SIR JOSEPH WARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8750, 4 June 1914, Page 9

SIR JOSEPH WARD

VISIT TO AUCKLAND

ADDRESS TO ELECTORS OF DEVONPORT.

Special to tho “Timee.”

AUCKLAND, Juno 3.

Although tho weather waa exceed , iugly wot and boisterous, and despite' tho fact that it was a holiday, tho •parish hall at Dovfmport was; crowded in every part tonight, tile 'occasion being a political address by Sir Joseph Ward. Mr W. ;J. Napier presided, and amongst thdeo art tho platform wore Messrs A. Is. Myers and A. Uiover, Mil Vs. Sir Joseph Ward was) received with prolonged applause and cheers when ho took ins seal, and tho demonstration was repeated when the ciuiirnian referred to tho loader of tim Opposition as one of tho statesmen ol tho Kraipiro and a man who had proved himself a brilliant administrator. After referring to the former leaders of tho Liberal movement in Now’ ‘Zealand —Sir George Grey, Ala- Bullanoo, and Mr Soddon —-Sir Joseph Ward pointed out what had been done fay tdo Liberal Government in the hu rating up of; largo estates to enable the people to bo settled on tho land.j They had been criticised and aburtedt in tho first instance for purchasing one estate which comprised a county all to itself, and which even at shearing time had never employed more than eighty people. It (was predicted that the Government scheme would bo ‘ 4 huge white elephajnt, but it waa one of the finest investments for the, people the Government had ever made., florae people consistently stated t that tho farmers wore against the Liberal party, but ho ■ did not believe that.; The Liberal Administrations had expended seven millions sterling in thoj acquisition of’ large estates, and ihadi placed 130,000 profile on the land. (Ap-i plauso.) Ho had been amazed at same of the statements made by fusi political opponents ft men differed they should at loafit bo-big enough to rise above misrepresentation with the abject of injuring one side with a view to benefiting the other. FINANCE. Ho was astonished to find the criticisms that had- beet levelled at him in regard to tho financial position of the country when ho iwent out of office. The last year ho was in office the Government had lent £3,800,000 to settlors und workers, and ms soon, as his opponents got into office they started h campaign with a i(iiow to showing that he had loft the finances in an unsatisfactory condition! It had been said again and again that when the Massey Government Came into office they found the i Treasury chests depleted, and Sir; Joseph again quoted Mr Allen’s Budget and the “Otago Daily Times” (a Conservative newspaper) to show that the statements made on the .public platform iby Mr Massey were absolutely contrdry to fact. He quoted Air Massey’s,own “Tear Book” for 1913 to show tbit the 1 rate of interest i>n the whole public debt had declined by 16s 5d per £IOO from 1891 to 1912, this being the jfull term of office, of tho Liberal Administrations., (Applause.) In two years ho had jont £1,400,000 to jlooil public bodies at 3) per cent.

BROKEN. PROMISES

1 Hoferrimf to tho broken promises of the “Reform” Government ’ tho speaker said tho Government party should not havo. gone around tho country before the last general election ; and made statements that they could not justify. There was nothing in winning anything in this .world if it wore won by falso representations. (Applause.) In criticising tho “Toy Navy” scheme of the Massey Government. Sir Jrsoph Ward said a local navy must He efficient if they had one at all, and , the cost Would bo as great to New Zealand ns it was to tho Commonwealth This country could not stand tin strain. . (Applause.) Before Nov? Zealand ’ was committed at the Imprial Conference in 1915 in regard w naval matters the people had a light to have an indication of what tley arc favourable to on this important question. NO “UNHOLY” ALLIANCE. V Ever since the strike an attempt fend ben made to pnt him in a paddock (long with the Bed Feds, and Byndcahsta, while as a matter of fact so had documents in bis possession to show that the Massey party at he last election had urged their supjorters to vote for Rod Fed. can•lidftos at the second ballot. He had beef told that thero was an unholy allince between him and the Red Fas., hut he was bound sny none ofihem bad asked him for an alliance, aid ho hdd made no 'such request to ihm. / POLICY FOR THE PEOPLE, ;In conclusion Sir Joseph Ward said tie public jquat not run owiyf with he idea that tho Liberal party would tot have a policy in plenty of time wforo the next general election. At , tho proper time ho would _ lay down a policy for the people of this country, And he could assure them that the policy would show that tho resourcefulness of the Liberal party was very far from being exhausted. Jt would bo a policy which would enable individuals to work out their own welfare. (Applause.) On resuming his seat Sir Joseph received an ovation, the applause lasting a considerable time. On the motion of Mr A. Nixon, Sir Joseph was extended a vote of thanks, the resolution expressing confidence In him as leader of the Liberal party j ami the hope that in a few months ■he would again ho Prime Minister. The motion was carried almost unanimously, only ono or two holding their hands up against it. Cheers were given for Sir Joseph Ward.

PROGRESS UNDER LIBERALISM.

Press Association.

AUCKLAND, June 3. - In tho'' course of an address, ait Doroaport tihib evening, Sir iXo&cph Ward, referring to financial matters, said he had boon blamed for having been guilty of over-borrowing, and that he was making tho condition of the country unsatisfactory. Yfet tho figures showed that during tho tim« the Liberal Government was in power Now Zealand had made phenomenal progress, both in point of population and exports. The Government had increased tho borrowing of tho country enormously, and it had added greatly to the country’s expenditure. Sir Joseph referred , to the question of the reduction of the cost of living. Tho Liberal party had reduced duties on tho necessaries of life, and the people had benefited to tho extent' of £6,500,000. .What had tho present

i, jvernment done? It had in oi.d year increased tho Customs duties by 3.93 per cent. ■ . In connection with reform of the! legislative Council, the Government 'had proposed to make the Council elective. In the meantime it was stefL.g the Chamber with nominees. “When is election going to take pace?” ha asked. “Wq will be in o .ice after December next.” {Laughter and applause.) Tho Government had promised ’.a king in an insurance scheme to provide against unemployment. “Tha Government,” Sir Joseph said, “has tot the slightest intention to bring 'ii'vMit any such scSeme.” “With reference to defence, Sir Joseph Ward said the Liberals had not made this a party question. The responsibility for the cleavage of opinion on defence matters rested with tho present Government, whidh had altered without a mandate from the people the Act providing for tho payment of l£loo,ooo a year to the British Admiralty. The .settlers of the past had relied upon the strong right arm of the navy for their protection. Within the last few weeks' tho First Lord of the Admiralty had condemned the principle of a local navy. In regard to tho Reform Government’s naval proposals, Sir Joseph VV ard said it ■would bo useless having a local navy to defend New Zealand unless it was efficient. If it were not efficient then they must stand bv the great British Navy, which undeniably was efficient.