SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13540, 18 November 1914, Page 5

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD.

BATTLESHIPS -\ND THE 'iREATAIJENT QF BLUFF. (L Jer Press? Association.) BLUFF, last night. F'-ir Joseph Ward addressed a meetin,, uf about 60& of his constituents at Bluit to-night, and was given a very cordial reception when introduced by the Mayor, who complimented him on what'be* called his neutrality m sinking party differences m. they face of the war •crisis. . ■ Pir Joseph Ward said <thal bo con-si'.-?vcd it the duty of everyone to do iH.iiiing that would add to the difficulties of the situation. The Avar, had 'brought about local changes' that required to be attended to; aiid he was of opinion thai this part of the country should be no worse off than any other. He did not, for instance, think that the curtailment of' ihe Bluff-Melbourne service should be, and' he was going to see that there was no neglect. There was not going to bf> any more of keeping the Dreadnought oui of the Bluff. They had been given the go-by m that connection, but they could no "longer be given the go-by, because their.ship was fighting m the North Sea. Moreover, it was recorded m recent English papers that the New Zealand was the first Dreadnought that had taken part m battle. From this point Sir Joseph went on to deal with a number of subjects wiih which he dealt with at -Winton, particularly with military training, m regard 'to* which his opponents were breaking their necks, twisting their bodies, aiid distorting their bodies to obtain credit for a 'system he alone was responsible for. (Applause.)' Referring io the Liberal policy, he said that what he had pledged thepaTty to do they would do, and he was not going to 'promise anything they were not going to do. Ho was going to carry out a policy that would add to the happiness and contentment of the people pf New Zealand. As the address was limited io, an. hour, m consequence of the fa^ct that Sir Joseph was dependent, upon the courtesy of a picture proprietor _for the use of. the hall, reference to policy was short, but some new points wer£ brought out. He said the cosi of living; had gone tip everywhere, ' and he . was'; going to, try and reduce it so that the ordinary man could save a .little more than. ho did at the present. The Liberal party would Teduce the duty on all necessaries of life, m addition to which an effective scheme could be laid down for the suppiv of pure milk m towns and cities. The. same system could be ap plied to coal,' meat,'and bread, -without injury to the primary producers. (Applause.). He was not theorising, and ,if. he got an opportunity he was going rto' demonstrate that it could' be; done. He proposed, to introduce legislation to make it impossible for executive* ;Of labor unions to control the .whole of the members of such unions. Iv-epresentatives of Labor should have-ihe: same, right to control the executives as m any other branch^ of , public, life. ..lie would do away ) with bogus unions; aiid 'would add to the peace and progress of New Zealand. (Applause.) ... In answer to a question', Sir Joseph Ward said that if the Liberal party wore returned to power he'would do his very best to expedite the completion of the LawrenceJSoxburgb railway,. „.. On the motion/of'.-.J)r Torrance, Sir Joseph was accorded:'.a vote, of thanks' for his inspiriting address.', and. for his statesmanlike attitude m assisting the Government during the present crisis, and' alsoi reaffirming their .confidence m, him and the Liberal party with the hope it , would soon be returned to power. The motion was carried, by the uniraojis acclamation of 'the- niccting,',wldch was most cordial throughout.