SIR JOSEPH WARD AT RANGIORA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2313, 21 November 1914, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT RANGIORA

(By TeleeraDh—Press Association.) '■ Chrlstohurch, November 20. 'At Eangiora this Sir Joseph Ward addressed a crowded meeting on behalf of tho Hon. D.Buddo, M.P. for Kaiapoi, who is indisposed. Sir Joseph Ward was accorded a very good reception by tho meeting, and ho criticised tho Government's financial methods, >and specially condemned its borrowing proposals. Last session it had taken authority to borrow £12,000,000, which was' a record for New Zealand. Hβ did not know how the country could stand the pace, with all tho trouble in Europe. Now was not tho proper time to borrow largely for public buildings. Ho claimed that a loan of £1,000,000 a year was ample for the public expenditure of New Zealand. Ho would cut tho expenditure upon public buildings down by half, and believed that in four years upon a loan of £3,000,000 a year all the trunk lines could be completed. Sir Joseph Ward also referred ■ to his baby bonus scheme, and tho land question. He advocated a special graduated land tax| but at the same time' he would seo that nothing unjust or imptoperwas done to the large landowner. Tho landowner woirld either havo to pay a special tax or hand.tho land over to . tho Government, who would hand it out. As far as giving tho landowner debentures, if at tho end of the term tho. farms woro not worth the Government valuation, a deduction would be made from tho debentures, and if it was worth more, additions would be made, so ensuring justice to the large landowner. Sir Joseph Ward d«itied thut lie Itwl entered, into nny $rrftn£emen,ii with, .the, .Red* Feds, ia ao^

neoction with the general election. As many Rod Feds, were standing against Liberals this time ■as last time. Ho had tried to win 6ano Labour to vote for the Liberal Party, and believed lie would secure it. He dealt extensively with defence subjects, claiming full credit for tho . Defence Act, snd denying any suggestion 'that tho Liberal Party would ever repeal tho Act. Ho believed, however, that the internal defence of New Zealand should not cost .more than £450.000 yearly. Ho strongly condemned tho idea or a local navy. It was nonsense discussing tho idea of a local navy until after tho end of tho war, when Britain would know what sho would be doing with her fleet, and tho German Fleet, which would then be hers by capture.