SIR JOSEPH WARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8736, 19 May 1914, Page 6

SIR JOSEPH WARD

SPEECH AT NAPIER REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION' BY LIBERALS. Special to tho “Times.” NAPIER May 18. Sir Joseph Ward received a warm welcome to Hawke’s Bay to-day. Despite tho fact that heavy rain fell alii day large crowds gathered at Dan-1 nnvirko, Otane, Hastings, and Napier! railway stations, Sir Joseph and Ladjj (Ward being loudly cheered at cadi of, jtho places mentioned. It was al •triumphal progress through the district, in great contrast to tho reception accorded to Mr Massey, who was: in tho district a few days ago. Tho (weather was cold, wet, and boisterous (to-night, but this did not deter inn public of Napier from turning out an largo numbers to hear Sir Joseplt (Ward deliver a political address in. (tho Municipal Theatre. The hall was crowded in every part, and there were (also a large number of seats occupied lon tho stage. About 2000 peoplat 'wore present, and the Mayor (Mr J'Vigor Brown, M.P.) presided. Lady Ward, who occupied a seat on tho iplatform, was presented with a handjsomo banquet. [railways AND WATER-POWER. When tho leader of the Opposition (appeared, ho receired an ovation. Sir. (Joseph Ward said that the last time (ho was in Napier ho 'had turned tho '.first sod of the Napior-Gisborno rail-> way. (Applause, and voices: “Why' iwas it stopped?”) His Administration intended the construction to bo' carried on to the full extent of tho vote. Ho regarded this railway as .a portion of the'great'trunk system of the country. He regretted exceedingly that the present Government ' had thrown the work back at least three years. The excuses made he characterised as paltry. (Applause.) A lino of demarcation had been made, and discrimination in regard to railway construction was being shown Railway works were being carried out in districts represented by Ministers of the Crown. This would not be so when the Liberals were in power next December. (Tremendous applause.) Ho next referred to tho Liberal Government's water-power propositions, and criticised tho Government for not going on with the Lake Waikaremoana scheme. He had left £500,000 of authorities for water nationalisation purposes, and £350,000 had been expended on Lake Coleridge. Tho Waikaremqana scheme, according to expert reports, would be one of the most efficient.and economical schemes in tho Dominion, and would be of great value to the Napier district. Nothing, however, had been done. LAND PURCHASES.

In criticising Mr Massey’s statement at Napier a few days previously that in their first year of office they (the “Reform” party) had purchased 52,098 acres at a cost of £428.000 ho (Sir Joseph) pointed out that nearly all the estates were “in Hand” before the Massey Government came into power. Mr Massey' had said that this year they had purchased 141,062 acres at a cost of £555,758. This was less than £4 an acre, and could anyone say that land could be purchased near the railway lines at that price? That area of land might include a largo estate hitherto used as a great sheep run' in the northern portion of the South Island. The people should be given details. As to the statement by the Prime Minister that the Opposition would sell their immortal souls in order to gain the Treasury benches, ho could only say he was pleased that such' a reliable authority admitted that the Opposition had immortal souls. (Applause). But the Prime Minister had gone further. He had said the Opposition would take up with any policy, even if they knew it would involve ruin and degradation to the country, to get back to office. In that statement Mr Massey had gone beyond fair criticism. Had the Liberals ever failed in a time of crisis? (Voices: “JNever.”) MAJORITY ESSENTIAL.

“We do not want office unless we can obtain it in a proper way,” said Sir Joseph Ward, amid applause. “And what is more, we do not. want office unless wo have a majority .of the people behind us —(applause)—and there can be no safe and sound Government carried on in a young country such as this unless the people are unmistakably behind the Government that in in power.” “ Are the people behind the present Government?” added Sir Joseph. His query was answered by cries of “No I” and “Rotters!” The Government was so full of promises that they would never be able to attempt to carry them out. There would be quite a large number of breach of promise actions against them. (Applause.) They had promised to reduce borrowing, but had increased it, and the public would no doubt get a staggerer when they saw what was going to be done in regard to the railways. The Minister for Railways had informed a Greymouth audience that whatever promises had not been carried out so far would be carried out this session. That meant —if it meant anything—that the session would last at least fifteen months. LAND TAXES.

In referring to the land question, the speaker said he had been misunderstood at Wanganui in regard to the graduated tax. H© would show what was running in his mind. The Land for Settlements Act, np to a certain point, had been a very valuable measure, but ho was satisfied that its usefulness was very nearly spent. A very material change in the system required to bo brought about to ensure the good lands of the country being made available for closer settlement, which this country must have. He referred to the good work the graduated tax had done up to a point. There was, however, a material change between the condition now existing ond what existed. The position was so changed that the Government of to-day had become a great land agent, buying froiu those who wanted to sell and disposing of the land to the man who wanted to buy right out in small quantities. The position now was that the Government was forced to buy at high prices. The system should ho changed so that men who owned large areas would bo compelled to cut them up. When the time came the-Liberals would lay down a system by which close settlement of the land would ho brought about from end to end of Now Zealand. The landowners would be treated fairly and equitably. INDUSTRIAL FRICTION.

In, regard to a Ministerial statement made recently that the Government

wtoiuld shake tiheir exfstonca on. the strike, Sir Joseph. Ward said that ha would have thought that any Government worthy of the name would try to abolish friction between the classes, and not try and accentuate it. Men on both sides of politics should use all their powers to see that industrial strife was kept down. One wondered whefifier the authors of such statements as he had quoted realised their position as citizens. On resuming his seat, Sir Joseph was loudly applauded. Mr T. Hyde moved, and it was seconded by Sir H. J. Holder, “That a hearty vote of th.ui.lcs bo accorded to Sir Joseph Ward for his able and instructive address, and that this meeting expresses its continued confidence in him as the leader of the Progressive Liberal party which passed so many beneficent measures for the benefit of humanity during its term of office, the measures whichwere so bitterly opposed by members of the Massey Government and its supporters. This meeting therefore, pledges itself to give united support in ousting the Massey Government from office which they have temporarily secured by misrepresentation against the leaders of the Progressive Liberal party.” This was carried unanimously, a sea of bands going up in response to the chairman's request for a show of hands.

The meeting closed with cheers for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward.