TAURANGA SEAT

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 154, 17 March 1923, Page 5

TAURANGA SEAT

WILL LABOUR LET IT GOBY DEFAULT? THE WIZARD OF FINANCE RATHER PUZZLES THE PEOPLE BY Telegraph—Special Cobbespondent. Tauranga, March 16. The position of the Parliamentary Labour Party in respect of the Tauranga by-election is still “wrapt in mystery.” No one at the headquarters of the electorate seems to know anything definite about the recent report that Labour would enter the campaign, and while many members of the party fill the land with the sound of forceful oratory, it is generally inferred in this district that Labour will let the Tauranga seat go by default and husband the party’s funds for a less hopeless onrortunity. The contestants in the field so far have discussed politics as if there were ho Labour Party in'existence at all. The strong but detached left wing of the Opposition has been completely ignored. As regards the local effect of Sir Joseph Ward’s Tauranga speech, it may be said fairly that many electors have found that the strength of thei r first impressions had weakened very considerably, after overnight reflection Rapid exercises in financial arithmetic are never very memorable. Was it 99, 900, 9000 millions one had to remember or just ninepence? This was the difficulty of the Taurangans today, and the discussion of it dissipated the rapture of appreciation. Reports from different parts of the Waikato portion of the electorate show that the Reform candidate, Mr C. E. MacMillan, is winning many supporters among the bus-'- country folk, who prefer downright commonsense to rhetoric and artificialities. The rigors of the campaign are hardening him to the game, and he is rapidly becoming a shrewd fighter. He is an able man, and will not easily be overwhelmed in a- stern contest. SIR JOSEPH’S BUSY DAY A SPEECH AT TE PUKE . ’ BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Te Puke, March 16. Sir Joseph Ward traversed a long stretch of territory to-day in the eastern part of tho Tauranga electorate, a pleasant countryside overlooking the Bay of Plenty, and addressed eager and friendly groups at way-side places. His reception everywhere was excellent. In addition to visiting Upper and, Lower Papamoa, he paid a visit to the Te Puke District High School, where ho was introduced to about 300 scholars as “New Zealand’s greatest statesman.” He was enthusiasticallj’ cheered* Later in the afternoon, he addressed a full muster of workers and their wives gt the Public Works Department’s quarry in the hills near le Puke. At each of the political meetings during the day he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and. confidegee. ~ ciIn the matter of his -addresses, bit Joseph Ward did not break new ground, but contented bimself ami his audience with reiterating the main points of his speech in the town of Tauranga. Time and again he referred to the necessity for stable, government arid “the bogey of dissolution.” It was his fixed conviction that no Government should be in power that had not “the requisite majority to do what was necessary in the interests of the country.” Stability of government was essential, and New Zealand was without it. If he were elected, tihe Government would be in a majority of one, nnd the question must crop up whether there was to be a dissolution or the carrying on of the Government for a- time.' He was certain that the country did not want a- dissolution and another appeal to the electors, nor need it be implied that the members of Parliament wanted a double election? It was a problem that could not be settled until the members again assembled in Parliament. It could not otherwise be settled. He left the problem at that. , . After quickening curiosity in Ins audiences as to what might be his own solution, he ridiculed any suggestions that he was out to be a -wrecker. Address at Te Puke.

Another “record” audience welcomed Sir Joseph and Lady Ward in the, evening at the Alliance Hall, Te Puke. The enunciation of the. candidate s campaign policy was almost exactly on the lines of his Tauranga speech, with the exception that he made reference to the maelstrom of trouble m Europe and the disturbed conditions of international trade and finance. New Zealand was very much concerned, he said, in the European turmoil and in the matter of Imperial defence. The.Do minion must help m tho preservation of all parts of the British Empire. All the nations should do everything possible to reduce armaments on land and the power of navies, but the British Empire could not. run the risks of reducing either until it was perfectly sure that all the other nations were going to do the same. (Applause.) As regards the present situation in Europe, no man at the moment could tell what the outcome would be. The French nation in his judgment, was right. (Cheers.) There were, doubtless, good reasons for the nosition not being cleared up. but he would say that the French people were U NW Zealand with its increased* responsibilities of nationhood must, add«l the cand’dato, do its part in maintaining whatever navy was required Discussing the abnormalities ot international, trade and finance, fere Joseph advanced the establishment of a world system of exchange, With » clearing house in some centre of the Empire—probably London. Sir Joseph was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, tie will speak at Te Arolia on Saturday night. , CHOOSES TO FIGHT ALONE BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Tauranga, March 16. After consultation with various committees, Sir Joseph Ward announced that as he would be able to visit practically every portion of the electorate, he had decided— although he had 'had kind offers from Messrs. W’.lford, Veitch, and Masters, to come in and take part in the election—that he was quite able to fight the election himself While ho appreciated the great kindness extended, and would gladly have accepted it under ordinary conditions, he dd not want those who opposed him to think be was funking. Ho was not, and thought that, ,as a matter of reciprocity between himself and his opponent. Mr. MacMillan should sav to the Prime Minister: “Sir Joseph Ward is not having anyone to help him. I don’t want you to help me ” That was what was done in the