"INFAMOUS LIES."

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 3 November 1925, Page 8

"INFAMOUS LIES."

A SECTARIAN PAMPHLET. « THE ACTIONS OF COWARDS." A DIRTY WAY TO DIVERT VOTES. SIR JOSEPH WARD HITS CUT. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") I>TVERCARGILL, this day, Last night Sir Joseph Ward addressed another incrstor meeting in Invereargiil. and was Teceived with enthusiasm. Sir Joseph was accompanied by Lady Ward and his daughter (Mrs. Wood). Mr. Eric Russell, who presided, gave a brief review of Sir Joseph's career as a domestic and an Imperial statesman. On rising Sir Joseph received an ovation. "One could not," he said, "allow men in a political contest to continue repeating the infamous iiea contained in a dingy little pamphlet, printed on very bad paper, based on imaginary facts. I can't understand how human beings in the form of men could do this kind of thing. I can't understand how a sport could do this to damage mc, though it isn't going to do it. It was posted at the last minute so as to give no opprotunity to reply. These are actions of cqwards." Sir Joseph took the circular up and replied to the charges seriatim. By reference to Hansard he showed that a charge of having secured exemptibns for Catholic clergymen from military service was false. The measure was carried by Sir James Allen. At that time only 10 Marists were physically fit to go to the war, and his resolution applied to every teacher in every school in \ew Zealand. Replying to a charge that the Civil Service -had been "stuffed by Ward," Sir Joseph quoted a telegram from Mr. Peter Barr, of Dunedin. Mr. Barr was a Protestant who said he had never seen anything to warrant the base suggestion. People who talked about stuffing the Public Service didn't know what they were talking , about. Referring to a charge that he had provided free carriage for children pupils attending denominational schools to carry them past State schools, Sir Joseph Ward said that a year before he entered Parliament a resolution was passed by Major Atkinson in the House of Repre-. sentatives affirming the principle of carrying children for education. The matter was in the hands of the Education Department and not of the Railways Department. It was that lie chiefly that put him out of Awarua. The Massey Government in 1914 broadened and extended the regulation. Regarding the rating of convents, an Act that was quoted, passed in 1882, was responsible for the exemptions. He was going to inquire how much money the people had who were responsible for this pamphlet, with a view to an action for damages. The use of the pamphlet was a dirty way of trying to divert votes. He had never been in any Catholic or other federation but the Liberal Federation. "If we are going to get the country right," continued Sir Joseph, "we must get new industries and put our finance right. It is rotten now. The country cannot carry on another two years at the rate of the last few years of borrowing and expenditure. The country is strong and solvent, but is abused by forcing speed. It is time we looked out." When he proposed to spend £20,000,000 on public works in one year,, there was never a single constructive suggestion from critics who merely asserted that it could not be done, without offering any alternative suggestion. Referring to some questions, Sir Joseph said he recognised them as coming from the enemy camp, but if his opponents thought he was going to reply in order to provide them with matter for their meeting next night they were mistaken. (Laughter.) Asked how he would vote on a motion of no confidence in the Government, he said he would of course vote for the strongest and stablest Government. (Cheers.) The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of confidence, carried by acclamation.

IN ROSKILL.

STROXG SUPPORT FOR MR. HALL SKELTOX. The Epsom Library Hall was packed, and the anterooms and sidewalks were crowded, when Mr. Hall Skelton stepped on to the platform last night to receive an ovation. His reference to the two circulars issued at the last moment, when he had no chance to reply in writing, as "a mean and discreditable method of political campaigning," was greeted with prolonged applause. II is opponent had denied the blue pamphlet, but the other two circulars attacking him he could not deny, as his assistants had circulated them throughout the electorate. The statements were so outrageously false and malicious that no sane elector would believe thorn, but the spirit of hitting below the belt had turned hundreds of opponents into strong friends. In British tactics always" reueted against the authors. The audien< c broke into cheers, and sang "He's a Jolly Good Fellow" after a unanimous vote of confidence had been carried.