THE BLUSTER OF SIS JOSEPH WARD

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2118, 8 April 1914, Page 6

THE BLUSTER OF SIS JOSEPH WARD

The recent speeches of the Leader of the Opposition as reported in the Nelson Press recall very forcibly those boastful a,nd blustering utterances with which he amused and amazed the country on the eve of the last General Election, Such parts of his speeches as are not given up to a glorified recital of his own transcendent foats of statesmanship are largely composed of bitter and abusive attacks on those opposed to him. Even the language in which he finds vent for his anger and aanoyanco over the success of his oppoftente bears a> remarkable resemblance to that used in the furious and undignified bursts which so disfigured his speeches at that election time. For instancß, hero is one choice extract from his kelson .speech as reported in the Nclsoa Mail:— It Man it ilnstriKllr, lav, ceftteittpUWf, Wackgiittfdiy fhing to i!o. And again a few sentences later, The statement made- w«s a foul, delibei'Qto lie

Tliern are other references in the came elegant style, which kniit one u> tli-c. coiichision that Sik Joseph Waki> finds himself in very ranch tho same desperate straits as led him to indulge in simiki , outbursts on tho eve of the last General Election, It is not our purpose, however, to dwelt on the 'edifying, nature of the language with which the fxiader of the 'Opposition seeks to impress on the electors of-the Dominion tho Atsirableaess of obcc more wturniug him to office. Bis esaUed rank perhaps entitles him to a greater license

than would be accorded to persons of coiwmonof clay. What in a "Bed Feel ,, might be rcgartlctl as vulgal , nbuso,_in a Maronot may pass as forcible criticism. Our purpose, however, is merely to seek enlightenment from Sat Joseph Ward regarding a remark which he has made from a dozen different platforms, and which he owes it to the public to amplify. Tho remark in question as reported in connection with his Nelson speech was as follows:— . The strike could ho.Vo hmn stopped at tho start, probably in bvo hours, out easily in two days.

We need hardly say that in making this .assertion the Leader of the Op* position ttas criticising tho action of the Government. The inference ivas that hatl he, Sir Joseph Waep, boon in office he could have stopped' tho strike within two days. Indeed, he has said he could., auji would have done so- Now that is either an empty boast or an expression of opinion which he can support with facts or argument. We of course know what a hold and courageous isoliticiaa Sir Joseph Ward is, and how. ready lie is to j'isk his political existence for the public good. Sad ho chosen he could' no doubt have promptly suppressed the ' Waihi strike, the Blackball strike, t|w slanglitamon's strike, and other industrial .disturbances during theLiberal but he nobly abstained from taking advantage of these opportunities of adding lustre to his fame. Be allowed the • Mackenzie Government to pursue a policy of masterly inactivity at Waihi 'until a reign of terror existecl in the town and district—no doubt with the object of affording the Ileforin Government a chance of paving its mettle, Now that it is over this great mail goes rushing abaat the country telling everyone that he • covikl , have settled the waterside workers' strike ia kft'-o days at the outside. Wandei 1 " ful! It only remainafor him to go a step furtfior and take %; public into his confidence regarding the method by which he would have accomplished this feat. It- is true that ho totd'us with aqmfa tinnccoUßtablc tinjicjitjr that ho d-aro not' disclose his policy iesfc liis opponents might annex it; but- hs surely will eot deprive the 'public of the advantages of kno'w'injj the recipe, for hk marvellous strike-euro? Unless his as* , sertionthat he could have ended the strike in two days' *is nothing more ■thatt the empty boast of a shallow politician haj-d pressed ' to excuse his -own eonduct during a critical' periftd of tho country's" history, let him frankly take the public into his confidence and shew wltat he did or suggested to bring about tho end which he now declares to have been so easy of accomplishment. What is now his strike cure? What dkl he suggest at the time as a satisfactory means of ending the strike ? It is all very well for Sie Joseph Ward to boast and Musto now about,,what could have bceft ctedo to. end tho strike; but what did he do beyond "niakiag in judicious speeches iv-hieh unqiiestionabiy did aft immfenei! amount of harm 1 Let him tO'tight, here on the spot whore the real facts are known, disdbse his , ' wonderful strike eure and explain away, if he can, h}3. attack on tire special constables, . :