POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 267, 9 April 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL .

POSITION OF THE GOVERN M h)Vf. HON. AY. 11. HERRIES AT ))AIIIiAVILI.E. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. During a jpolitical speech,at Dai'gn. ville last night, Hon. W. 11. Herries, Minister ot Railways and Native Affair*, placed before the electors the position of the ifassey Government. Replying to statements made by Messrs Thompson and MacDonaloil, Liberal M.P.'s, he said the party, represented the majority of the electors. Mr. Payne had been pledged to Reform; he had voted the other way, and would be counted as a Liberal. Mr. Fowlds, who was also down as a. Liberal supporter, walked out o; the fciheral Cabinet. The statement was wrong that the Government party was in the minority. The Opposition j would not test this by a no-confidence ! motion.

Mr. Alassey had gone through two strenuous sessions, had put all his Hi' through, and had not sutl'ered a defeat — a record that even the late Air.' Reel-ton would boast of.

Late elections proved that public o|>inion was turning. Liberals were always at tTie bottom of the polls. lie said i lu> Kefonn Covernmcnt luul made a thorough investigation into the Dominion's finance, and was now keeping borrowing within reasonable bounds, and preventing wasteful expenditure. Certainly they had increased their expenditure, but could they strike out. loans to settlers and workers, loan to loeal bodies, or cut down railways, roads or bridges expenditure? The party undertook to discourage wasteful expenditure, and the results showed they had done so. lie dealt with the Bliort-dated loans of the previous Government, and said that in consequence the Government had this year spent .•Cil.fltMl.OOO ill redemption. This liugo sum was made up of Air. .Myers' loan of £4,500,0(10 and Sir Joseph Ward's .C3,300,1)1)0, in addition to amounts raised for advances to local bodies, settlers and workers. Mr. Allen's loan had cost 4 per cent., whieli was less than any previous loans. The present Oovernment hail raised the salaries of civil servants, police and railway servants. At the close, of the meeting a little "booing" took place, hut a vote of confidence was carried.