ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 48, 27 October 1925, Page 4

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.

LIBERAL LEADER. Sir Joseph Ward opend his candidature for the Invercargill seat at Invercargill on the 18th inst., when he addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting in the theatre. Dealing w T ith expenditure he said that the cost of government w T as increasing while borrowing was going on at a fast rate. He was not against borrowing, but suggested that a number of works could be paid for with Government bonds, which would reduce borrowing and keep the rate of interest down. The future of the Dominion was largely bound up in the progress of the dairying industry, and farmers should be settled at the rate of 10,000 per annum, instead 1000 at present. A new market would also be required, and commissioners should be sent to investigate possible avenues in the Pacific.

.Sir Joseph touched on the present basic wage- and said that the remedy I was the reduction of the present high cost of living, rather than an increase in wages. A revision of the present Customs tariff was necessary in .order that industries should be protected, and the present cost of foodstuffs lowered by a reduction in the present duties. Railway administration was briefly touched upon, and he said that, while not against the commercialisation of ~ the railways, he preferred to see any profits returned to the public. Works were necessary, but at present the Government had authority to spend £21,000,000 on public works, which was a huge amount, and the best financial brains in the country were needed to assist the Gov-, eminent during coming difficult times. He was not one of those who decried the solvency of the Dominion, which was sound, and its assets were great, but there w r as a need for caution in the present rate of borrowing, which was too fast.

At the conclusion Sir Joseph was accorded an ovation the large crowd cheering heartily.