A DISAPPOINTING DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 10

A DISAPPOINTING DAY.

CAMPAIGN BY SIR JOSEPH.

AN OBLIGING CHAIRMAN.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

• [BZ TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] TE AEOHA. Thursday. Sir Joseph Ward had a busy though disappointing day to-day. He was scheduled to speak at - Tauwhare at 10 a.m., but at that hour only four residents had gathered at the meeting place, and after having an informal chat with them Sir Joseph sped on to Cambridge and Te Miro 'soldiers' settlement. At the latter place about two dozen settlers and half that number of, women had assembled at the schoolhouse, where they listened attentively to an address. At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence was moved, followed by an amendment that the speaker be accorded "a hearty vote of thanks for coming and delivering his instructive address, with a vote of appreciation for his past services to New Zealand." The . chairman, who had at the outset urged those present to vote for Sir Joseph, put the amendment, which was strongly supported, and then tho motion, which found only two or three supporters. He then hastened to declare the motion carried, and, not dismayed by the ironical laughter of the proposer of the amendment, conveyed the terms of the motion to Sir Joseph. The candidate was next scheduled to attend the Matamata Show, but did not reach the showground until close on four o'clock, when the great majority of tho people, alarmed at the gathering clouds and an occasional shower, had left. In the evening Sir Joseph Ward addressed a well-attended meeting at Waihou, where his address was quietly but well received. The candidate made passing reference to the "bogey of dissolution," of which ho has so often spoken.' He said that he had been asked what he was going to do in this matter. "I want to confer," said Sir Joseph, "with the men who do not know what they are going to do. (Laughter.) Isn't that the sensible way?" A number of questions were asked. One man wanted to know whether Sir Joseph would, if returned, put the second ballot on the Statute Book. The candidate said he was of the opinion that some system of majority rule was required, and was prepared to do his best to bring it about. Mr. Massey had stated that he recognised that some such system was necessary. The candidate said there could bo no doubt that if a large section of the people were deprived of the right to return a member and thus secure majority rule, a great amount of dissatisfaction would arise

Sir Joseph Ward was asked why, on the eve of the general election, 1919, he resigned from the National Government and left the Massey Government to cope with the tremendous affairs then before them. The candidate said at that time ho held the view that the policy they were about to establish would be disastrous to the country, and he told his followers so. He then said that he would not go on with .the National Government under such a policy. He had never regretted that he had taken this step. Answering a question as to whether he was in favour of proportional representation and asking how snch a system would benefit the Tauranga electorate. Sir Joseph Ward said that proportional representation could only be successfully introduced if the country quota could be maintained. If not, the svstem would not be workable. He tfvounht, however, that we might hove somo system whereby the majority could rule. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.