THE PREMIER AT TAUMARANUI.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13271, 23 November 1911, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT TAUMARANUI.

RECEIVES ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME.

Wellington, Nov. 22. Sir Joseph Ward and party arrived last night by the express. Ihe Prime Minister opened the bridge across the Ongarue river in the morning Lady Ward cutting the nbbou. In tho afternoon the Prime Minister journeyed to a point two miles smith of Te Koura where lie turned the nrst sod of the Te Koura-Stratford railway. There was a large gathering ot the settlers, and he received a splendid reception. This evening he addressed a largely attended public meeting and received an enthusiastic reception. He replied to the Opposition criticism regarding the Dreadnought, and also dealt with the present expenditure for defence purposes. He said that for a small expenditure of £250,000 we were getting the protection of tho British navy, whereas Australia was spending £8,000,000 for only a local navy. He also touched upon the question of military training. There was a country (China) with a population of one hundred to five hundred million whose shadow to-day was over the whole of Australia and New Zealand. Australia was only ten days and New Zealand only fourteen clays' steam from China. If these Asiatic hordes camo into New Zealand the community would be debauched by thoir intermarriage with the daughters of tho people of New Zealand. (A voice: No.) It had happened everywhere that they had gone, and this was a thing they should guard against. (Applause.) The expenditure on defence was well spent in guarding our shores from such a calamity. The workers, apart from this question, would bo seriously affected as the invasion of Asiatic labour would bo a death blow to unionism and all its benefits. He also referred to the criticism regarding the public debt, and the alleged increase of taxation. He said that the Government, especially during his term of office, had enormously reduced taxation in several directions. Sir Joseph, on resuming his seat, was greeted with loud and continued cheers. A hearty vote of thanks to Sir Joseph, coupled by a vote of confidence in the Government was carried unanimously amid applause, and cheers. After the meeting Sir Joseph was entertained at a banquet. He left by the express later for Pukekohe and Waiuku.