THE OPPOSITION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1914, Page 4

THE OPPOSITION

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S MANIFESTO/ (II TELEGRAPH— fRESS ASSOCIATION.) INYERCARGILL, Bth Dec. The following manifesto to the electors has beea issued by Sir J. Ward, Leader of the Liberal Party :—: — "The duty devolves upon me as Leader of the Liberal Party to state the reasons why.it is desirable in the general interests of the country a change of Government should take place. In the first place the Government does not represent a majority of the electors; they admittedly attained office on a minority vote. They proclaimed themselves Reformers, anxious only for the welfare of the Dominion and its people, but the mask they adopted by making pledges and promises on a number of great issuea was too transparent to deceive the mass of the electors. The majority of those pledges have not been canied out. At the polls the Reform Party secured scarcely thre.e-eighths of the votes cast. The will of a large majority of the electors -was shown to b© emphatically against the Reformers, and yet for ever two and, -a-half years a party that was decisively rejected by the people has held the reins of office. It is needless to recall the political intrigue by which this amazing injustice to the expressed will of the demooracy was effected. Air. Massey promised that the cost of living; was to be reduced by the beneficient legislation of Reform; it has increased during the past three years ttipie than ever before. Taxation, was to Vb substantially reduced; it has not been reduced by a single penny except in, the case of a small section of people who are well enough off to_ pay incqm.e- tax- Mr. Massey promised a scheme, ol insurance against sickness and unemployment, but since he took office he does not appear to. have given the scheme a second, thought. He promised a reform of the, economic system in the direction of promoting industrial peace, but instead ol observing this promise he has imposed" upon the workers, conditions that have provoked, onjy. industrial unrest. He promised 'a square deal all round,' especially to Labour; w.h»t Labour legislation worthy of the name has been placed on the Statute Book during the last three years The only progressive measure seeking to benefit the workers was introduced by a private member, nob hy the Government, and was ruthlessly, killed' by Mr. Massey's nominees- in the .Legislative Council. JJis professions of solicitude for Labour can no longer deceive anyone. "The Reform Government promised the promotion of closer settlement by providing land for willing, capable men without means ir> respect to both Crown and Native lands, but the legislation and administration have unjustly favoured the wealthier to the disadvantage of the poorer settler. Reform promised the extirpation of the political patronage it charged against my colleagues and myself, but never before have political patronage and nepotism been- so flagrant and' persistent as they are at present. True, these- are matters of _ common knowledge- and need no recital here. The 'square deal' has been a. -wretched pretence- for the strong, self-reliant administration ths country was^ promised. There- have been substituted vacillation and inaction on freat issues vitally- affecting the- masses, his young- country can afford" to- ha progressive. It has inexhaustible natural resources, and a virile, intelligent), industrious, people, eager for- the promo* tion of the- welfare- or the- country. The spirit of the people, oalls for progress, courage, initiative," and' scrupulous. fairness, without which no real' 'social progress is possible. I' ask you to review the record of the Liberal Party in> legis* lation, and administration during tho 21 years of office, and to. compare, ib with the record of the- last two. and a half years; then recall who, in the> past, have been the obstinate opponents of progress in this country. The Conservative Party opposed and voted against important measures, which were designed toi helr> the aged, the landless, the- farmers, and the workers. Amongst the meas,T ■ ures they opposed were : The Old Age Pensions scheme,, th.c Land for Settlement^ Act, Advances., to Settlers Act, Conciliation and, Arbitratioi? A'ctr, and the compulsory acquisition of- landed 1 estates and St^te fire, insurance — indeed', ' practically all the _ advanced 1 measures ' they are. now, administering* were, strong* ■ly Opposed' and 1 condemned- by.- them, ' while in many instances; failure- was.' predicted for them. "Their attitude- on- the' naval : question, advocating a ibc&V- nay.y,- as against- an Empire Navy is one in* which- I< feel sure the bulk of- the people of- the Do* minion is opposed! The 'Dreadnought was a free, and- unconditional, gift to the British Government, yet, the- Reform Party jdeliberately state it was a condition that the gift battleship was to remain* in the Pacific. This, is- absolutely. contrary> to fact. They.' profess to give as a, reason- for- their* advocacy of; a.loqal; navy, the- fact thajt. H.M.S.. New Zealand., was sent to, the- Jfor.th Sea,, where she has already done magnificent, service for. the- Empire. The First Lord of the Admiralty publicly declared in the House- of; Goiumons for one- Empire Na,vy> and; against- a locals navy ; yet the Refoijn, Government,, with, fatubtis indifference, persist, in supporting, a local navy, with the enormous burden of extra- taxation, it must, necessarily, impose on, the taxtpayers. IP. is surelyAkin .to madness, remembering' the pub,lic works i mining into, many millions, which arp s^ill' necessary for the reasonable requirements of the- Dominion. Thfc financial' position, u& disclosed' by. the Government-, is _ alarming; Theordinary- expenditure, in two-, years has increased by nearly £2,000,006- per- annum. In- the-, same period 1 the- surplushas fallen from* £800,008: to-. £326.000. There is a,n. inflated, public buildings vote of £1,400,000* in two years, and to provide for this unparalleled and unnecassavy,Bum.thes.fuiansial. requirements both for railway, construclioftiaudr roads, and; bridges have* b.een woefully*. re< stricted./ Advances- to., settlees, work-, ers, ajidi locaj) bodies haye. also-, bcea curtailed, and, great* inconvenience^ cajised;. all/ over the. country, by, the,- cv, ratjic and reduced payments, made: by\ this.. Department. Land settlement., hass been reduced , . anda so., also-., has,, Native lajnds^ settlement* vttijld landu syndioalists, w,hp hajve,., purchased' consjd«rable t areas 5 of,; Native f lijnds' foe- speculative, purposes, axe.- in^ active. and. t aggressi-vot evidence.. Two. systems, have been^appliad tevthe. Public, Service, one largo section- jernain-* ing undei: ( Government, control aud u ann other large section entirely und.Qi" that dominance o£,theJP,ublic.Ser-vice Commissioner&^and beyond the control of either the ■ people,*!"- Parliament. Bdtht systems cannot. b& right. I.« affirm-- my- strong, belief'in- State > control '.of -ay. the jyeab Public Servi.ces. ''There^are ma.n.y important-adthinis-traitive <acts on the par>.of the Govern-, mentfthat one. could on strong, grounds,, adversely- comment upoiK I ! must- however avoid details-. I -make no' remark' upon,. any thidg, connected- -with-the- war administration, of the . Government — the ;time for this wiH^ome after t the Avar is over.* In P tha, t meantimen the.. Liberals have sunk -alls, party differences on .this great question, upon which all parlies should. b«^ united .?in ao-tiorn uikK,assistance until. the -Empire has with heivAlIJI* _^yu-;.and 'isjpa. top,. The Liberals,

who established universal military training, gave a Dreadnought appointed .General Godley, established preferential trade with Great Britain, and brought Lord Kitchener to New Zealand, may be relied upon to maintain that marked and unswerving loyalty, 'patriotism, and assistance to the proud old flag that fortunately all sections of the community are united in doing. " As showing the weakness of his position, Mr. Massey'a last cry is ' Red Fed.,' yet unquestionably he publicly supported them in the last election. His .purpose is to create a feeling of insecurity. On the one hand we have the extreme Conservative — the element that 'dominates the Reform Party — seeking to set the rest of the community against Labour on the plea that giving Labour a voice in, politics -means anarchy. On the other hand, we have militant Labour seeking to create the impression that the employer and the capitalist are the enemies ol Labour. Liberalism, on the contrary, seeks the common good of all classes in the community. It realises .that the first essential to progress is the maintenance of law and order ; that the more advanced our state of civilisation is the more desirable it becomes that we should maintain the laws which enables that civilisation to be upheld. On .the one hand it is not to be bought by the gold of the Conservative reactionary, and on the other it is not going to be dictated to by any lawless section of the community. The extreme sections seek to embitter class against class. The 'Liberals seek to reconcile all classes, ;reahsing < that it is by all putting toIgether, if the rules are fair, that the best return can be secured for each in- ; dividual. In brief, the Liherals stand for justice, law, order, and progress. Remember that the opponents of the Liberal , Party are now in office with hearts unchanged whatever their profession may be. It is for the electors to decide •whether the Reformers shall remain in power to retard and strangle the progress of this young country, or whether the .Liberals shall again have charge of the .Dominions affairs to promote the ecoinomic, social, and humanitarian measures they have laid before you during | this election campaign. I have little ' doubt . of your decision, and this last { word' is merely to remind yon all of the | great issues at stake. Three years ago ■the liberal Party fought a fair fight I with clean liands. It has nothing- to ihide and. nothing to disguise. Arrayed against it are ail the weapons and every influence wealth and social position can command, lfc is on. your sense of fair play, no- less on your sense bf right and justice, that I rely for a verdict on Thursday next that will make for sane and progressive legislation, prudent and vigorous administration, and for the permanent welfare- of New Zealand, and the happiaets and- prosperity of every section ot its people.