18 April 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

—e ■ MR HERDMAN AT WELLINGTON THE GOVERNMENT DEFENDED. COST OP THE STRIKE. [BT TELEGRAPH. —rKESS ASSOCIATION.} Wellington, This Day. Long before 8 o'clock last night the Town HbII was full and the doors closed, on the occasion of the political address by the Hon. Mr Herdman, who spoke in reply to Sir Joseph Ward.

The Minister began twenty minutes before the advertised time, and spoke without ssrious interruption, devoting the greater part of his speech to the defence of the Government in connection with the strike. He complained that Sir Joseph Ward's speech dealt only with the past, and gave no hope for the future. His politics wer6 deplorable.

Speaking of State political parties, he said such was the general feeling of the country that in three bye elections held since the genera! election, the Liberals had been defeated. The Reform Party was supported by a large body of solid, sound-thinking', working men.who realised if the country was to prosper it must be done under conditions where society wag kept in ardor—the sort of working man who ona day hoped to become an employer. The Libera! Party to-day consisted of a number of hangers on and disappointed billet hunters. The speaker then proceeded to deal with the state of public affairs v/hen the Massey Government came into power and the difficulties they had to 'acs, contending it was impossible to guage the merit of the Government unless tho e difficulties were fully understood. The Minister enumerated the legislative achievements of the Government, claiming credit for having kept their wickets up and fufilled their election pledges. Speaking of the strike, Mr Herdman said the Government had a simple duty to perform at a time that was very critical in the history of the Dominion, and did it simply, and, he hoped, well. There were certain fundamental principles which must be maintained by any Administration in power. It was the duty of the Administration to preserve order and protect citizens and their property. Their ditty is to make provision for the protection -cf people who want to go about their legiti- i mate callings or avocations. It was a plain and simple cuty they were endeavouring to perform, and they performed to the best of their ability. If another occasion arose, and there was a similar set ot circumstance?, he, as Minister for Justice, would do precisely the same thing as he did then. Everyone who looked impartially into the strike from the day it started till the day it finishep will see that the Government did its level best. Thora were hundreds who did not want to go out on strike, but they were misled by senseless leaders, and if anyone has suffered by that unfortunate strike the blame lay at the door of the Ward Government.

Replying to an interjection, Mr Herdman said the strike cost about £1,000,000.

Finance and land settlement were also dealt with, in both of which resp9crs the MinisteT claimed credit for the Government aa tending to promote the progress of the Domin-

At the conclusion of the speech a motion wss proposed "That this meeting thanks Mr Herdman for his address, and expresses entire confidence in the Administration of which he is a member." An amendment of no-confidence in the Government was moved, but the chairman declared it lost, and the motion carried.