SIR JOSEPH WARD AT BLUFF

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2310, 18 November 1914, Page 6

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT BLUFF

MILITARY TRAINING AND NAVAL POLICY (By TeleEraph.—Press. Association.) Bluff, November 17.. Sir J. Ward addressed a meeting at Bluff to-night, but owing to the fact that he was dependent upon the courtesy of the proprietor of the local picture theatre for tho use of the hall, the speech was limited' to an hour. Tho hall was filled, and a generous estimate places'the attendance at 6CO. The Mayor, (Mr. Wliinchley) warmly welcomed Sir Joseph Ward. The people of Bluff were convinced that when the numbers went up he would be restored to his position as Prime Minister. (Applause.) He complimented Sir Joseph Ward on what he called his neutrality in sinking, party differences in meeting the critical conditions arising from the war. Sir Joseph Ward referred briefly to the war, saying that he considered it the duty of everyone to do nothing that would add to the difficulties. (Applause.) After dealing with the point that the battleship New Zealand did not visit the Bluff, Sir Joseph Ward said it was recorded in one of the English papers that the New Zealand was the first Dreadnought to take part in an engagement. The whole country was proud of the position in which they stood in regird to their ship. (Applause.) Sir J. Ward went on to deal with taxation, on the lines of his Winton speech.

He had got "what for"'for the military training', but they could in such matters judgo only by results, and the scheme which had been so bitterly opposed had enabled them to get tho men of the Expeditionary Force away so rapidly. ' At the present time his opponents were breaking their ■ necks, twisting their tongues, and. distorting their bodies to claim credit for introducing a system for.which he (Sir Joseph Ward) was entirely responsible. He was dead against a local navy. Ho asked his audience whether they thought that they could have a local navy and still go on with public works. . Could they have the railways they needed? No, they could not. If they continued under the system advocated by him they would have money to carry on their ■ public works. He dealt 'with the subject of labour legislation in practically the same terms aB at Winton. He went on to say. that he believed the Liberal Party was going in at the election, and he wanted to, tell them that what he pledged the party to do they would do. fie was going to carry out a policy that would add materially to the happiness and contentment of the people of New Zealand. To start with the public buildings vote would have to be pulled down and the money used for more necessary works, such as railways and roads, so that the'commerce of the country could bo augmented. In connection with the cost of living, which had gone up all over the world, ho would try to reduce the cost to enable the ordinary man to save a little more than he did now. They would Teduco the duties on necessaries, in addition to which he was of opinion that an effective scheme could be laid down for the supply of. pure milk to the towns and cities. The same system could be applied to coal, meat, and bread. . ;'.

Referring briefly to the nationalisation of water power, he said that he lad long ago aslted Parliament to carry out this important undertaking, and the Lake Coleridge echeme which tbe Liberal Government had undertaken, in the face of opposition from th 9 present Government, was to be opened by tho Prime Minister. That was one of the anomalies of public life in this country. In addition to that scheme he proposed to harness the power now running to waste at Lake \Vaikaremoana. He proposed ako to introduce legislation to make it impossible for the executives of Labour unions to control the whole of the members of such unions. Representatives of Labour should have the same right to .control the executives as in any other branch of public life. He would do away with bogus unions, and would add to tho peace and progress of thecountry. (Applause.) In answer to a question by Mr. A. Nawland, a Roxburgh resident, as to whether, in the event of the Liberal Party being returned to power, Sir Joseph would do his best to expedite the completion of the Lawrence-Rox-burgh railway, Sir Joseph said: 'I would do my very best." . At this stage tho Mayor announced that he bad received a cheque for £100 from Sir Joseph Ward for the local relief fund. (Applause.) On the motion of Dr. Torrance, a vote of thanks was accorded Sir Joseph Ward for hi 6 inspiring address, and fov his statesmanlike altitude in assisting tho Government during the present crisis. The meeting also reaffirmed its confidence in him and tho Liberal Party, with tho hopo that they, would soon \j& returned" to power. The motion carried by acclamation. The spirit. j>f the meeting throughout was most cordial. ; >