SPEECH BY SIR J. G. WARD.

Waikato Argus, Volume XVIII, Issue 2907, 20 June 1905, Page 2

SPEECH BY SIR J. G. WARD.

GOVERMENT’S POLICY OUTLINED. (BY TIiLIiORAPH -PRESS ASSOCIATION) \V inton, This Day. Sir J. G. Ward addressed a crowded meeting hero last night. He had no hesitancy in declaring that the superannuation scheme for the whole Civil Service could be established. Ho thought many of the employees of public bodies, harbour hoards, county councils, river boards, etc., could he grouped in a superannuation system, and there seemed no reason why private employers should not be included, if they so desired, so as to establish a general humane system. It there was to bo any reform in connection with 1 he Legislative Council it should go in the direction of election by the House of Representatives, by which tho usefulness and independence of the Upper House would he assured, and would he removed from the position of being buffeted between the contending political parties. The work of tho Council in recent years had not justified some of the strong remarks that had been made against it. Outlining the Government’s policy for the future, Sir Joseph enumerated the following as matters to which attention would ho given during the coming session :—The development of motive power from rivers, classification of the Civil Service, increase of teachers’ salaries, settlement of native lands, encouragement of scientific prospecting for gold, tree-planting and irrigation, superannuation scheme, and tho opening up of fresh markets for produce. 11 o received a vote of thanks and confidence.