POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 March 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL.

I'liUIE MINISTER AT BU^iiKlM. liy Telegraph—Press Association. . Jilenheira, last Night, ihe J rime Minister delivered ;i policv speech here to-night, chielh' on the. lines of his previous utterances.' Jie said the greatest difficulty lie lwd hud to contend with was the short-sighted financial policy of his predecessors, especially: iu regard to the short-dated debentures. This had been successfully overcome, partiv by means of the Finance Minister's visit, to London. He .quoted figures tc show that the Government had treated workers an ! local bodies iu regard to with a greater measure of liberality than the previous Government, lie claimed the (icvenimont had placer, the teachers, the police force, and the public service on a"' much-improved footing, Regarding the land question, nearly 20,000 settlers who prior to his term bad no opportunity of acquiring the freehold, were no'.ill a position to do so. He justified at some length the naval policy, indicating c|Mite elearlv that there had been a distinct difference of opinion between the Government and the Admiralty in regard to carrying nut the 1003 arrangement, and unring that it was essential to the defence of the Empire that the Pacific Fleet should bo made mucli stronger than it is at present. ' On the subject of the strike, he said the. question to be answered b<- electors would be whether to support Reform, Liberals, or Red Feds. There was no doubt as to the answer, « Tn regard to the South Island Main Trunk railway, he said that the Picton wharf opened that day was part of the work, and the money had been well spent. lie would .recommend to the Minister to place a larger sum 011 the Estimates next year for the South Islan 1 Main Trunk. On the subject of the secofid ballot, he intimated clearly there was no sub stitution yet in liis mind. When he saw something .better thaen the present svs tern lie would be prepared to ask Parliament to accept it. A resolution, expressina appreciation of the present Administration, was declared carried.