SIR J. WARD HITTING OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 26 March 1923, Page 8

SIR J. WARD HITTING OUT.

THE ELECTORS IMPRESSED.

THE GOVERNMENT'S SKELETON,

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") TAURANGA, Saturday. Sir Joseph Ward has had another day of c-reat speeches and successful meeting He is hitting straight -from the shoulder, and the waverers amongst Reform are evidently impressed with t.ie fact that the great financier has revealed the Government's skeleton in the cupboard the country's bad financial position that is stultifying her whole industry and development. At Otumoetai, Oropi, Ohauiti and Te Puna, Sir Joseph had crowded meetings, the various halls being filled to their full capacity. \ otes of confidence were cordially passed, anA Sir Joseph had various indications that the polling day results were not going to disappoint him. Only at the Te Puna meeting was there'any indication of life in the Reform camp, and even the diehard,, gave the candidate a good hearing, contenting themselves with challenging ineffectively the confidence motion. Mr. Lochhead presided over a record- meeting for the Te Puna district. He said that Sir Joseph had pulled the country through her financial difficulties in the past, and we had reached a stage of stagnation and desperation when it was absolutely necessary that the country should again get him to help her out of her troubles. (Applause.)

Sir Joseph Ward, who was received with applause, .said he had known a good deal about Tauranga quite apart from having previously visited the district. lie was a friend of the late Sir Win. Herries, who bad officially opened the memorial hall in which they were meetin.:. Dealing with the roads of ihe district Sir Joseph said he strongly favoured a good roading policy, and a change in the system was needed. All important countries in the world, including England, after centuries, were now rhamring their methods of roadmaking. If we had to wait long periods before getting intersecting roads and railways the settlers would have to wait a long period before getting the results of their labours, and before the country got the benefit of the increased products that could be obtained in Xew Zealand. The Tauranga district was very backward in respect to its primitive road.., which were exceedingly poor from the point of view of requiring to do duty, particularly in winter. He recounted how one of the motor-cars, used in his party, had been bogged the previous day in the Kaimai pass, and had finally become overheated in tackling the muddy track and had been destroyed by fire. Money had to be spent on the roads so that settlers were not living under miserable transport, conditions.

The next thing wanted, continued Sir Joseph, was plenty of money for development from the point of view of the settler*. The country, since the war, had never had such a difficult time as at present owing to money trouble. Indeed we had never had a worse time in the history of the country. The moratorium was affecting everybody adversely, whether people realised* it or not. Sir Joseph quoted the pamphlet published by eighteen farmers and trading concerns throughout the country, stating that unless fchey were relieved from the burden of the country's present grade of taxation they would be forced into liquidation. The thoughtful settlers understood how they were going to be affected, and the point went home. How to get rid of the moratorium, said the speaker, was the most difficult and most important concern of the country. It affected all industries. In the matter of employment there were thousands of people in New Zealand who ought to have been looking into this matter who knew very little about it. Tin financial world, however, knew the position. If anyone wanted to borrow a thousand pounds from any leading institution that would have given it under security before the moratorium they would not now give a shilling. If they did offer a loan they would want at least eight per cent. "Frenzied finance is what the Premier says," continued Sir Joseph, adding, "if Mr. Massey has a suggestion to get us out of it, why does he not make if. (Hear, hear). Why does he not make a better one than I have made? It is necessary that someone should make it.''

Sir Joseph explained how the taxpayer was not involved in a pennypiece of "expenditure if his proposals were adopted. The farmer or settler who got the benefit of loans would pay the interest on the money. Something had to be done, and whether he was elected or not it would lie found in a year or two that the very men who were turning up their noses and calling his suggestions frenzied finance would be trying it and saying that they had suggested it. A sum*of twenty-five millions must be obtained to relieve existing mortgages under the moratorium.

The audience followed with interest the wonderful history of the State advances to settlers, which was put on the Statute Book by Sir Joseph. His present opponents had raised the cry that he could not raise money under that scheme, that if he got it he could not lend it, and that if he lent it he could not get it back. The State Advances Department advanced over 30 millions to settlers and workers, and four millions to local public bodies, all at 4i per cent. His opponents had now issued a circular containing ten items claimed as Reform's achievements. As a matter of fact eight out of the ten were Liberal attempts, State advances to settlers being one of them. It was quite comical. He had received a telegram from a man whose word he could accept that the local people were now charging ten and twelve per cent interest. "Am I not warranted, under the circumstances, to come and tell the people the position," continued Sir Joseph. "No man in or out of Parliament has told the people the position during the last two or three years. Pome of them prefer that we should wait for our troubles to blow over. As a matter of fact our troubles are getting worse V\ hen you have got a nettle, grasp it '' (Applause.)

Sir Joseph Ward then explained why he advocated the establishment of aTicultural banks. He said he brought the proposal down in his Budget of 1911 in the interests of the farmers. He believed it desirable, indeed, essential, to have an agricultural bank, with branches. It was good that men on the land were obtaining increased prices for products, but except by wflfr of income tax that extra revenue was not going to the Country's exchequer To listen to some public men one would think that because there was an increase ,n value of products that the Treasury would be righted, but whether J™" *» ■*** or not he had to pay trohl» JU9t r the » am e. and the initial tic edifice would not be solved. Sir Josejh vraa certain there was not

enough money in the Dominion to enable settlers and others to carry on. If his friends who talked of freneied finance could suggest a better way he was prepared to back it all he could. These jokers, however, thought they had settled the matter by merely waving it off.

Sir Joseph then detailed hia suggestions for carrying on public works by means of Government stock, such as Mr. Massey was at present issuing, and such as had been issued for many thousands of acres purchased by the Government in the past. The scheme had been initiated by him, and he had never heard of any holder of Government stock coming clown on the taxpayers because it had fallen below par. The suggestion was nonsense. "I have drawn the Prime Minister, Minister of Public Works, and several private members into this electorate," he added. "You ought to give mc a leather medal for bringing them to promise you anything you like," he added, evidently alluding to certain rumours, "and if you get anything you can give mc the credit. (Applause). If I can bring them here and get you a whole lot of things, what do you think 1 could do for you if 1 were in Parliament." (Cheers.) Sir Joseph expresed the view that none of the parties wanted a dissolution. Only with the first-past-the-post system altered could they hope to get a working majority by another election. Personally he was standing in order to help the men who wanted to put the country right.

When question time came a Reformer asked whether Sir Joseph favoured a coalition with Mr. Massey's party. Sir Joseph replied, "I have said the men returned to Parliament, ought to get together and see in what way they can prevent, a dissolution. 1 suggest by comparing, I have not said coalition or fusion. I am prepared to do what I consider best when I am returned.'' (Applause.)

The meeting concluded with a vote of confidence and thanks to Sir Joseph and a vote of thanks to the chairman.