"WILL LEAD AGAIN.".

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 10

"WILL LEAD AGAIN.".

« SUPPORT FOR LIBERALISM. SIR J. G. WARD'S ATTITUDE. STIPULATION OF UNANIMITY. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WAIUKU, this day. "I have not asked a living soul from end to end of this country to give rie the position of Leader of the Liberal party. But I want to say this: If the men and women of New Zealand want me to take that position, and show they want me—not only one section, of the community—nothing wou'd give me greater pleasure than to lead the Liberals in New Zealand, or assist them." Amidst scenes of enthusiasm, Sir Joseph Ward, speaking in the interests of Mr. T. Parker, the Liberal nominee for the Raglan seat, made this pronouncement at Waiuku last evening. Sir Joseph said that he appeared at Waiuku because of repeated requests to do so from men in Auckland as well as of the Raglan district. They had invited him, amongst other thing?, to accept the leadership of the Liberal party, and they were not alone in that. (Applause.) A similar request had been made by people .right along the line, from the beginning to the end of New Zealand for some time past. In spite of the fact that he had never been in any intrigue in politics, either inside or outside the House, and he had never asked to secure for him the position, he had been asked to assume the leadership of the party once more. "Not Position to Rush Into." The position for any man who knew the responsibilities it entailed would not be one to rush into at the response of one section of a big party, unless the party showed as a whole that it wanted it. Should the latter fte the unanimous view, then he would be glad to accept the position, or at least assist in the fulfilling of it, as he felt it incumbent upon him, after long political experience, both administratively and otherwise, to help the people of the Dominion to regain its former strong position. Sir Joseph intimated his regrets at the circumstances that made the byelection necessary, and gave additional reasons for his entering the campaign. "I am here because I entered Parliament as a Liberal," he added. "I was a Liberal before I entered the House, and I remained a Liberal until I went out. Then later I came back as a unit —as a single Liberal. I have been very iproud of the fact, and I would not shift > it for anyone." (Applause.) The powerful reason for his firm I stand that appealed, said the speaker, . was that analysing the political programmes of the* past there had never

been in the history of the Dominion, Australia, the British Isles or elsewhere. a policy to equal that of the Liberals. And the whole of the policy was placed on the Statute Book during the party's regime of 22 years. Sir Joseph added that he had the testimony of Mr. Ballance and Mr. Seddon that he materially assisted them in the preparation of their legislation. There were men and women in the Dominion to-day who were just as ready to help forward the movement to what he termed Liberal prosperity. It was not a good thing, he declared, to have the balance of representation in Parliament all on one side. Sir Joseph subsequently left for Bucklands to the accompaniment of applause and cheering from one of the largest audiences that have ever assembled for a political address in Waiuku. He was accorded a vote of thanks, and confidence was expressed in him as Leader of the progressive Liberal forces in New Zealand.