The Winton Disappointment.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14908, 23 February 1914, Page 6

The Winton Disappointment.

• - v ■ ■ ~ Wβ are not surprised that Opposition journals find it necessary to make excuses for the poverty of ideas in Sir Joseph Ward's speech at Winton- It must indeed be a great disappointment to those who hoped against hope that the leader of the Opposition would give his remnnnt of a party something to live for in the future. Weeks ago we were told in effect that a great policy speech was in course of incubation. Sir John Findlay, it will be remembered, warned his iate chief that unless he was able to conic out with something hot and strong the Liberal Party was doomed. This was on tho eve of tho Liberal caucus held in Wellingtop. The advice was no doubt s-ound, but would havo been more valuable had Sir John Findlay been able to give, a. definite recipe for the decoction required. Presumably, Sir Joseph ,- Ward has done his best. We have "- no doubt.-he has bcrei cudgelling his j brains .with tho object .of- producing was expected of him, but the >*;'" effort' was. in vain. A few

days ago the sad news was broken gently to the expectant faithful. The speech to bo delivered at Winton, it was said, was not to be •i policy speech—that would come later when Parliament was fn session. There has been no resounding bang, no inspiring rat-a-plan on the Liberal drum to call tho dispirited ranks of the party to arms. The reason seems to-be tho very sufficient reason set forth in a recent cartoon in the "Evening News" —tbo Liberal drum has burst beyond repair.

For the mast part it will be seen Sir Joseph Ward's speech consisted of a repetition of criticism which has already been answered. -Mr Allen has briefly dealt with the unfairness and inaccuracy of some of Sir Joseph Ward's financial criticisms. For example, the leader of tho Opposition lays stress upon a dron in the Customs of £102,000 without mentioning tho fact that during tho months of November and December the strike was on and trade was paralysed, whereas he ought to know that since the strike ended the Customs revenue has been recovering, and Mr Allen bas already told tho riiiblic that it is beyond the estimate. So, too, in regard to the increase in the expenditure. Mr Allen explains that increases in interest and sinking fund amount to £118,0C0, which como under permanent appropriations, and are beyond the control of tho Government. . "Widows' pensions have increased by a substantial sum, and military pensions by .C67SB, and Mr Allen asks, which of these does Sir Joseph Ward object, to? A very large proportion of the increase in annual appropriations for the quarter was duo to the working of the Railway Department, viz., £94,000. and very much of this was duo to increase in tho salaries arid better conditions for railway servants. Does Sir Joseph Ward object to this? If not, why did he not, in

common fairness, when referring to the increased expenditure, explain that some of it was not only unavoidable, but such as'he himself was bound to approre? We have referred elsewhere to Sir Joseph Ward's unconvincing defence of his action during the strike. The speech, as a. whole, must be a great disappointment to his followers, who are sadly in need of a little encouragement just now. Wo frankly is a disappointment to ourselves, and we have no doubt it is a disappointment to the public at large. We were led to expect a brilliant display of pyrotechnics at Winton. Wo have simply seen the "setting-off" of an oratorical damp squib.