RESIGNATION OF LIBERAL MINISTERS.

Te Puke Times, 26 August 1919, Page 3

RESIGNATION OF LIBERAL MINISTERS.

SIR JOSEPH WARD DEFINES < HIS POLICY. !

Wellington, August 21. Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of ' 1 the Liberal Party, to-day tendered his resignation as member ; of the Executive Council, Minis- ': ter of Finance and other portfolios held by'him in the National " ''Government. In a subsequent v statement, he said that he had ' / ' come to the conclusion now that Vpetice was signed that ( the truce between the two political parties was no longer necessary, and he. could not remain in a Government V formed for war purposes only. ' ' The war, he said, had changed : ; the whole world, and the states--1 men of to-day must recognise a new age, A iood Government, with a strong administration was vital to-the 'country's welfare. The worker must have his rights, ; but he must not nullify these bv ' demands Jhat are impossible to meet, The capitalist also must : take-heed, Hn'had a right to reasonable protection, but the changes brought about by the world upheaval madeitimperative that he should view the altered circumstances from a broad s standpoint and make such con,cessions as the new era demanded. , Discussing the individual planks in his policy, Sir Joseph Ward advocated the establishment of a State Bank, and suggested taking over the Bank of New Zea- • land, He Was satisfied the finances of-the Dominion would be greatly strengthened, / . • : A large borrowing policy out- • side New Zealand should not be countenanced, There was ample money in the country for all requirements, lenders being paid . percent, subject to ordinary taxation, . . Sir Joseph promised a reduction , of taxation on imports levied to ~ meet war expenditure,' as the ' latter is no longer necessary. -The coal mines should be nationalised on payment to the owners of fair and full terms' in Government stock at the rate of ', . 6$ or 6 per cent, the administraV tion of the mines being placed , under a board of business men and representatives of the miners, ... with a Minister responsible to Parliament. . . ■ With a view to reducing the jprice of the staff of life all working flour mills should be purchased at a ffdr value and they should re- ( duce the price of flour to the lowest. The price of bread could then be fixed by the Board of Trade, allowance being made for . profit and bad debts, A system of liberal advances > ,muat be provided for new settlei's , and there mußt be more vigorous settlement of Native lands. Fur- * ther experimental farms must be ' established, and the dairy industry encouraged. The large es- . ' tates 'should be cut up because ' ..the country was one of small holdings, . ' There should be State contiol " . of freezing works to prevent the capture of the works by trusts. After the limited construction , /during the war, there should be a .speeding-up in building and completing railways; A sum of , £4,000.000 should be provided for the active prosecution of railways, All lines in the North should be finished in three years, Roading in country districts should be undertaken- A sum of £10,000,000 should be spent on • hydro-electric schemes, , He advocated that women should be eligible for seats in Parliament, and women paid equally with men for equal work.

.The Hons. Mac Donald, A. M. Myers, and T. Wilford resigned from the Ministry yesterday. The Hon/ G. W. Russell will resign on Monday, and the Hon. J, A. Hanan early next week, probably on Tuesday.' ■ . . ... The work of the resigning Ministers will have to be apportioned among those remaining. Sir James. Allen has 'already more .than a comfortable load with De fence, which has a sub dt-part-ment bigger than some of the .regular Departments of State, and he is not being asked to take any bigger burden., The Prime Minjater, it is understood, will take the portfolios of Finance and Police. Sir H. D. Bel! will take Education, Internal Affairs and Justice, and the Hon, W. H. Hemes Cuitoms, Marine, and probably Coal Distribution. Sir W, Fraper will take Mines, and the Hon H, D. Guthrie, Agriculture, This leaves the Post Office and Public Health not accounted for, ana it is understood that they have not yet been placed, The above allocation is by no means final yet, but Mr Maaaoy is certain tQ take Finance*