POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 128, 30 May 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

I SIB JOSEPH WARD. IX THE ENEMY- t AMP. A>' EXTHCSIASTI RECKITIuN. (By Tele-rar-i.-- to -if tar ', sEiM?oN. Eridav. The vioit oi Mr Jo.'eph -ml l.idy Ward to the Marlborough distri t !i,i> cau.ed widespread interest throughout the province, and everywhere the Lcid.-r o; mo Oppo.-ition lias gone peop'e have 110-ked from miles around t■• mar him. 11.. j meetings throughout th" .in-tr:--; :mr j constituted a record. L.i.-t night t-ir Joseph spoke at ll.udn.-li, i i-tronghoid of Reform, and n place in whv'.i it w,ipredicted by many that v ir -'c-cph would would not receive a good hearing. A.l the-e. progno.iticntioiit, w ere unfuitii'.e i. Sir Joseph, who received ,i warm weljcome on his arrival in the tow n.-hip. i-i----dressed one of the largest, if not the largest, meetings ever iv-l.| in ll.ne'.ock. 'lie reeeive-i a spi-u.i.d re.-cpt.ioii. and. 'although a few opponent - tnt.i,. .i strong | endeavour to he,kl.- tin- -pe.iker .11 the .outset. the\ we,-.- „.„,,, -ih-rieed. a.- -ir [Joseph Ward. b\ id- replie. tu ipierie-. made the intcrjector- ridi nl-..;- and the laughing .-lock in' ihc whole audience. It was quite evident that he had the meeting with -him from the very start, and it has been stated l>v people on bolh -ides of politics that he received a better hearing than any other speaker who has taken the platform in the town, PROMISE ANT) PERFORMANCE. In drawing aitent.-m to the promises made by Mr. Masscy and other Ministers to the various electorates. Sir Joseph said that if they -were all carried out. there would be no general election this year. as the se-bion would not be over a.t the time set apart for tiie polling. TI.VKERINT, WITH ELECTORAL LAW Referring to elector 1' reform. Sir .loseph pointed out that the Masscv Oovernroont bad already, hv the abolition of 'the se.-ond ballot, declared for minority and not majority rule, and it appeared that -..me further tinkering with the electoral law na- In take place next e-o-sion. This groni question wn - Ix-ing played with hv the party now in power. Mr. Massev had not the con rape to slate what he intended to An on this question, and ,t. -was in the interests of the Reform partya-s well a.- every- elector in New Zealand, to know what syjiem of voting was to be carried out at the genera] election. Air. -M.-i.--ey was marking; a secret, of the form of representation for the nest general election, but it war. only right, to notify the people at one- of the system to be adopted. It was t.he fir.-t time in the history of the country that such information has! been kept back, and he (Kir Joseph) regretted that Mr. Masscy's own followers did not force him 1.-i say what system wa„s to -be used of returning members to the House. 1 Applause.'! „ THANKS AXD ( ON ITDENI "E. At the conclusion of ihc address Mr. Tf. M. Reader moved: "That this meeting thanks Sir -loseph Ward for 'hi„ able and eloquent address, ihtanks him for t.he services, he has rendered to the Empire, and wis'hcs bis every success in his •futnre public life.'' This was seconded, but before it. was put. Mr. E. H. Smith moved, as an amendment. 'That Sir •foscph .be thanked for his nd.lre.--. and that the. meeting expresses confidence in the Ma>sey tiovernment." The a-me-ndliieut wa.- put lirsl. and defeated' by an ,001 whelming majority. only a small section of the very large audience voting for it. The amendment was declared lost by the chairman. ait,l Miie motio n wa.- then put and carried j with great enthusiasm. (Ibr-crs were then ghen for i-ir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward, and the meeting broke tip. T.he a.udience joining in singing - For he's a jolly go,„I fellow." MANY MISTAKES. Before- the meeting Sir Joseph was entertained at a banquet, and after the meeting, a smoke social «», held in his honour. Replying to the toast of hi- he.ilth a: I the latter function. Sir Joseph said that the Maesey <iovern merit hud made more mistakes during their --hort term of office, than the Libber.ils had made during their whole -Ministerial career. If be | k-ir Joseph) baii made as many mistakes during iii s whole term of otlice as -Mr. Masscy had made during the last twelve months, he would commit harikari. The so-called Reform Government had introduced the American system of putting out of office me n who were worthily filling posts of public, trust on harbour boards, land boards and other public bodies, and replacing them with men who were known to be strong for the present Government. He deprecated this, and showed that sin-h a system never existc-J under the Liberal regime. To-day Sir Joseph and Lady Ward are visiting Scddon. and V\"ard, where elaborate arrangement* have been made 10' entertain the visitors. They return :oi Wellington on Saturday. i ME. MASS.EY AT IK'NEDIX. ; ("By Telegraph- I 'res. A-.-c-in t ion. i ] nt'N'EDIX. Friday. I In the OarrL-on Uall this evenin" the I Prune Minister. 111. Hon AY I. Massec. I addressed a large audience, his speech i being mainly on the lines of 1 hose given in the .South earlier in the week. ° He outlined llnj programme for t.he coming session a*s in his lu\ op-argil! speech, promisinp, among other things. a.incndmenUi inrndustria)l-luw.an,lalb<-> j„ tin- licensing law. electoral law. and in I eolation affecting education. He promised' further ! legislation to encourage the fruit industry. An Asiatic Immigration Bill would be brought down which would stop the immigration of 'Asiatics, to this couutrv. A motion of thank- and .-ontidence. a.nd pledging tire meeting to support the. Massev government. was propo--od a-nd seconded, and an amendment of thanks to Mr. Mawv f or h» addrcsts. but expressing " disap provai of the, tactic, adopted be' the Ooverrrrrarnt to capture the Treasury benches, as s-nch -were calculated to de mor-afisT, parry p.-,i,fc,cs, was proposed, bur, the motion was carried by a ve r r 'arge majority. ' j SPIEETTI RV V,I:~M IT 'By A ~„,-a ti, ,„ , j HOKnTfCA, Friday. A political address was delivered'to light by Mr. L. AC. Isitt. MJP. The rpeafeeT was subjected to 'frequent interruptocms, and at the concrninon of the iddreaß s. vote of trorrsks to the speaker n*i ootrrtirraed errafidence in Sir Joseih - Ward aj. Loader of the LiDerai parry !' »a» carried. CherTs -were given for Mr' ' •att, Sr Joseph Ward, n-id Rt. Hon :w" ' t". Mawey, 1' ~, ,1