(Special to "The Colonist.")

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13486, 4 June 1914, Page 4

(Special to "The Colonist.")

Auckland, June 3

Although the weather was wet and boisterous the Parish Hall, Devonport, was crowded this evening to hear SiE Joseph Ward deliver a political speech. Criticising the toy navy scheme of the Massey. Government Sir Joseph said a local navy must be efficient if they had: one at all, and the cost would be as great to New Zealand as it was tothe Commonwealth, and this country could not stand the strain. (Applause.) Before New Zealand was committed at the Imperial Conference in 1915, in regard to naval matters, the people had ss right to have an indication _of what they are favourable to on this important question. Ever since the strike, the speaker, said, an attempt had been made to puts him in a paddock along with the Red Feds, and Syndicalists, while, as s& matter of fact ho had documents \ut his possession to the effect that th© Massey. party at last election had urged their supporters to vote for the Red Fed. candidates at the second ballot. He had been told that there was an unholy alliance between him and the Red Feds., but he was bound to say none of them had asked for an alliance and he had made no such request to them. The public must not run away with the idea that the Liberal Party would not have a policy in plenty of time before the next general election. At the proper time he would lay, down a policy for the people of thia country, and he could assure them that the policy would show that the resourcefulness of the Liberal party waa very far from being _ exhausted. 16 would be a policy which would enabl© each individual k> work out their own welfare. (Applause.) Sir Joseph was extended a vote of thanks, the reeolution expressing confidence in him as Leader of the Liberal party and the hope that in a few months ho would again be Prime Minister. The motioat was carried almost unanimously, only, one or two holding their hands up against it. Cheers were given for Sirf Joseph Ward.