HON. MR HERRIES AT DARGAVILLE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 April 1914, Page 5

HON. MR HERRIES AT DARGAVILLE.

A SPLENDID RECEPTION

The Hon. Mr Herries, Minister for Railways, met with a capital reception at Dargaville, on Bth inst., when he put the case for the' Govfc. before a large meeting of electors in a happy and straightforward manner. During his discourse, Mr Herries praised the present Member for the Kaipara electorate, Mr G. Coates, for so assiduously looking after his district, and in demanding roads and bridges and public works development, which were of so much importance to the electorate. Mr Herries in ' thanking the audience for a good hearing re-! ferred disparagingly to Wellington people who howled down. A voice : Will you invite us to supper to-morrow night ? The Minister sat down amidst applause. Replying to question Mr Herries said holdings were limited to 640 acres first class land. (A voice : That dosen't touch private lands). The indirect cost of the strike was £400,000, the direct cost £100,000. He didn't know how much butter fat it would take to pay for the toy navy as it was not started yet. He didn't answer a further question about the estimated cost. It was a question for Minister Public Works re starting railway at Wairoa end. He didn't know how many boys had been before the courts under the Defence Act. He didn't believe there was a thousand altogether. On the motion of Messrs Carrington and Mitchell, Mr Herries was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address, coupled with an expression of confidence in the Government. This was carried by acclamation mingled with a big chorus of groans. A call for a show of hads was drowned in prolonged applause.