POLITICAL

Evening Star, Issue 15478, 28 April 1914, Page 6

POLITICAL

SIR JOSEPH WARD. SPEECH AT QUEENSTOWN. In the course of an address last night 3% Queenstown Town Hall, before some 400 people, Sir Joseph Ward stated that the Australian Commonwealth was paying more per head for defence than the 'United Kingdom, Germany. Austria, Italy, the United States of America, or Japan” Still New Zealand was told that it should form the nucleus of a local navy and cc-operate with Australia. When ho (Sir Joseph) was in Sydney Mr Allen contradicted a statement of his as to the cost of Australian defence. But it was Mr Allen who was wrong. Rear-admiral Henderson advised the Commonwealth Government that the estimated cost would be £25,295,000, while depreciation would amount to £1,240,000, and there were replacements totalling £34,135,000. If New Zealand went in for a local navy it must be efficient, and this would mean enormous cost. In other countries there was a general upheaval in connection with the enormous growth of naval expenditure, and in Australia some of those who supported the local navy now hold strong opinions against it As to tho alliance with Japan, he was confident that neither Britain nor the Dominions wished to see an invasion ot colored races. He also quoted the opinion of a high Imperial officer, whose name he would not disclose, who had said that there was not a single officer on the general staff, with any pretence to knowledge on the subject, but condemned the proposed naval policy of New Zealand. In five years from now the country would be paying £1.500,000 per annum in connection with the Navy and land defence. This was more than the whole vote for education, and more of the expenditure on the railways, and where was the money coming from? There would be the growing expenditure, and someone would have to suffer if they were going to have it—railways roads, and bridges would have to be neglected. At the corclusion of his address, iu which he touched on various other political mailers, Sir Joseph Ward was accorded a vote expressing thanks for his excellent and highly-educative address, and pleasure that he. saw his way to accept the Leadership of the Liberal party.

Mr W. T. Jennings is the accepted Opposition candidate for Tanmaramu. Mr A. Echoles (chairman of the Waitomo County), who was to have contested the seat, announced his withwithdiawal in favor of Air Jennings. The editing member, Air C. K. Wilson, will seek re-election as a Ministerial supporter.