Political

Southern Cross, Volume 13, Issue 13, 24 June 1905, Page 9

Political

SIR J. G. WARD AT WINTON. On Monday evening Sir J. G. Ward addressed the Awarna electors in Moore’s Hall. Sir Joseph was met at the station by His Worship the Mayor, Mr C. D. Moore, and a number ot residents and sett’ers, and escorted to the ball, the Winton Band playing by the way. The hon. gentleman, who was accompanied by Messrs Hanan and Thomson, M.H.R.’s, opened a long and comprehensive address by referring to the prosperity of Southland and of the colony generally. Dealing with the Advances to Settlers’ Act, be s'ated that up to 31st March last loans bad been authorised to the amount of £5,042.555, of which Southland settlers received £660,000. Dealing with the Shop Hours’ Bill, Sir Joseph said there was no use in bickering over the mistake admittedly made in the Act—the thing to do was to rectify the error and make the measure fair to all concerned. Pensions having been abolished, it was the duty of the State to provide a superannuation fund for its employes. “ I have personally examined,” said the Minister, “ a number of superannuation schemes, chiefly in connection .with the railway service, and I have no hesitancy whatever in declaring my strong be lief that a superannuation scheme could be provided for tie post and telegraph service and the whole of the Civil Service, as well as the employes of the Education Department, that could be built up into a powerful fund under which no financial payment whatever in the fu ! ure would be required from the State.—(Applause ) The scheme now in operation in the Railway Department has enabled 300 old servants and faithful employes of the department to be superannuated, and notwithstanding that an accumula’ion of old employes had gone on for a life time, and there was, consequently, a heavy weight put upon the fund at i : s inception, there were in round figures between £68,000 and £70,000 at the credit of the fund on March 31 last.” Sir Joseph added that he thought the employes of many local bod es, as well as of private employes (if the latter desired it) could be grouped under a comprehensive superannuation scheme. In dealing with the Independent Labour Party, Sir Joseph expressed the opinion that the efforts of the various sections should be to s ! e that the strong nolitical parties in the colony worked for the common good. However, he bad no doubt that, as in the past, common sense would prevail in dealing with these matters. Regarding railway construction, the speaker announced that the Seaward BusbWaikawa line would be continued via Tokonui, and that the extension of the Orepuki-Waiau railway would receive alteration. At the close of the address, which was frequently applauded, Sir Joseph stated, in reply to a question, ,that be favoured consideration being given to an increase in old age pensions. A mo ion expressing unabated confidence in Sir J. G. Ward and the Government was carried by acclamation.