SIR JOSEPH WARD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 11

SIR JOSEPH WARD

LIBERAL LEADER IN WELLINGTON , THE OPPOSITION POLICY Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the Liberal Party, addressed a meeting of electors in tho Town Hall last night. The ball was filled in all parts before 7.30 p.m., and many hundred? of people were unable to obtain admissio.i. Mr. T. Wilson presided, and Liberal candidates for Wellington seats were among thoso on the platform. Sir Joseph Ward was greeted with prolonged applause saud cheers when ho appeared on the plat--form, and he was given a quiet and attentive hearing. ' The chairman introduced Sir Joseph Ward and asked the electors to search their consciences before recording their votes. If they studied the interests of the greater number in making their decision he had no doubt about tho result.

A voice: Labour. (Applause.) Tho chairman ;said the thoughtful Totes -would go to 1 the Liberal Party .^ Sir Joseph Ward, who was received with cheers, said he had made it a rule to meet the electors in all parts of tho country without admission by ticket. He did not want to speak merely to his political friends. He wanted to convince the poor people who did «iot see and think as he did. He did not intend to utter any personalities, but ho would say that during the campaign there had been misrepresentation of the vilest possible kind. His opponents had made nn effort, through the conservative newspapers, to create- an that did not exist. The Dominion newspaper, ■which represented very largely the large landowners, of New Zealand, had not been above descending to the lowest level of newspapers published in any part of (he world. Such newspapers cried nut against the Bolshevists and the 1.W.W., but they themselves were worse than tho Bolshevists and worse than tho I.W.W. "They lie in their loading columns," said Sir Joseph Ward, , they distort and misrepresent, they misrepresent what one leader Jiaa to say, and they use the Press Association of this country, which should be available for any of you or for mo equally, to report one mail's statement and to deny the same Tight to an opponent. If that sort of thing is going on can you wondor that ■ decent men are afraid to como out into the open and 'run iho gauntlet of the abominable' low-down, contemptible, blackguardly Pre=s". (Laughter and applause.) Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to say that the men or parties who denied to Labcur its legitimate place in the government of the country were fools. But there was a material difference between extreme Labour and moderate Labour throughout New Zealand. Ho claimed . that he was the only political leader who had put up candidates ngainst the extremists. In the face of this faqt the Reform- loaders had had the audacity to siwgest that he had some connection with tho extremists. The Tories had j referred to his party as "the so-called Liberal Partv." but that sort of thing would not'shift "him. "The' constitutional position," he safjd, "is thnt if the lioform Party under Mr. Massey comes back from this election in a minority, they have to go out, a3 all Governments in these circumstances have to get out, and we will havo to form a Government if we can. If we cannot maintain our position except by being squeezed by a section who declare they/ aro goilng to make us adopt their policy, then I say on behalf of tho Liberal Party that we will not remain in. (Applause.) And k> I want to make that position quite clear to thoso who are here this evening." Mr. Massey had promised to reduce borrowing, to reduce taxation, to reduce the cost of living, to abolish the vote-catching method, of public works, and so forth. Ho had not kept those promises. Tho Reformers had talked against titles, but they had recommended thirteen men for knighthood in six years, while tho Liberals had made onl> seven recommendations in twenty-one vears. His own party was not dealing in insults. It was fighting the election fairly and cleanly. Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to refer to the formation and dissolution of the National Government. Mr. Massey had known before they left Paris that tbe Liberals v ere going to leave thoGovmeiit. He proceeded to defend the policy .of nationalisation. Ho was proposing now the nationalisation of he coal mines because a position had been reached that was ruinous to the country and to the miners. Nobody had heard of the railwayman going on strike since they bad State employment and superannuation. He was in favour of State ownership of the mines, with good working conditions, a good suoerannuatlon scheme, and' a3O per cent, reduction in the prico of coal to the consumers. The water power should also be nationalised. Power equal to EOfl Niazar'as was running to waste now, and his proposals for developing it in past rears had been blocked by tho present Reformers, who claimed now to be the fathers and mothers of the power ficheme. Another of 1113 "wild nationalisation proposals" was tho establishing of a State bank with its roots deep )n the soil of Now Zealand and capable, under export non-political control, of inetirig the requirements of tho Dominion in the difficult -yws thnt lay ahead. Then ho wanted . State colliers. ■ These schemes of nationalisation would help to develop New Zealand, and thoy would assist to keep down taxation in the interests of every class of the people of New Zealand. Sir Joseph Waid claimed for the Liberal Party all tho credit for tho land- settlement scheme in New Zealand, and stated that aggregation had proceeded rapidly under Reform administration. The anti-aggregation legislation Tecently passed was ft death-bed Tepentnnce," and he did not beliove it would bo effective. The Government was using camouflage in the matter of soldiers' settlement. Not 0110 estate had been purchased compulsorily since the Liberals went out of office, because Hhe big landowners would not allow it. Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to outline the policy set forth in his manifesto. The public works policy of the present Government was a policy of stagnation. Ho advocated rapid and heavy expenditure on tho completion of main roads and trunk lines of railway. If Wellington was not asleep it would be demanding the completion of the South Island Trunk .railway-to Pictou within two years. The lirfe would take 70 vears to complete at tho present rate. Tho present railway votos, spread over thirty different lines, were the bunches of carrots dangled before the electors. Ho advocated the improvement of the Cn\ Service superannuation system, with a lowered retiring age, improved pensions, nn improved educational system (wiWi ■ free dental and medical attentioul, and other reforms on the lines of tho Liberal manifesto. Profiteering must be stopped, exports must be increased trade representatives must bo sent abroad, and ■ manufactures musli be stimulated. In conclusion. Sir Joseph Ward predicted that the election was going to result in tho defeat of two Reform Ministers, and that the Liberal Partv would be the strongest parly in tho new Parliament. He urged the electors not to throw their votes away by putting into power "a reactionary partv." A part of his policy was to provide homes for the workers at 10s. Gd. a week for a five-roomed house anil 11s. Gd. a week for a six-roomed house. (.Applause and laughter.) Thai could be done, and lie was going to do it. He wanted to see tho promised bonus paid to the postal officers. (Applause.) lie wanted to see peace ruling in New Zealand, with a Ktrong and sound financial system, and with understanding and co-operation between Capital and Labour'.- His, party stood for progress, development, and iovalty. (Prolonged applause.) Mr. J. Hutchesmi moved 11 vote of thanks and of confidence in the Liberal Parjy, as,''the, party Lest qualified ,to r,nle' .tHB;,VIt/sfinfes di'-'^ew"'Zealand 1 'in" tlio'futui'e." ' Ward was Iho' stafpsnVai ochipotent ; to''hendle the problems of reconstruction;'' •■ . . Sir John Findlay seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation, '''he meeting closed with the National <V >ein,' followed by cheers for Sir f \ ih Ward.