SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2152, 19 May 1914, Page 6

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

POLITICAL SPEECH kt Ml'M THE EAST COAST tINE. (By Toleerapli.—Press A.ssoelttUo6.)

Naptor, May 18, Bir Joseph Ward auur<;ssea a jiackcl fluutmusu in tiie iuunn.-i|sal 'I'licatru ti.niu;i!t-. 'in« iilayor ,j. vigor litOA-u, ]>ia'.) l>iv.a)dm. iiie-O/iUviiil deader ruuuircu an ovation on riiiiug. lie said Mat fast t.inio lie wan m iS«j)i<;i v i(e turned tuts iirst sac! ot the bast ti»iist railway. At Uiat time it was ins intention to contmuo the work, as votes allowed, but tire prcsmit viovcniineiit had (lelayetl the work lor three years, and their excuses were of a most puJtry naturf. In throe or lour other jjiacas, railway cuustruclioii works heel been di.'layed. One of the Government's e»o_iis«s for discontinuance of the East Coast railway was its inability to got an engine across to the West iihoxc be» f'oro tno embankment was coustructed. This Sir Joseph AVnrd characterised as absurd. Dealing with sources of ■electrical energy, ho said- hie party recognised the great utility af electric lwwer, and the- importance of tb.o ialfc Waifeiirenioaiia.selieiMe, which would be ©asier than carrying a t«-«j)enny-lial:f-penny engine across' to tire West Shore. Tlie Prime Minister had stated in Xnuier that, during their first year in office, the Government had purchased •32,000 acrts of land for closer sot.tkment for £428,000. The Liberal Party had been negotiating for the purchase of this land before Mr. Massey eame into power, kit the Prime Mijiister took nil the credit for it. Tho Liberal .Party had spent sis millions m rmrchnsiag land, and had placed 130,000 souls on it. Be thought Mr. Massoy's statement that tiro Liberals Would sell tliwr immortal soul to get 011 the treasury bfcnclms was beyeild fair political criticism. "Wo don't want ofSoe," ho said, ."unless we can get it in a proper ■way.' (Applauso>) "Wβ don't want otoce unless the iMople ah> Ijehinql 11s." (Arjpiaivsti.)

Sir Josepli Ward Vent on to deal with tho Dreadnought question. . He stud the leading Government newspapers had'refused to publish his reply to criticisms of Ministers on this question. I?iw-isi<m was aiado to pay for the prendnottglit in seventeen years an increase in tte tax on banknotes, aft increase in itlie totalizator tax, and an increase hi death duties oil ](trg<? estates, Tljofo was, therefore, no imposition of taxation on tlto people. With regard to flw Navy, ■Sir Joseph Ward said tire Reftohi Party had no authority from tlvo people to repeal tlio system of contributions to the British Navy atid constitute a local Aavs ( *lndi Was no good -unless it wiis an efficient <3fi«, and this would eost an enormous amount.

The Reform Party alleged that the Iroasur.v chests wore fl-epletetl ivlrtm tlwy assumed -offlee; yet Jtr. Allen was able to show a surplus of £80/, SB&. It ffas not the Urform Party's surplus, but what liad Wh Mt them by the previous Gorpniment. During tl-ie past two jf-ca-rs there had. been a β-oat shortage »f money tln'oingliont; the Dominion. The present Gownmient had lent £1,600,000 less than the Liberal Party during . a similar- period. Whe.ii they were, in poH'er the Lihwals hud always done their utmost to help the,workers, backlilocks settlers, aiid local bodies, by why of loans. Jff. Ma-ssoy's partf had'criti-ci-sRd the Liberals' extensive ■borrowing, lint since the Government had ten iii o&« they had borrowed evon more. Ministers wore going round the cdtmtry fill! of. prcniffics which ■ tjiej',-.would Bev-e'f fe Riven Mi'opportunity & keep. {Ajipkijse.) ftey were so" fall <yf promises that in a short tinio thero Would bs more breach of pr-nini-so crass thaii they wtmkl care for. (Laughter.) The Reform Party were poing to do-, crease the cost of living, but justed it had been increased by 3.93 per cent. Imp htf Iwurs in ParJiaineiit Were awing to he stepnctl, and provision wn-s t<! ha made for industrial peaeo. but neither had been ticponiplished. If tfe Govemmeni carried out all their UrotiusM -next sessien, the session would last fifteen months.

Sir Joseph Ward: spofes at length in reference to tlio strike, which, ho sakl, cotild lave been prevented frovif spread' ing ijt nil. "With refehmee to tho stewwall, Sjj , Joseph Ward stated that the Liberals opposed the repeal of the Second .Ballot. Act because no provision was ni-atte for a substitute. Ho eritfeisetl tire Press Assoeialimi rpnerts of his party's meetings, niwl said' that 80 j»r emit, of the papers were en the si'lo. of the Government. In 'conclusion ho sf,id ho trusted that at tile. awH'al qlqction t ; lie elceters would realise wiint tlip Liberals had done for iJm peonic and return them at the head 'of tho poll. A motjoii of tbr.iilis and ionOdcnep Was carried, wnidsi kiii afplaiise and choers.