THE PREMIER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1389, 15 March 1912, Page 6

THE PREMIER.

-SPEECH IN AUCKLAND.

f-XIBEE-ALS" MUST FIND A NEW LEADER,

<By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, March 14. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at tho Liberal and Labour Federation's social gathering last night, said that since the session ho had learned something of the policy tho Opposition would havo proposed had it come into power. Tho extravagances of the Government would havo been put entirely int<t the shado by those proposals. One of tho strongest statements made against the .Administration bad been the amount of money borrowed. Two men wero now on the Liberal side of the House entirely owing to the explanation given of the borrowing operations since he had' been at the head of the Government. They had been told that he had been responsible for tho borrowing of .818,000,000, but it was a fact that all the Opposition, with tho exception of eight, who had opposed ono or two items of proposed expenditure on water-power, had supported the whole of the loans, and they had nil asked for moro in the interests of their electorates. It was in (ho interests of .the workers that thev should sink'minor differences and support a policy that would bring .£13,800,000 worth of land out. of the hands of the few into tho hands of the many. Tho workers could not carry out such proposals if they stood alone. Ho did not be.lieve the Government should yield to representations from workers or from any other section that wero inimical to the interests of tho whole community, but it was only by co-oneration between Liberalism and Labour that an advanced policy could be carried out. Finding a Leader. Sir Joseph Ward, continuing, said he recognised that, owing to tho unwise course adopted by his political opponents, a very difficult political position had arisen. He believed tho men who bad brought aboiit that position would live to regret it. Before the meeting of Parliament ho had mado up his mind that in tho event of the Liberal party succeeding ho would inform Parliament before the adjournment that it was his in- | tention to retire from . the position of Prime Minister. Too much was asked of public men, who wero expected to allow all tho work of a great party to bo sunk into the background during a political contest. Ho knew of nothing in the i pigeon-holes of the country that the Opposition could not lay on the tablo of the House. In tho present juncture the best thinkers in tho ranks of Labour and Liberalism must co-operate to maintain a Liberal Administration in power. When the Liberal party met on March 21 ho would tell them they must find a newleader. He could not shut his eyes to the fact that a section of the party as at present constituted was pledged to oppose him, and unless he took tho course he had decided on ho would bo held responsible for any disaster ' which might befall it. Ho recognised the difficulty of finding a leader, and he proposed to give tho party his fullest help when it met. He hoped that there would bo amongst its rankand file unanimity upon tho selection of a leader and of bis colleagues, and a determination on tho part of tho new Ministry to keep tho old Liberal flag flying. Land and Income Tax. Some alteration, said the Premier, must bo mado in tho Land and Income Tnx Act to remove town properties from its operation, for it was never intended that a graduated land tax should destroy tho hives of industry. General nationalisation of the land was impossible. The proposal to raise the exemption from land tax to XIOOO was duo to the fact that, owing to the appreciation in land values a farmer owning land now valued at .£IOOO was in no' better position thnn tho man whoso land five or seven years ago was valued at £500. He (Sir Joseph Ward) claimed that the public generally was favourably disposed to a policy of increased land settlement by the burstin" up of large estates and stopping for all time-the aggregation of .land. Ho, concurred with. the Government in its proposals for decentralisation of local government, and was opposed to trafficking in Crown leaseholds. •■ It also approved tho proposal to acquire and dispose by sale or lease of all Native lands not required by the Natives.

"ONE OF THE ABLEST IN THE WHOLE WORLD." Auckland, March .14. Speaking at the opening of the new Kingsland Post Office, Messrs. Bradney and Harris, Oppositionist and Independent M.P.'s, paid glowing tributes tp Sir Joseph Ward's ability and administration as Postmaster-General. They declared that Sir Joseph Ward was the ablest Postmaster-General in Australasia, and one of tho ablest in the whole world. Ho had "iven New Zealand the best postal service extant. Mr. Payne, M.P., expressed similar sentiments.

NOT GOING TO RUN AWAY. Auckland, March 11. The Prime Minister spent this morning attending to private business. The Ministerial party returned to Wellington tonight by Main Trunk, and Sir Joseph Ward remains there until after the meeting of the party next week. A largo crowd assembled at tho station to-night, and there was an enthusiastic scene as the Prime Minister and party stepped on board the train, and made a short speech. In than Sing those responsible for tho hospitable reception, ho said he was glad to say that tho great majority of the people were behind' the - Liberal Government. (Cheers.) . Owing to circumstances, ho had decided to toko a particular course, but he wanted people to understand that he was not going to run away from political life of the country. As, tho train moved off the crowd cheered and sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."