A GREAT RECEPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 26 March 1923, Page 7

A GREAT RECEPTION.

SIR JOSEPH AT MAKETU. (By Telegraph-—Special to "Star.") MAKETU, this day. As one who for over a third 01 a century has been most prominent figure in the political life of the Dominion, who has been admitted even by his opponents to be our greatest Postmaster-General, and who has beeu recognised everywhere as the country's greatest financier, Sir Joseph Ward addressed a fine meeting at Te Mat* early this morning, and, despite the fact that the district bad once been a Reform stronghold, Sir Joseph was given an excellent, and enthusiastic hearing. At the conclusion of his speech It seemed evident that there would be a big swing over to the Liberal candidate. The meeting displayed interest in the dissolution question. Sir Joseph said . that the men who were raising this bogj' were doing it for party purposes. He did not believe there was a word in this cry that was sincere. He did not believe there was a member of Parlia- ! ment who wanted a dissolution, and the only party who seemed to atand_ a chance of gaining by another election was the Labour party. That being so, why did the "Auckland Herald" keep on suggesting dissolution. It was absolutely party; they wanted to put party politics first and country second. He (Sir Joseph) wanted to serve the r country-, and did not care twopence at " : present about party politics. He did 5 want, however, to assist in stopping the 3 country from going to ruin. : The meeting heartily accepted his ; refutations of Reform misrepresentas tion of his taxation and other figures, ; and Sir Joseph provided evidence from f the Taxpayers' Association of New Zea- ! land to prove that the figures he 3 quoted were absolutely correct. 1 References to the need for a statess manlike policy in regard to roads and , railways were applauded, and so, also, was tile announcement that Sir Joseph ? favoured the establishment of an agricultural bank, which he had pro--3 posed in his Budget in 1911. 1 Sir Joseph was accorded a unanimous 1 vote of thanks and confidence. The 3 next meeting was at Maketu, where a t great reception was given Sir Joseph I by Maoris and Europeans.