SIR JOSEPH WARD. SPEECH AT PUKEKOHE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 26, 1 February 1911, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD. SPEECH AT PUKEKOHE.

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE. [BY TELEGRAPH — rRESS ASSOCIATION.] PUKEKOHE, 31st January. The Pukekohe hall was crowded this evening when the Prime Minister delivered an address at the invitation of the Pukekohe Town Board and the Liberal Society. The chairman of the Town Board (Mr. R. F. Webster) presided. The Prime Minister, who was cheered on rising, referred to the legislation of last session, particularly the Land Settlement Finance Act (which no other country possessed, and which allowed poor men to acquire land for themselves). A number of associations formed under this Act had acquired land, one to the value of £14.000. During the time his party had been in power 27,000 fresh settlers had been placed on the land. This meant that over 100,000 persons had been placed on the land, allowing two children to each man and wife. Over ten millions sterling had been advanced by way of mortgage at a rate of interest that the farmer could not obtain from any other institution or person. (Applause.) The Government had forced rates down. During the past two years 10 per cent, had been asked, but* the Government maintained the same rate from the beginning to the -end in its financial department. I Applause.) For doing these things the members of the Executive, as early as in Mr. Ballance's time, had been called "the seven devils of Socialism." That term was applied to them as a result of the acquisition (not compulsory) of the Cheviot estate, which was owned by one man and on which there were only eighty people. Now _ there were many hundred settlers on the estate, and the exports of ' New Zealand had been swelled by its- products. CHEAP MONEY. By cheapening money the Government had saved many settlers from ruin, and it had enabled many workers to obtain homes for themselves. During all that time the Government had lost only about zJJ.SO of the money loaned. Before the legislation permitting of advances to be made had passed it had been subjected to malicious criticifain — that the Government would loss money, and that it would only lend money to men of the "right colour." Daring the past nine months one and a half million pounds had been loaned to local authorities at 3|- per cent, interest. In the Auckland pro\ince at the present time there were a number of local bodies that were enjoying the benefits of works carried out entirely with money loaned by the Gov- j eminent, and without the loans from the ! Government the works could not have been carried out. Was there anyone who would say it was not a good thing to acquire land for close settlement? (Voices : " No.") No ono would dare to repeal the legislation that had been passed to this end. The old Local Bodies Act limited the loans to local bodies to £200,000 a year, and many local bodies were dying of strangulation. As the benefits of the new Act became more widely known the more grateful would the people be for it. The people on the whole were doing well. THE NAVY. The wealth per head was the highest in the world. W-e had derived great benefit from the British Navy. But for it we would have had to build a fleet of our own, and apart from initial cost this would cost a million a year to maintain. To maintain a fleet for our own protection would be ruinous in the matter of taxation. What would-be ihe use of advanced legislation — such legislation as prevented men employing weak women and girls till midnight at sweating wages and competing against employers who paid decent wages — if the British Navy j weie not here to protect us? ' No one • grudged our contribution to the 1 Navy, except a few here and there who said that the small amount of additional taxation imposed for this special purpose should not have been imposed. READJUSTMENT OF' TAXATION. Large remissions of taxation had' been made during the past ten or twelve years amounting m the aggregate to a million, sterling. As for expenditure in the North and South Islands, he regretted he had seen a suggestion that there should be a readjustment of the Cabinet to provide for a preponderance of North Islanders. During the term of his administration over three millions more had beep spent on public works in the North 'Island. We could sell our railways for more than they had cost to ■ construct. The State ownership of railways prevented rebates being given to big concerns and wealthy men as had been given in other countries. The telegraph* in £he United States were owned by companies and it cost more to send one word irom San Francisco to New York than to send four twelveword telegrams in New Zealand. The Government recognised- the importance of limiting borrowing, but reasonable i borrowing must go on to ensure the development of, the 'Dominion. It was easy for one or two members of Parliament having obtained public works for their electorates to total up the amount obtained by the other constituencies and declaim against it. The railways required in the North Island would, if constructed, csst fifteen millions during the next five years. LEGISLATION OF LAST SESSION. The legislation of last session included the Public Debt Extinctien Act, the sinking fund provided for it would amount to eighteen millions in twenty years. Va-rious improvements had been, made in the licensing law ; the number of days of racing -had been reduced, and how many were there who would cay there had not been too many? Our legislation was being extensively copied, and two Governmente had already enquired about our provision for sinking funds for loans. Complaining of the criticism that had been passed on the Government for its closer settlement and cheap money policy the Prime Minister met an unexpected interjection. "What," he asked;, "did they call u&?" . "Fishmongers !" came a voice from the back of the hall, amid laughter. "That," replied Sir Joseph, "ifi a calling that no man ought to be ashamed of. (Applause.) There is nothing derogatory in being a fishmonger — (applause) — but there ;s something derogatory in attempting to use the term offensively simply because a man happens to be in public life." VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. At 'the conclusion of the address Mr. \, Berriman 'moved, and Mr. Robert Bilkie seconded, "That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Sir Joseph Ward for hie able address, and the meeting express its continued confidence in the Government, of which he is the distinguished head " • The motion wae carried unanimously, and cheers were given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward.