LATE LIBERAL LEADER

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1920, Page 7

LATE LIBERAL LEADER

. : ,<sfrn. ■ SIR JOSEPH WARD. SPEECH AT WINTON. HIS OPPONENTS CRITICISED (Per Press Association.} INVERCARGILL, Eel). 24. At Winton to-night, facing', a great audience,' Sir Joseph Ward addressed tire electors. Sir Joseph Ward delivered a lengthy speech, traversing the incidents of the recent election, with particular reference to the imputation of sectarianism into politics. Sectarianism, he said, had heen employed to an unprecedented extent in Awarua and the other electorates. i Sir Joseph cited a large number of publications issued bv the P.P.A. and the Orange Society and the statements in their official organ. This publication lie denounced as being scandalously untrue and unfair. The Rev. Howard Elliott stated, at- Bluff, on December 32th, that it had cost between £15,000,000 and £10,000,000 to carry Catholic Children past State Schools. As a matter" of fact it had cost uothiig; but he (Mr. Elliott) inferred that the speaker (Sir Joseph) was responsible for the expenditure of this amount. The principle of issuing free school tickets to children attending public and private primary schools was affirmed in 188(1, before he ever was a member of Parliament. It was affirmed on the motion of Major Atkinson. In 1880 it was adopted by the Railway Commissioners, and it had been in force ever since. The cost mentioned by Mr. Elliott was a book entry, by which the Railway Department got credit from the Education Department for the carriage of the children for all denominations. The statement, he said, was made by Mr. Elliott at Bluff, and by others elsewhere, that in 1911, when he was Prime Minister, that there had 'been 0,000 appointments to the Civil Service, of whom 4,000 were Catholics. Yet

the actual totnl number of appointments to the Railway. Postal and other Departments in that year was under 1200. While lie was Minister of Railways, from 1000 to 1900, a total of 4170 appointments were made, an average of 523 per annum. Xo person's religion was stated upon, the application form, and the Minister seldom, or never, saw the applicant personally. The organ of the Orange Lodge and the P.P.A. had accused him of getting Mr L. M. Isitt to attack the P.P.A. in the House. That statement was absolutely untrue. In the same issue they made a charge indirectly that the leiters

of Protestants passing through the Post Office were not safe with him as Postmaster-General. This again was a deliberate -untruth. No letters passing through the Post Office came under the notice of the Minister, unless there was a breach „of the Act: but at the time referred to in this instance he was out of the country. Sir Joseph said that he was ae-

oused of moving a motion in Parliament to exempt the Marist Brothers from military service. His motion, as a matter of fact, exempted all teachers, lecturers and professors, and that was neces-

sary, owing- to the depletion of the profession. It had been insinuated that his firm had engaged in profiteeirng during the war. That was impos°sible, for tiie reason that it dealt in products which were commandeered by the Imperial Government. Another statement used in several electorates was that when t«he Government name to the aid of the Bank of New Zealand, the Pope

had lent £2,000,000, subject to a stipulation that the Papal Coat of Arms was to appear on the bank notes until the amount was repaid. The Government never lent; £•2,000.000. It had guaranteed a loan of that amount, which was floated in London bv the bank itself. The "Coat, of Arms" referred to was a copy of the seal on the Treaty of Waitangi. He' had not at any time had any communi-

cation with anyone in' Rome, directly or indirectly. Sir Joseph Ward referred in scathing terms to the imputations cast upon his loyalty, and circulated during the election for political purposes. He alluded to

Jus endeavours io .assist in the defence and unity of the Empire, hotii before and during the war. He did not believe that the bulk of Protestants approved of these attacks, and the polling showed that 838,200 votes out of 542.GG7 were east for the opponents of thp P.P.A. Turning to the Reform" Party victory at the elections, he pointed oft that the Government lield

office on a minority vote, though he did not wish to throw cold water on their jubilation at their mafority in Parliament.' In conclusion. Sir Joseph bade an eloquent farewell to the

Awarua electorate. AT WINTON". - Sir Joseph Ward was met by the Mfivor of Winton on his arrival, and by the band. He was given a ivarm welcome. In the course of his reolv he stated that he and Lad/Ward would be leaving for Australia shortly for a few months, on an mVitation he had received two days after the election. ; jA banquet was given in honour of Sir Joseph and Lady. Ward. TJiere were 500' present, while niany others were unable to gain admission;.;; " ; ,■ ■J (Lady made 'a presen-

tation of a 'handsome fur rug, and no opposition met the remarks made. Many apologies from leading Liberals were received, all strong-' ly laudatory of. Si-r Joseph Ward's services. An address was read'to him,' which traversed his work in. connection with the constituencv. the country and the Empire.