The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1928. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S SPEECH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 246, 17 October 1928, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1928. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S SPEECH.

For the cause that lack* assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, Ami the good that <M can do.

The really great reception given to Sir Joseph Ward last evening did eredit to Auckland's gratitude and Auckland's Liberalism. The huge audience in the hall, and the overflow outside, were with him almost to a man, and their enthusiasm was good to hear. Those who went were attracted partly by the distinguished record of the speaker, but such' an attendance and such enthusiasm' prove that there is a wide demand for a change of Government and that the choice of Labour is not, as so many would have us believe, the only alternative. Here we may note the admission of the "Herald" this morning, which we do not remember to have seen before, that "there should be room in New Zealand politics for a possible alternative to the Government besides th© Labour Party," which, in the "Herald's" is in so many respects impossible. Those who, like ourselves, have been trying to save the Liberal Party from the combined attack of Reform and Labour, will remember this admission.

Sir Joseph Ward let the Government off far too lightly. Hard hitting is needed on the platforms of the United Party. Nor was his speech complete as an exposition of the policy that the party should adopt and should expound emphatically and in detail. It was, however, a vigorous exposition of Liberalism by one who has done more for that cause in New Zealand than any other living man. It brought back the past in a strange way to hear Sir Joseph tell or remind his audience that it was he who had introduced the lending of cheap money by the State. His proposal to introduce seventy millions of money into New Zealand is not what it might have seemed to be from one portion of his speech. What Sir Joseph evidently means is that he would arrange the finance in one year. He made it clear later that the- actual borrowing is to be spread over a period. Suchaa loan programme may be rather more than the country could stand, but the vigour of the idea behind it—of speedy completion of railways and extension of settlement—comes as a refreshing contrast to the timidity and mental poverty of the Government. After all, the wisdom of a borrowing policy depends upon the use that is made of the money, and a great increase in borrowing would be justified if it added proportionately to the productivity of the country.' Quite properly Sir Joseph attacked the Government's conception of policy that it is wiser to help the man already on the land than to promote more settlement. Why, he asked, is it not possible to do both? He stands for a vigorous land settlement policy, including the "planting" of emigrants, and he spoke with approval of the group system and proposed that the admirable Flock House scheme of training be extended to New Zealand boys. Why not? When Ave add that he denounced aggregation, and declared that it must be stopped; contended that there was a future for still smaller holdings; and announced that ! if he had his way he would bring compulsion \ to bear upon large land-owners in the matter j of selling for sub-division—a seep which the | Government, because of its affiliations, dare not take —tfhen all this is noted, it will be seen i;hat Sir Joseph Ward offers a land policy that is greatly to be preferred to what passes for policy in the house of Reform. He belongs, of course, to the party that revolutionised land settlement in New Zealand. He has vision, ; and the Government has none. He had something to say about "Government in business," ; and the business world should welcome his reference as giving hope of a new era when their affairs will be relieved from perpetual interference. The United Party should be capable of elaborating what he said last night oh this and other subjects, and of making the necessary additions to its programme. Sir Joseph has given it a vigorous lead. j