THE LIBERAL PARTY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9044, 15 May 1915, Page 6

THE LIBERAL PARTY

AND POLITICAL SITUATION SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS ON OUTLOOK. Special to the “ Times.” AUCKLAND, May 14. The leader of tho Opposition, Sir Joseph Ward, arrived in Auckland this morning and proceeds to Kaikoae, where he meets delegates ol the Liberal and Labour paity with reference to the ’ sehotion of tho candidates for the Bay ot Islands scat, and where ho also dclkv, ers a public address to-morrow cvei. ing. Interviewed, Sir Joseph Wan* said: ‘ Like most people in New Zealand., I have been waiting for the decisions on the petitions affecting the different electorates. The last one having been decided, it becomes necessary Ur take steps with a view to further elections. It has been a prolonged business, and it would have been better if tho whole of the issues had been cleared up within a short period of the general elections The idea of election, contests during tho currency of thm groat war has all along to me been, deplorable. . The Government, having; decided otherwise, there was nothing for it but to fight the elections in the, : ordinary way, and, unfortunately, they are not over yet. Internal poli- i tical strife is still proceeding, and the ■; two seats (Bay of Islands and Taumamnui) will, during the next month or six weeks, be the scenes of keen activities on both sides.

“You ask mo what my views dr<y on the political situation generally. Until the two seats that are now vacant have been filled, it is difficult to fore- ' oast what is going to happen when. Parliament meets. The Liberals in ( the past have shown themselves to b» strong Imperialists, and have subordinated every other consideration to cii- } sure what is best in the common interests of our country and of the That is the position to-day. No one ; can sensibly contend that if the Liberals come into power—as I think they wall—the great Empire situation will not be directed as competently IK their hands as in the hands of any other party. t LIBERALS AND THE WAR. “If evidence of the sincere desire of ’ the Liberal party in this respect were ■ necessary,” continued Sir Joseph, “one j could point to the fact that the battle- . ship New Zealand was made a gift to the Empire for the express purpose of ; being used in whatever part of the : Empire the Admiralty might l desire, i and to my mind, apart from the ques- j tion of party politics, ; it adds enor- | mously to the prestige of New Zealand. • *iat we axe the'only one of the over- i seas dominions to have a ship in tlio North Sea, whore the British Navy has succeeded, ever since the war began, in keeping the Herman navy bottled up. What this bottling up means to the Empire os a whole ono can scarcely realise. It has meant the preservation of the British Isles; it has been the key to the freedom of . the seas beyond; and it has • made possible tlie wonderful operations by which wo have assisted our Allies with men and munitions. New Zealanders may well be proud of the fact that' . their battleship . lias already on ' two memorable occasions distinguished itself.

“Moreover, the Liberals of this country provided for the system of compulsory training, which all sections oh the community now recognise has enabled the Defence Department to send away a magnificent body of men, trained, disciplined, and equipped to a degree which would have been Impossible if the territorial system had not been in full operation long heforo the war broke out. j “I mention these '■matters only to indicate, as lender of the Liberal party, that the Liberals of this Dominion have always been actuated by a keen desire to leave nothing undone that would help maintain the strength and solidarity of the Empire, and the public may rest assured that if wo come into power, nothing will bo allowed to stand in the way of doing everything essential or possible to help the Motherland. May I add that I have regarded it as a duty over since the beginning of the war to help as far as lies in my power the work which the Government of the country has in’ this respect carried out. That policy will be continued until the end. NO DISCORDANT NOTES. “At the present juncture,” added the loader of the Opposition, “I prefer not to discuss the suggested wap ■tax or defence matters. It is a time of considerable responsibility for all parties; and it is well that no discordant note should bo struck No doobt in the future opportunities will arise for sensible and legitimate criticism.*’ In referring to the war generally. Sir Joseph Ward expressed the opinion that everywhere there would bo nothing but horror and indignation at Germany’s vile methods and disregard of all the ethics of war. One could only marvel at America’s hesitation to join the Allies after the murder of innocent. American men, women, and children on the Lusitania. That country could eiterciso considerable influence without attempting to raise an army or offering the use of its navy, and by taking-such action would follow a course reflecting honour upon itself.