PREMIER IN THE SOUTH

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1057, 21 February 1911, Page 6

PREMIER IN THE SOUTH

SPEECH AT WINTON. IBy Tclcgrapli.-l'rcss Association.) Winton, February 20.' Continuing his lour of tho Dominion, Sir Joseph' Ward to-night addressed his constituents of Awarua electorate, at Winton. On his arrival at Wintoji, he was met by a numerous gathering of local townspeople, and was triumphantly escorted to the public hall in a procession headed by tho Winton Band. At the meeting he was enthusiastically .welcomed by n crowded assembly, and was presented with on address recording appreciation of his services to the Dominion lis l'riino Minister, and indebtedness for his nblo performance of his duties as M.l\ for Awarua electorate for tho past 25 years. Wishes were also expressed for his success ns New Zealand's representative at tho forthcoming Imperial Conference. In his speech Sir Joseph Ward reviewed ■ several of tho measures passed last session, paying particular attention "to the Slnto Guaranteed Finances Act, as applied to the purchase of Innds, the amendment to tho Workers' Dwellings Act, and tho National Annuities Act. In repaid to State Guaranteed Advances ho pointed out that five mentor more who hod nb means could form an association and purchase laifd from a private seller, tho money being provided by tho Government (after proper examination for protection ngninst nn excessive price being charged), and each .man obtaining a title to tho portion ho required, and could in a number of years eventually pay off tho mortgago on tho land and acquire, it. Several such associations, had. already acquired land, and some wero now m embrvo in Southland, and would in- a short time bo an actuality. That was a syslem which would bo more and more taken advantage of to acquire land, not Crown lands, and would go n long way to increase the closer settlement which was necessary to tho general prosperity of tho. country. There would bans much settlement carried out in that way as under other .liberal svstems of acquiring Crown lands. A notiiblo thing was that tho lands thus acquired wero not Crown lands, nnd that purchasers eventually acquired tho absolute freehold. ■ Tho amended Workers' Dwellings , Act assured that a mail could borrow up to •£709 ami.build n homo merely on a deposit of .£lO, and by pnvment for 25 ■years of fivo per cent, on "tho first cost could acquire property as bis own. Ho would thus get homo bv paying an amount weekly (repaying interest and principal), which was not niiivethan the current rental ho would havo to nay in the towns and cities for rent. Sir Joseph Ward, pointed out that by the National Annuities Act a man could nrovido for lus widow and fnmilv in case of death, mid further, tho noedv backblccker could by a small payment ensure getting a •sum at times of maternity that would ensure his being able to send his wife wherei she -could get medical attention, and thus reduce tho risks that nowadays had to bo taken by • poor backblockers. He pointed out that the rcvenuo for the last ten months was -£873,000 more than for tho corresponding period o. note"! and Pitted that it would bo .£1,080,000 increase by March 31. He said prosperity was. duo to the ■•reflex of prosperity.in other parts of the world and to the maintenance of tho value of our products. These products, he stated, despite our handicap of distance from Iho market, occupied a very high place in tho consideration of British consumers. Our exports and importations had touched a record of JM0.000,009, and tho deposits in tho bank had mado another record of .010,000,000, while the population in the last nino months had shown an increase which in proportion outdistanced nil tho other Australasian States. In regard to loans Sir Joseph Ward Minted I out that every loan had, according to the Act, to be provided with a sinking fund, and every bit of scrip issued by the Dominion was endorsed by having printed on the back: "This loan is secured bv a sinking fund." The sinking fund moneys would bo loaned to settlors, workers, and local bodies on approved securities, ami wero administered by a nonpolitical board, and no Government dared to touch the money for other than the purpose set apart. To do so would mean repudiation, and tho Government that did so would not livo 48 hours. The Primo Minister outlined briefly the legislation passed last session to prevent monopolies nnd secret commissions and' (rive State guaranteed loans to local bodies, also the amendments liberalising the old ago pensions and legislation regarding tho Dominion's water power, which would, ho said, eventually open up a vast field for providing cheap power to make possible great industrial development. A vote of confidence in tho Government nnd in Sir Joseph Wnrd ns its leader was unanimously carried amidst loud cheers. On the conclusion of tho *pcoch ho received on outburst of applause which was continued for some minutes, nnd he Inter was presented with an address signify, ing appreciation of his service to the ele'ctoraio and the Dominion, nnd confidence in him and tho Government.