MR HERRIES AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 435, 16 May 1899, Page 2

MR HERRIES AT CAMBRIDGE.

[yb telegraph—special reporter]. Cambridge, Last Night. Mr W. H. Herries, member for the Bay of Plenty, addressed the electors in the Public Hall, Cambridge, this evening. There was an excellent attendance, the hall being quite full. Mr W. F. Buckland (Mayor) occupiel the chair and briefly introduced the speaker, who, on rising, was received with demonstrations of applause. In his opening remarks Mr Herries apologised for appearing in Cambridge the same week as Capt. Russell. He had arranged his visit and did not kuow that the Leader of the Opposition was coming when he fixed his date. He thanked the electors for electing him as their representative and the Press for their consideration. He would contest the constituency at the next election against allcomers. (Applause), THE PREMIER AND HIS STATEMENTS. Referring to the speech of the. Premier, given a few weeks' ago at Cambridfjc, he said he would quote from the local Government organ. The Premier asked them if they wished to go back to 2s 6d and 3s 6d a-day. It was not fair to take that as the general desire of the Connective party. Many who were on relief works (co-operative) earned no more than that, and yet the Government could not be accused of wishing to lower the rate of wages. As a matter of fact, the Government had reducod the wages of nearly all the men employed by the Assets Board, but they heard nothing about that. As to the cheap money, he admired that portion of the Government policy. Where did the Premier get that money ? He simply acted as agent for the moneylenders and yet the Premier strongly abused the money lenders. Speaking of native lands, Mr Herries quoted the figures given by the Premier at Cambridge to show the success of the native land policy. He (the Premier) contended that they had acquired two million acres but they had not offered one-tenth of it to the public. The public works spoken of so eulogistically by the Premier were a farce, and he described the co-operative works as a standing disgrace to the colony. He accused the Premier of misrepresenting the cost of the old age pensions in putting it down at £20,000 for this year. He did not tell them that the financial year ended on 3lst March and there was only two or three weeks to "breeches pocket' policy. Mr Herries said it was refreshing to see the Liberals using the " breeches pocket " policy which the Premier was eternally hurling at Capt. Russell, as he saw by a report in a local paper that Dr. Hosking in speaking of bringing out Mr Castleton for a neighbouring electorate had stated the intention of defraying the expenses of the election with £IOO. SEDDONISM ON THE WANE. He said Seddonism was on the wane, and he accused Mr Seddon of being weak. Last session he had a majority of 17, by-elections had reduced it to 15. On the first division for the election of the Chairman of Committee he had only had a majority of three, and on a want-of-confidence motion he had a majority of six, and Mr McKeuzie's "gridiron map " was inserted in Hansard only by a majority ot four, clearly showing that Seddonism was on the wane The reison was apparent. Many Liberals were turning against him, thus forming the "Left Wing," which was composed of Liberals who were not supporters of Mr Seddon, but were desirous of pure administration. In order to get good government both parties must be strong. The power was getting more and more into the hands of the executive, and sooner or later a fight would come with the representatives of the people and the executive. The servants were becoming the masters. The members of the Opposition were to a great extent powerless, and when the Estimates were brought down he could not propose an increase of any salary. This could only be done by the Government. Some alteration would have to be made before long, and a change was surely coming. He referred to the scanty information afforded by the Government in bringing down the Estimates, aud said last session the Opposition were forced to take a stand and stonewall. They had won the day. As an instance of the information obtained thereby, among the contingency item was found a salary of £BOO a year and Ministers' travelling expenses £1750, and £l5O, the Premier's secretary's expenses to England. Was it right that such sunn should be hidden from sight. It was not the question of the money, but the honour of the Premier wa9 at stake and showed he was not be be trusted. As an instance of the weakness of the Government, he said out of 84 bills brought forward last session, only 33 were passed. The Government followers were sick of this legislation, aud the Government itself was not in earnest about it. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The most important bill last session was the Old Age Pensions which he had opposed. He thought it an excellent thing if the country could afford it, and he hoped that some day a pension would be granted to all over 65. If, to quote the Premier's figures, the £150,000 required for pensions was taken out of the funds there would be little left for roads and bridges. These he considered to be far more material to his district, at any rate, than the few pounds spent in pensions, and he therefore vo*ed iu accordance with his honest conviction. He thought if they gave the young settlers in the back country roads and bridges to their farms they would be in a better position to support their parents. (Applause) He voted not against the Old Age Pensions but against the Bill in the form presented by Mr Seddon. THE MINING BILL. Speaking of the Mining Bill of 400 clauses, the speaker said it was passed through the House in one night. For this they had to thank the late member for the district (Mr Cadman), who deserved the groatest credit. It would do a great amount of good in the interest of the industry for which it was introduced. A PERNICIOUS SYSTEM. He condemued the practice of the Government not spending the money voted for public works. In 1897 the vote was underspent to the extent of £20,000. This went to swell the surplus. Some works iu this district had been on the Estimates and various sums voted for their for the last three years, aud they had never been carried out. He described the system as pernicious. CORRUPTION WAS RAMPANT. Speaking of the Police Commission, Mr Herries said it was sadly needed. Corruption was rampant, and he cited numerous instances to show how Mr Seddon, when Minister for Defence, had abused his position. If enquiries were made iuto the other departments, the same thing would be found to obtain. It was patent to everyone that there was corruption from root to branch. He was confident the Liberal party would not stand it much longer, but would rise and sweep the present Government from the Ministerial Benches. LAND POLICY. Mr Herries, in referring to the land policy, quoted figures to show that|in 1892 the number of settlers who took up land was 1953 and the forfeitures 240, in 1893, 2578 and 201 forfeituress. in 1894 2454, and 236 forfeitures, in 1595, 1988 and 392 forfeitures, in 1896, 2504 and 891 forfeitures, in 1597, 1735 and 813 forfeitures, and in 189 S 1539 and 704 forfeitures. The forfeitures had increased steadily, clearly showiug that the policy was not a success. It was not the fault of the policy, but the administration. In the majority o

instances the people could not possibly make a living on the land. He hoped to see the land policy continued, but thought it useless to put people on laud if they could not live there. (Applause). ASSETS BOARD PROPERTIES. Speaking of the Assets Board's properties, Mr Herriea said in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty districts alone tho land totalled 230,000 acres, of which 10,000 only had been disposed of. He though this should bo cut up, even if settlers had to get it for nothing. The milk industry would make the farms pay, and it would be the making of the district. He was glad to see the movement to cut up the Moana Vale Estate, and ho would assist them as far as possible. (Applause). The idea of cutting up estates was an excellent one, but the estates should not be foisted on the Government as previously. BEETROOT SUGAR. He accused the Premiar of insiucerity in connection with the Beetroot Sugar Bill. Mr Lang and he had made a canvas of the House and had got a majority in favour of the Bill, but Mr Seddon would not push it forward and did not intend it to go through. Neither Mr Lang nor he could introduce the Bill. This could only be done by a Minister, which was auother instance of the way members were hampered. Mr Herries sat down amid continued applause. Questions were invited but none were put forward, and on the motion of Mr T. W. Hicks seconded by Mr H. Gillett, a vote of thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation without dissent. Mr Herries thanked the eleetors for their cordial reception and expression of continued confidence, and requested that it might be extended to Captain Russell who is to speak here on Wednesday evening.