HON. F. M. B. FISHER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 253, 24 March 1914, Page 8

HON. F. M. B. FISHER.

TELLS THE OLD, ULD Siui... li.V Telegraph— Press Association. 6 ,„. Pongaroa, Last Ni»ht. I he Hon. F. M. jj, £ ' w her, who has been touring tho Akitio coastal addressed a largo authoring at IV .. rou to-night, and received an cnUius.astie reception. I„ the course ot u,, speech the Minister pointed out that tho prophecy inadi bv the Oi position when the Reform Party eame into oflire had not proved true. The Government had increased salaries in various •departments. He instanced what it had done- regarding pensions. The Hons. Ballance and Seddon and others of the old Liberal Party had done magnificent work, but there were no Seddon-, <>■ Ballances in the present Opposition. The members of the latter all wanted to bo Ministers. (Laughter and anplause.) Mr Fisher claimed that the Reform Party was progressive. Eeferring to the statements that it. represented land monopolists, he remarked that landowners produced something useful to tho country. He condemned the brewery monopoly, which he declared had the bulk of wealth behind them, and said the brewers supported the Opposition, not the Reform Government. Referring to the late strike, he said the people would decide at next election who was going to run ttie country, the Red Feds, or the Government. The Red Feds and the. Opposition were allied. The Opposition bad prolonged the strike. He also explained the naval nolicy, and ridiculed the Opposition assertions that the Goverment was going to establish an expensive dockyard, etc.