SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 72, 24 March 1923, Page 6

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

THE STATESMAN BHUTANI A CHARACTER SKETCH ( By EBOK.) A crowded picture theatre, nearly g thousand men and women, an electrical ' atmosphere, a low hum of voices, ap. plausc, followed by loud and hearty cheers as enters the veteran Liberal " statesman, thu lit. Hon. Sir Joseph Wan:. P.C.. with his gracious lady, his daughter, and the local Mayor and Mayoress. Renewed applause greets the appearance of the party upon the sta»e, and then silence. A brief vociferous happy reception, and a smiling candidate launches into a fighting speech. The introductory matter is barely finished when, alter whispered consultation between the organiser and the chair, man, the latter gently interrupts Sir Joseph, with a plea for the latecomers, who are unable to find seats inside. la a trice the hideously ugly black cloth is lowered, revealing a commodious stage, to which the scores of eager ones are bidden ascend, and once fairly settled, the audience sits back with that anticipation satisfaction experienced when any star performer is ready for action. The years have rendered Sir Joseph a little less of a terror to tlio shorthand reporter: at odd intervals even Sir Joseoh pauses for breath, and no sooner has the scribe offered up a silent prayer of gratitude, than the speaker is off again at a canter. So thick and fast do the ideas press one upon the other, that in their expression nought suffices save Sir •Joseph's familiar staccato, quick fine ' style of speech. To-night lie deals nith the Premier, and soon has his criticism! of Sir Joseph's proposals reduced to ■ an absurdity. Statement and misstatement are deftly dissected. Quick as a (lash the speaker dives into the attache case, out come newspapers, budgets and documents of all kinds, the ammunition of a true born fighting politician. Bnt from the standpoint of the audience these contents are tame to a degree compared with the famous lucky horseshoe which Sir Joseph declares is destined to grace a tree in the home garden, fit memento of a stiff battle. As a matter of fact the advent of tk Premier in tlie fie'd in the role of election organiser and general booster of his nominee has made the fight, and will be the salvation of the Liberal champion. Back to wall, assailed and grossly misrepresented by the Reform Press, wrongly quoted and misunderstood by his real adversary, the Premier, Sir Joseph is never better than facing odds. In telling wordl he paints a black picture of the present financial morass into which the country has been permitted to drift through incompetence by the Reform administration. One long, long drift since 1919. With a courage born of expert knowledgl and true statesmanship, Sir Joseph alone points the way to a solution. With rapid strokes he deftly sketches for his hearers a plan to end the present state of affairs brought upon an unoffending people by the prolongation of the moratorium. With utter futility the evil day has been put off. leaving Sew Zealand the only country in the Empire with the moratorium in operation. In like manner statesmanlike plans for the speedy completion of our varied public works and the relief of the housing shortage tats shape before the very eyes of the andience. An impressive and brilliant peroration upon the destiny of our Empire and Dominion brings to an end a metnor- ■ able speech, and with astonishment the audience realises that Sir Joseph has rivetted their attention for two hours. Loud and long applause greet the speaker as hs resumes his seat. Of course any comparison of the candidates would be cruel, and it must be admitted that the Reform candidate and Ministerial sponsor are both hopelessly outclassed. This enables one to understand the solid growth of sentiment favouring Sir Joseph Ward- Farmers and townsfolk alike freely grant the obvious superiority. The mantle of Sir George Grey has descended upon Sir Joseph Ward, and in the final analysis it will be proved that the vision, so necessary to true statesmanship, has ' been vouchsafed the Literal champion. Tauranga electors accept the public spirited and sporting offer made their and trust begetting trust will see ti best man win.