SIR JOSEPH WARD

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 9

SIR JOSEPH WARD

ADDRESS AT HASTINGS. (By Telegraph.—Pnoß Association Hastings, May 19. Sir Joseph Ward addressed an 'audience of between 800' and 1)00 electors at the l'rinccis Theatre, Hastings, this -evening. heavy rain experienced during the last three or four days still continued, yet,, notwithstanding -this, every seat in thb theatre was occupied, and standing-room had to bo refused to l'atc-comors. Sir Joseph and Lady -Ward wero accorded a" - great reception on arrival, and the applause was renewed when Sir Joseph Ward arose to speak. Although suffering' from a .cold, ho spoke-strongly, for two liours. There wero 110 interjections, and tho applause which punctuated the address showed that ho had tho meeting with him. He spoko mainly on tho lines ,of his open-air meeting at Christchurcli on -May 4, and broke very little new ground. Speaking concorning the •I'rimo Minister's statements that when tho Reform Government camo into power they found the, Treasury chests depleted, Sir Joseph Ward stated that tho Prime Minister did not tell tho people the real truth as to the causo'of tho tightness of money that lie experienced after ho attained office. Ho did not tell them, that the scarcity of monev was due to the fact that deposits in tho Post Office . Savings Bank had fallen very considerably during the first year of their term of office. Sir Joseph Ward repeated his previous remarks regarding tho naval policy of . New Zealand, and added that he would uso every means in,:his power between now and the election to induce the people to protest against a local u'avy being established. Dealing with Advances to Workers and. cheap money, he stated that lie had recoived letters from all parts of the country 'telling him of the difficulties facing borrowers in obtaining loans, and complaining of tho high rato of interest asked.' Since ho had come to Hawko's Bay lie had recoived two such letters from persons who paid 8 per cent and procuration fees of 1J per cent. Referring to tho watersiders' strike, he said ho believed in every man and woman having tho right to strike, though ho did not consider the strike tho best method of obtaiuing what' they, considered themselves entitled to. Ho repeated, tho assertion that the strike could havo been settled in two days. There wero two Acts on the Statute Book which could have, been put into operation, and prevented the strike from spreading. Ho did not believe in syndicalism, and prior to tho last election told the candidates standing in tho interest of the party now knomi as the "Red Feds'' that he coulcPnot subscribe to their policy, and tho result was that at tho second ballot they voted for Reform candidates. Referring to the Hawko's Bay seat, ho said that during the last few weeks meetings had been held with a view to crystallising tho opinion of tho electors in tho matter of tho selection of a Liberal candidate. Delegates from all parts of Hawko's Bay had assembled that day, and had unanimously selected Dr. Robert M'Nab —(Loud cheers) — who they considered had tho best chance of winning tho seat. The following resolution was carried unanimously, and with loud cheers:— "That this meeting conveys a hearty vote of'thanks to-Sir Joseph Ward for his address, and expresses confidence in his party, and congratulates him on his able leadership, and pledges itself to support tho selected candidate at the coming election."