SIR JOSEPH'S WINTON SPEECH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 361, 21 February 1914, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH'S WINTON SPEECH.

CRITICAL,. BUT NOT CONSTRUCTIVE.

[rZB FMBB ASSOCIATION.]

Winton, Feb. 21. Sir Joseph Ward addressed his constituents at Winton last night. The hAll was packed, and Sir Joseph Ward was received with an enthusiastic ovation. He was introduced by the Mayor (Mr. Wilson), who complimented the Government on the manner in which the recent strike was settled. Sir Joseph Ward was loudly cheered on rising. He took the demonstration as an .evidence of the fact that there was a good feeling between them. NEVER DEFEATED. He last addressed ’ them as Prime Minister, and since then great changes had taken place, and it was to these changes that he wished to pay attention; The Liberal party had never been defeated at the polls or in the House. He was a strong believer in the majority rule, and so long as the people decided who was to rule he and his colleagues would accept the judgment of the people cheerfully. Stating the position after the last election, he said that the Massey party were in a minority by 108,872 votes, so that it was be yond all question that the Massey Government had not the support of a majority of the electors. The vot ■ ing strength of - the Liberal party fras reduced by the absence of tjvo members of the Liberal party, and he knew what would be the result Whcm he faced that division before it was taken. (Applause). The Massey Government had no mandate: from the country, and the. position at present was most unsatisfactory. He considered that members of the Government who became' members of the Cabinet should go before the electors again in order that they might be tested before their masters and mistresses. WHY HE PLEDGED GILT EDGED SECURITIES.

Regarding the Minister of Finance’s criticism of the financial policy of the Ward Government, Mr. Allen said that he (Sir Joseph) could have raised a loan for ten years before leaving office. That was per fectly correct, and. he wanted to state his reasons why he did not do so. The fact was that during the last general election he was, on the matter of the last five-million loan. Eied from the North Cape to the with vindictive criticism about the raising of that loan. When toe position became close between the parties he thought it .better tc leave any 'measure he might have to raise and the amount he desired. [This portion of the message is ap Krently mutilated. —Ed.] If they >ked up the records they would find that before leaving office he arranged for sufficient money to cany on the business of the country. If* he had known that there, was going to 'be a logn of sixty millions and another of ten millions raised by other countries in the Old Land he might have raised a loan of four millions at Home. What would have been the result? He would have been pilloried by the Reform party throughout the country. The people in the Old Country wno lent money to the Dominion were not fools. They recognised that the assets of this country were great, and he held that when they had succeeded m converting loans of 6,5, and 4 per cent, into 31 per cent, it must be realised that an enormous saving had been effected.

SHORT DATED LOANS. One of the great labours the Liberal party had had before it was the raising of loans at 3l per cent, and to convert loans which were at a higher rate to 3| per cent. A half per cent, addition upon five millions meant £25,000 a year, and if he had raised a loan for forty years it would have cost the taxpayers of the coun try a million. Because he went fcr a short-dated loan for four years they would find, the men of this country declaiming against him. He wanted to say that the only object toe treasurer of the country had in going for a short-dated loan was to save the people’s interests. Up to a short time before he went out of office they had had no difficulty in the operation -to which he had refer red. " If they had been foolish enough to give half per cent, for their loans the taxes would have been increased. He was proud of the relief that, his Government had giyen to the taxpayers of the country. - , NO OBJECTION TO MR. ALLEN.

He had no objection to the present Minister of Finance doing tne very best he could to obtain the best results. and he (Sir Joseph Ward) would be the first to congratulate him if he did sq. What he objected to was his system of crying stinking fish against his predecessor. The present Ministers’ idea seemed, to be that'he should decry everything anyone else had done. He desired to say that the Minister of Finance would not be able to show this year the surolus shown last year. TAXATION.

Reverting to the question of taxation, Sir Joseph Ward said that the Massey Government had, on its own records, shown that it had increased the taxation of the people of this country by 10/3 per head. This fact remained in spite of all criticism, aiid the real point was that this came from the'Massey Government, who had declared before the last election that they would reduce the taxatoin.

NAVAL POLICY. , Regarding the local .navy, Sir Joseph Ward said that if the scheme toe Government proposed to carry out were followed it would have grave consequences. He was satisfied that the most satisfactory course for this country to' adopt was to stand by the British Navy. In Australia Admiral Henderson had told them that a portion of the navy would dost £5,300,000 a year. He would tell them what the “ Age ” (Melbourne) said. The “ Age ” laid that if the present policy of Australia were followed they would be forced to pay £5,000.000 for their navy. Three successive British Ministers had declared in favour of one Imperial navy, and they should have the best knowledge of what was inquired. If they wanted a eo- ipcrauve navy they could have it at a very much lower cost than the local navy proposal. HIS STRIKE ATTITUDE. Referring to the strike, he defended his action, and showed by reading a letter from Mr. James, Reform organiser, how public opinion was manufactured. He was certain that toe strike could have been settled when the employees and employers ctiuld not agree, and settled in a «l«y instead 'of the time it took. He Stated that as soon as the strike was dedarod he called a meeting of the yawfanl. party, and they decided that they would not do anything to em-

barass the Government in the control of the strike affair. Quoting his opinion in the House regarding the incidents in Post Office Square, Wellington, he said he would sooner go out of public life than aggravate an industrial crisis in the manner Suggested, and the records clearly proved that he, had determinedly avoided making party capital out of the strike. Referring to the industrial unrest, he could see no way out without some measure of State interference ; but capital already invested should be protected- Employees would require encouragement by superannuation funds and sick and accidents benefits. It was, he said, astonishing how anxious the Conservatives were to swallow up the air Parliamentary, but the Liberal party would take the liberty of' thinking for themselves. He would ask who supported the Red Fed party at the last election. . The Liberal party had always believed that the laws of 'the country must be obeyed, and that lawlessness, no matter by whom, must be put down. They believed that they could do good in a manner that would appeal to all moderate and sensible people on sound and progressive lines. (Applause).

f CQNCLUSION. He referred to the length of his service for the electorate, during which he said he had never -hit an opponent below the belt (applause), nor had he, ever written ah' anonymous letter about an opponent. He desired to help forward the Dominion and his constituency, and he considered it a high privilege to be a representative of the people. There was prolonged applause as Sir Joseph finished his address and Mr. John Eraser came forward and moved. “ That this large and representative meeting accord Sir Joseph Ward a very hearty vote of thanks for his lucid address, and expresses its confidence in him as-their representative in Parliament.” A section of the gathering sang “ For he’s a jolly good fellow” as the meeting broke up.