LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1914, Page 5

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

* -+> ADDRESS AT BLENHEIM. NO NEW GROUND COVERED. (Per Press Association.) , BLENHEIM, May 26. Sir Joseph War,d addressed a pack ed audience at the Town. TTall last evening.,! He received a very hearty welcome. He spoke on the lines of his previous address, .and broke lifilr, fresh ground. He justified the gift of the dreadnought for the Teason that workers as a rlasis paid -not one penny towards the payment thereof. Pavmrnt was derived (ij from increased death duties. (2) increased tax on tote tickets; (3) increase, tax on banknotes. He detailed the legislature of thr Liberals to show that the present Gov. eminent had stolen the Liberal policy. He said that the South Trunk line should be pressed on in preference "to other lines, the same way as had .been , done in the North Island Tunk Line. In answer to a statement that the present Government came into office and had no money, he stated that when he left office he left consolidated reve^ue^ after paying .£500,000 into the Public Works Fund. IHe justified his action regarding the strike in Wellington, and said that if the Government had taken his advice the strike would have ended in two daysl. He scathingly denounced the "toy" navy policy, and advocated the payment of ' a subsidy to the 'Imperial Navy. He contended that the present Government had no authority since or before thfr general election to abolish the system of subsidy in favour of local navy. •*- At the conclusion the,speaker was received with cheers, and a motion of thanks' and confidence in him as Leader of the "Liberal Party was carried by acclamation, without one dissentient. '