SIR JOSEPH WARD BART.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11081, 1 July 1911, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD BART.

fTO.THE EDITOR.i

Sir, —Those who have the true democractic inrerests and advancement of this Dominion at heart, will, I feel sure , endorse the sentiments of the- leading independent journals in their cuustic criticism of our archImperialist on his acceptance of an hereditary title. As one of the past supporters of tho Government, I bolieve that tho sentiments therein expressed are a fairly true reflex of tho feelings of tho industrial body throughout New Zealand regarding this latest addition to the numerous distinctions of our ruling baronet. When tho political actions of the Prinio Minister—particularly during the. last tlireo yearsare analysed, and viewed from a democratic standpoint, tho condemnation of the Press seems to bo well justified. The. majority of those who, for the past eighteen years, have given their undivided support to the great Liberal Party at present controlling the political affairs of this country are now discerning that self-interest and the retention of political power are the guiding principles by which that Party is animated. The Ward Government have repeatedly asserted that, on certain principles, . they had nailed their colours to the mast, but as soon as danger was scented, by the disapproval of any section of the people— whose votes might jeopardise their position—their fixity of purpose was abandoned, the flag hauled down, and this gallant Party flow to cover in. that over safe retreat "Taihoa Policy.''

Tho autocratic manner assumed by Sir Joseph Ward in the conduct of political affairs was well exemplified in his totally unconstitutional act of presenting the British Government with Dreadnoughts To effect his object he deemed it advisable to ignore the representatives of the people, and muzzle tlie Press. The- latter he accomplised by representing that hewas in possession of State communications, indicating that a serious crisis had arisen, when in reality he was in possession of no more information than that contained in the inspired cables of the Tariff Reform and jingo party of Britain. This make believe act 'of patriotism, by which the donor forsaw Imperial aggrandisement and possibly titular distinction (which has just come off), has placed a millstone round the necks of the tax]layers of this fair land to the extent 'of £ ISO, 000 a year for the next eighteen years. Shortly after this master stroke of self-advancement, wishing to attend the Naval Conference; in 190!). the Baronet again asserted his autocratic power in ignoring the rights of the people, by closing down Parliament until his return. In this he was assisted by those spineless representatives who, in many instances, owe their positions more to Ministerial influence than to any inherent political ability, such influence being governed by the abuse of public funds and the promise of future benefits, etc.

On his return from the above named conference, and when Parliament opened, the Baronet's political inconsistency was well illustrated by his introducing. at the close of that session, the' Defence Act. in which was embodied the principle of compulsory military training. One would have thought, 'after his pronounced pre-election speeches against the scheme, that Sir Joseph would have been the last man to father the measure, especially as he never offered any explanaion as to the reason for his change of opinion. Speaking at Feilding on the 20th October, Ji)()S, on the question of defence, he said: "A. system of compulsory training in arms would mean the " creation of the nucleus of a, system of militarism which tho country ought not to tolerate." This sentiment was uttered a month before the general election. Within a year he had forced upon the country, and without consulting the people, the very principle lie had so recently emphatically denounced.

As fro the somersault by Sir Joseph on the question, perhaps a little In - Aestivation many reveal some probable reasons for his acrobatic action. In the first place, the, result of the general election indicated to the party in power that their position had been weakened; that, to a great extent, they had alienated the support of the Labour vote, and that the numerical strength of the- Opposition had become materially increased. It may have occurred to the minds of the Government that, judging by the above results, a solid voting body would be necessary at tho next election, in lieu of tiie lost Labour vote, and that if they were to retain their position at the next election, immediate action was necessary. They keenly recognised that the compulsory training advocates were a united" voting force, and that the Opposition, to a man, was favourable to their cause. As it was all important that that solid vote should be procured, the Hon. Mr MeNab, who had been defeated at the election, became a convert to the cause which his colleague, the Prime Minister, had SO much opposed. Mr MeNab, at the solicitation of the Government, no doubt, entere*the field as a lecturer, and spoke on the necessity for the adoption of this, to his mind, most important question. He spoke m several of the chief towns, and, though a certain amount of opposition to the scheme was displayed, on the whole tho results were sufficiently encouraging to the Government to quickly proceed with it. They determined to take time by the forelock, and the ground work, of the scheme was at once prepared, the military authorities setting to work on the details, which Sir Joseph,was to cany into effect on his return from the IS aval Conference. , While at Home, it may bo assumed that it was necessary for the Kight Honourable gentleman to interview those who own us, lock, stock anil barrel—the Jewish financiers—as to the huge loans required later on, which are to be expended in tho development of the country—and it might be added, as stakes for the Ministerial Handicap, next November.

It may be again assumed tlmf. when the financiers woi'c.approached by Sir Joseph, those gentlemen who are posted in all the political details, of this Dominion reminded him of his opposition to the compulsory training of the youthful bone and sinews of this countryi and that the Opposition openly advocated it. They, no doubt, s referred to the fact that an immense amount of British capital was invested in New Zealand, and an}' augmentation of the amount advanced would depend upon the immediate training in arms of those competent to protect their financial interests. One can imagine Sir' Joseph renouncing his pre-election sentiments,' and assuring those indispeiisiblo adjuncts to Wardonian finance that the details' in connection with the required defence were so far advanced that on his return lie would carry into law the proposals they had demanded. If the above deductions are justifiable, it would appear that political expediency was, in a large measure, 'the controlling factor in placing the principle of compulsory military training on the Statute Book of New Zealand. The contempt with which our titled Caesar lias treated the demands and requests of members for information dealing with departmental affairs, the raising of loans, I expenditure of public money, etc., Jias become such a pronounced feature of his autocratic, power, that it is time that those Avhose interests are, affected by his indifference to the demands 'of their representatives should arouse themselves and by their votes relegate Sir Joseph Ward, Bart,, to political obscurity. When our Prime Minister returns to this Dominion, with all Jus lately-acquired honours thick npon him, his admirers will, for certain, both by speech and pen, sound his praises. His Imperial aspirations will be the subject of leading articles, and drawing-room conversations, by those whose political fidelity depends upon the continuance of those favours lie has in the past so lavishly bestowed. But the people will judge his Imperialism by his actions, much as lie may be boomed by paid scribes and self-interested sycophants. No doubt we will be informed of the striking political originality and perspicuity manifested in the'proposals lie submitted for consideration at the late Imperial Conference, but those who have followed the cabled reports of his speeches will be of the same opinion as, undoubtedly, those British statesmen were when they so curtly turned them down, that is, that "He drew out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument." On his return to "God's Own Country" the admirers cf Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., might suggest that his lately acquired distinction be extended by the addition of the letters "er" as an indication and reminder to the taxpayers of this country of the system adopted in the Dreadnought and title deal. Panned out, it means Britain gets a Dreadnought, Ward a title and New Zealand a debt. With this, for the present, I shall cease my criticism of the. much honoured Sir Joseph, and close by quoting the lines of Pope, written as a tribute to the memory of a contemporary statesman, leaving the reader to judge if the virtues recorded therein could be fittingly applied to the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Ward, Bart, P.C.L.L.D:— "Statesman, yet friend to truth; of soul sincere. In action faithful, and in honour clear. Who broke no promise served no private end: Who gain'd no title, and who lost no friend.'' 1 am, etc., CRITIC. Masterton, Juno :50th, It'll.

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