POLITICAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12866, 26 May 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL.

S»it 'JOSLPH WARD AT ELTII'AiU.

Por Press Association. Eltham, 'ILay 25. Sir Joseph V-.'ard addressed a large meeting here to-night. Bogaiiding the nunours of cpiarruls in the Ministry the si)caker said they were entirely without foundation. Sir Josdph quoted statistics showing the woufderful progress of Taranralii -cb-U'ing tlie past ten > ears in agriculture, live stocjk, aiTcl the dairy inidustry. The iatrease in b,<itler value in the last ton years wa.s £295.288, and of cheese £22,086. The Minister conclemnefd the tcn/dency of some parts of tJac colony to inIkite the value of la'njd. On tihe land question he supported the ajDpoi'nlment of tho L^iwd Commussioin 1 . The information tlic Commissioii wowld gaiin wouM be at ini'mite 'val^ic^. He himself was krorpin'g a perfectly open miiTd until the report was aivadlaijle. Me did not boliefvo in the nationalisation of land. Keforring to tho mail sei a ici , he roatl a coninvinicatio'n he had addressed to the Commoniwoalth j ivbuut a more erpiitable arraßgement j in -the ]>aym(>nt' for the 9udz and 'Frisco mails by the rospoctiVo colonies. Ib^ claimrVd that in adldition to these Now Zealanjd .should have a Vancouver sfuvice. Also that NewZealand should set her face against the present injvas-ion by yellow and blucik rac( i s. lie strongly aidvocat«d i cci probity with Australia. Speaking on butter freights to Loiwion, he said that whereas New Zealand is paying ?!■ per cwt., Australia now pays 3s Bd, and he haid drawn attentioui to /the matter. IT(^ hoped soon to hatvo a fair field. Sir Joseph referred to tho adulteration of NNcrw r Zealauld butter hi Holland, lie stated that he ha|d cablnd to the Imperial Govornment. Tho Mitiistcr a-lvoctitcid superaninfwa'tion foo.cii\il sdrvtxnts, the develaprnont of watfu- j)(n\er, and individual titles to native lands. 'Jn 'his own ojpinkwi all native lands s'hoXiM foo boiigiht, an/d bhe natives tieated the »a|me as in the Nest ("oast settle?r-nt lanlds, 'dealt with by the late 'Mr Ballanco. He held that (he okl system of talkiitvg la-nd under the Land for Spttlrimmts Act should be ro-intro'djii'Cfjd, owners j>lacinq their vahte on »it, anjd the Government having the rig;ht to res}iime at ]0 per cent, increase. A vote of thanics awl co'nfVdenco j was unanimously carriad. I