LIBERAL LEADERSHIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10871, 11 September 1913, Page 1

LIBERAL LEADERSHIP.

ACCEPTED BY SIR JOSEPH WARD.

AN INTERVIEW

NO MANIFESTO AT PRESENT

THE PARTY'S POLICY, [Pkr Press Association.]

■WELLINGTON, September 10.

Sir Joseph "Ward in an interview this evening said ho had agreed to accept tho leadership of the Liberal Party and had so informed the party at a mooting held in tho afternoon. Sir Joseph said he had no intention of issuing a manifosto nor of delivering a policy speech at present. When tho proper timo arrived ho would be prepared, as leader of tho party, to submit to the country a policy which would bo in accord with the past history and achievements of tho Liberal Party, and which would be found to bo progressive, practical and safe in every respect.

Tho Liberal Party was identified with tho Labour, humanitarian and fina-ncial' legislation of the country, especially so far as easing tho burdens of small settlers, mortgagors and workers desiring to own their homes. Its land policy and its financial assistance of settlors had placed many thousands 011 tho land and had led to and in every way contributed to tho Onormous prosperity that had obtained during tho last twenty years and which still existed.

Tho future policy of the party would aim at the extension and development in every direction of legislation that would tend to increase that prosperity and assist the masses especially. By improving tho education system would tho party aim at providing opportunity that did not exist at present for tho young. The cost of living would be dealt with firmly and with determination to enable the vast majority of tho people of small means to live with that measure of comfort that ©veryone was entitled to.

" We live in an age," said Sir Joseph "when political problems are constantly changing their aspect."' It would, ho went on, be his continuous effort, acting on tho lines of tho Liberal Party's , past achievements, to meet each new demand as it arose with legislative measures for the benefit of the wholet country.

Politics is an evolutionary science. Tho needs of to-day are not to be met by. the legislation of days past. The future lies beforo us and I confidently look to tho support of the progressive forces in tho country working unitedly to assist us in bringing about a condition of things which will again place New Zealand in the forefront or the States of the Empire." Sir Joseph Ward said his position on Imperial questions was well known and as Liberal leader his course in the fiituro would be on the same lines as hitherto. He greatly appreciated the requests that had been received by him from all over the .dominion to accept tho leadership, and. especially the loyal offer from tne Liberal Party in the -House. ' Ho felt, that he Was asked fct>' undertake a gre&t Responsibility, but any reluctanCb on his ' pai't. had been overcome by,, tho general and cordial nature of the representations made to him. :

Sir Joseph regarded the future of the Liberal Party with the utmost confidence. He believed . that the great mass of the people were progressive in heart and in sentiment and looked to the Liberal Party to take up again and carry forward the great work with which it had been identified in days past. He felt very grateful for the honour that had been done him in being asked again to lead the party, and he would give the best of his services to the country for the benefit of all classes..

LIBERAL PARTY'S,MEETING

EXECUTIVE'S SERVICES RECOG-

NISED. [From Our Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, September 10

There was a meeting of the Liberal party during to-night's dinner adjournment, when Sir Joseph Ward announced his acceptance of the leadership which he had been unanimously offered. The members present totalled twenty-one and six absentees were accounted for. None of the Independents or Labour members were invited.

Sir Joseph's decision was greeted with enthusiasm, the meeting declaring its absolute confidence in him as a leader. The party also carried a hearty vote of thanks to. Messrs; Russell, Hanan, M'Donald and. Witty for the valuable services they had rendered as members ,of the executive in unitedly conducting, in the absence of a leader, the work of the party. Several complimentary speeches were' made, the services of the gentlemen named being warmly commended.

A vote of thanks to the whips, Messrs Forbes and Ngata, for their attention and the good work performed by them, was carried with acclamation. FRONT BENCH PLACES. Sir Joseph Ward denied the statement published by Government journals that there had been any arrangement by which some front bench Oppositionists would take back seats. "This is absolutely incorrect," he said. "There has been no suggestion of the kind made by me nor have I any intention to ask any particular member to take a hack seat. The only change in this way will be that Mr Myers and myself, who occupy the same bench, will change seats so that I may be nearer the whips, but Mr Myers does not go back nor does anyone else change his place. Nothing of the kind has ever been considered."

" FRONT BENCHERS."

A SPITEFUL STATEMENT,

ACTIVE OPPOSITIONISTS AND THEIR CRITICS. [From Ourt Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 10. Thero is a good deal of resentment among Liberals at the spiteful attempt of the Government journal in Wellington to discount at Sir Joseph Ward's expense two of the most active Oppositionists, who will bo among his most trusted adherents. In presenting a plausible story about the terms on which Sir Josoph is supposed to have accepted the leadership it was suggested that some changes in the front benches of tho Opposition would eventuate, and that Sir Joseph would have with him on the front benches, it was expected, Mr G. W. Russell, Mr W. D.. S. M'Donald, Mr A. M. flyers and Mr T. M. Wilford, and that among tho present "leaders" who would relapse back into comparative obscurity again would bo Mr J. A. Hanan: and Mr G. ' Witty, said tho prophet maliciously and with inaccurney. The same journal in its leading columns was good enough to say of Messrs Witty and Hanan: —" No one except perhaps the member for Avon, Mr Russell, has done more to keep the uarty alive than the 'wo members

mentioned: Even in the most despondent moments of tho Opposition tho member for Invercargill ami tho member for Iticcarton have stood at their posts striving to instil a little spirit jr. to tho ' Liberal' factions.'' The plain fact is that front bench Arrangements remain as they hnvo been for tho session, excepting that Sir Joseph will move into the centre of the line. Mr Witty, though prominent in the work of the party, has always preferred a back seat with his friend, Mr Davcy. Tho result of what has been written is to secure for both gentlemen a most cordial recognition of the whole-hearted services rendered to the Liberal Party when loyalty was put to a. stern test. If they had been loss effective as Oppositionists their Ministerial critics would liryo had kinder thoughts of them.

GOVERNMENT'S MAJORITY OF FIVE.

OPPOSING FORCES TOTALLED [From Our Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, September 10. Twenty-seven Liberals were present or accounted for at the _ meeting which pledged allegiance to Sir Joseph Ward. Outside these calculations are to be found the names of tho Hon J. A. Millar and Messrs Atmore, Craigie, I)avey and Isitt, Liberal Independents, and Messrs Payne, Robertson. Veitch, Webb and Hindmarsh, Labour members, making thirty-seven members against the Government. As the Speaker cannot vote on a motion before the House, except by way of casting vote, it means that upon a crucial division the Government would have forty-two supporters and the opposing forces thirty-seven, a narrow majority of five for Mr Massey,

ONLY POSSIBLE CHOICE. "The Liberal party have made the only possible choice," was Mr Atmore's opinion. As an Independent Liberal he declared his conviction that the country will at the test be found to be more democratic than tho House, and that Sir Joseph Ward would after next election inevitably find himself with a more democratic following. "While Sir Joseph "Ward was in the House, leader or no leader, he would overshadow anyone else in the Liberal party, said Mr Craigie. Now the party had a recognised leader of such experience it would receive new impetus in its Parliamentary work and secure added prestige in the country. Doubtless its programme would be radical and progressive to suit the need of the country.