Political Situation

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 216, 12 March 1914, Page 8

Political Situation

lIO.V. HERDMAN \T WYXDHAM. ' THE GOVKi,. ..,:.xT I'i-uO defended. By Cable—Press As-o.\ati»i|- Copyright WyD.lhan:, Last Night. Tho Hod. A. L Herdman, the Attor-ney-Genera), additssed a luge and en thusiastic meeting at Wy'ndham tonight. Referring to the coming dictions, V\Herdman foreshadowed t desperate battle. The no-called Liberal*, lie said, would fight with tin- ferocity of doomed men. There would also be a plcthoiii of Social Democratic and" Labor candidates. Sir J. G. Ward could not hopa to control a majority in the House without combining with one of the other parties. Thousands of laborers had sup ported the Reformers because thei made no class distinctions and did not'govern the Dominion in the interests of any one section of the community. The Liberal Party had lost the confidenceof the people, because they were transJparently insincere ami wu!-,o\',t stalnlity. The new Cabinet was comprised of men who hud never previously held Pfllce, They had had to face heavy loans maturing, labor troubles, and other difficulties. Mr Herdman thrn traverser! the history of the strike, during which the Government's actions were misrepresented. He paid a great tribute to tho men from the country, who were the cause of the strike being broken. (Loud applause.) He strongly condemned Sir Joseph's Ward's speech in the House concerning the Post Olfico ' Square incident. It wan a most critical and serious moment, and a very thin line separated constitutional government from a state of revolution. There was no justification for the strike, and tho men had to be brought to their senses. Mr. Massey had never wearied in endeavoring to bring about a nettlement, and no assistance, whatever wa> received from Sii Joseph Ward's party. On the contrary, every speech by tho Opposition helped to keep the red il ig living. Sir .Wph Ward's complaint that he was accused of being the head and front of the strike was without foundation. Sir .Joseph Ward also said that he could have settled the strike. He would have settled the strike just as he had settled himself and his party -by giving in. By the end of next icssion the Government would have fulfilled practically every promise it had made. The Minister outlined what the Government had done towards land :-ett!ement. with Which the future of N'ew Zealand was wrapped up. The Government recognised that the land must be settled, and if the. present means were not quick enough, other means would have to be devised. He agreed with Sir Joseph Ward that too much land should not be thrown on the market nt one time. Mr Herdman referred to the success of the new administration of the public service, which had done ftway with political interference and ravoritisni. The "."io-ition hail endeavored to stir up stuff among the publie servants. The public service now offered reasonable inducements. Mr Herdman recounted what the Government had done to increase pay and conditions and possibilities of promotion. A new provsilin would probably be made whereby widows of officers would receive first consideration in appointments as postmistresses. Coming to the naval question, he could not understand the speeches of Sir Joseph Ward and other Opposition leaders I he Government's first duty was to consider the wishes of Great Britain. There would be no uhc having a portion of the fleet in the Pacific if the Home licet was in danger. Our safety depended on the security of Britain. The conditions had altered since New Zealand first contributed to the navy, artd the Government had no other course nut to fall in with the wishes of tho - who had to safeguard the British Empire. (Applause.) In addition, the Government were defraying the cost of a Bristol cruiser, and so were doing their best for the protection of our own commerce as well as doing their paramount duty to the Mother Country. (Applause). K Since they had been in office the Government had T,ut the finances on a sounder bisis, improved the condition of tho civil service, given the freehold, made the graduated land tax more "mutable, unproved the old aire -ension scheme, raised the advances to settlers limit from £SOO to £IOOO. improved native land legislation, nut naval d"fcnce on a permanent and sound footiii", appointed a railways expert who Promised to put the railways on a much improved tooting. By pursuing a steady and sober policy, and not depending ou lineliffht. tinsel, and paint, feeling of confidence had been created. (Applause). Of their promises still to be fulfilled was the reform of the Lecislativ" Council, and another effort would )>• made next session. The education svstem had also to be improved. Mr. All»n would bring down a Bill next year that would be a big advance. Tie had absolute faith in the future of N'ew Zealand, and that tuture could well be left in the hands of a progressive Government, bent on the settlement of the land and the quick marketing of its produce. Mr. Herdman. who had a most favorable hearing was loudly e-'nided at the close of his speceh. and received a unanimous vot« of thank< and confidence.