SIR JOSEPH WARD AT AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2319, 28 November 1914, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT AUCKLAND

TOWN HALL CROWDED A FLATTERINC RECEPTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, November 27. A very flattering reception was accorded to Sir Joseph -Ward to-night when lie delivered a political address ill the Town Hall. Tho building was crowded to its full capacity—3ooo— within a quarter of an hour of tho openiiig of the doors at 7.15, and the seats in tho organ loft were all occupied. Many also stood, and hundreds were unable to obtain admission. Mr. J. Trevetliick, of the Liberal -and Labour Federation, presided. A storm of prolonged applause greeted Sir Joseph Ward as i>o stepped on to the platform, a scene of tremendous enthusiasm being witnessed, and repeated when ho roso to speak. At the outset of his remarks Sir Joseph Ward said he was there as Leader of the Liberal Party—(applause) —which had enacted laws for the good, peace, and happiness of the people. Tho methods of some opponents of the party which represented t.lio true majority of the people of A'ew Zealand were to be deprecated. For the first time in tho country's history the electoral laws had been altered by the so-called Reform Party. (Ironical laughter.) By the repealing of tho second ballot that party, which only represented a minority; was facing a precarious position, which on the morning of December 11 would result in a lesson which should serve them for the rest of their political lives. (Applause.) Tho Government had failed to keep the promise to provide a substitute for the second ballot. Many electors wero dissatisfied this election by finding their names struck off the electoral roll. He was informed that 220 men at the forts at Devonport wero 'to be removed, and would find themselves out of the electorate without the right of an absentee vote. At a time when the guns of 'the forts' ought to bo manned, there was to be a shifting of tlieso men on the evo of the- elections. This was a matter calling for explanation. Another -matter lie wished to refer to was that prior to leaving Wellington he learned that there were two Ministers there with adjoining electorates. It was said that a number of men not in one Minister's electorate had been provided with absent commercial travellers' rights to vote. As tho Leader of the Opposition he felt himself entitled to mention the matter. (A voice: Question.) The Liberal Party wanted tho names of all entitled to vote put on tho rolls..

He wished to remove some misconceptions due to a continuous sequence of marvellous misrepresentations which seemed to be one of tho principal assets possessed by his opponents. Sir James Carroll was reported in certain papers to' have strongly condemned him (Sir Joseph ■ Ward) in connection with the gift of the Dreadnought to.Britain: Ho was further reported to have said that if he got in ho would see that the £2,000,000 was spent on roads and bridges. He telegraphed to Sir James Carroll and it transpired that lie had not been in tho town where tho speech quoted had been made by Sir James Carrpll's opponent. (Laughter and applause.) Sir Joseph Ward denied a statement by Mr. Lang that ho had been responsible for the loan spoken of in connection with the ostrich farm matter. The Mayor of Auckland; Mr. G. J. Parr, had said there could be no Ministry which would do justice to the North if the Liberal Party was returned. This idea lie (Sir Joseph Ward) ridiculed. He promised that when he had to advise tho Governor after December 10 to approve a new Liberal Ministry that half that Ministry should represent the North Island. Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to compare what Mr.' Massey had dono for tho Aucklalul district with what ho (Sir Joseph Ward) had done, and repeated his statements about the condition of the financfes when ho went out of office. Tho present Government, he said, had allowed tho ordinary revenue to go back to the extent of nearly £450,000, yet to-day it would be found that there would be'- some so enamoured of the opponents of the Liberals that they wotild not take tho trouble to look at tho drift that was going on. This drift was appalling, and if it was allowed to go on it would mean imposing a very heavy-taxation on the people. Tho country was going backward at a greater ratio tliau for years past. In a speech he had made in July, 1911, Mr._ Massey had declared that the borrowing of his predecessors was too largo, antl taxation too high. In face of that, said Sir Josopli Ward, taxation now amounted to 13s. Id. per head, which was £654,000 per year moro than it was, when Mr. Massey said it was too high, and under the very samo heading Mr. Massey had referred to. Mr. Massey had said in the same speech that the cost of living was too high, yet his Government had not only failed to rediice it, but had increased it enormously. Sir Joseph proceeded to quote from figures issued in Reform pamphlets in regard to advances to settlers. He claimed that on their own showing the present Government had' advanced ■to settlers in two years £1,823,000, ■which was, however, £1,600,000 less than tho Ward Government advanced in the two preceding years. To local publio bodies the present Government had advanced £250,430, whereas in a similar period the Liberal Government had advanced £1,276,000, mostly at 4 per cent, and some at 3J por cent. The borrowings of the Massey Government came to £16,067,580 in two years and two months. The Dreadnought loan, however, they had tho amazing impertinence to inchide in his term of office, but they failed to point out that that: moneyhad not been borrowed for internal works. Why was it necessary for any party to attempt to so delude tho public? Sir Joseph asserted that outside their legislation in connection with the freehold" every other bit of legislation of tho present Government had been taken from the Liberals. (Applause.) The Government lans policy had been no good to men and women of slender means. They had passed two Acts; not a soul had gone on the land, and not an estate had been settled under the first, and not a single settler had been placed on the land under the second. Here was tho sequel to all the Reform Party's boasting—every settler placed on tho land during their term had been placed there under Acts of the Liberal Government. (Applaiuse.) Sir Joseph Ward denied that the Government had improved the land settlement conditions. 11l the last two years of -tho Ward Government 875,000 acrcs bad been opened and 2997 settlers placed on tho land and in the Massey Government's two years, 689,000 acres had been opened, and 2750 settlers placed on tho land. Poor lands wero being acquired and tho land of wealthy squatters was being loft alone. The Government had opened up 140,000 acres of Native land less than his Government had dono in tho last two years of office. (Applause.) Referring to "Red Feds" Sir Joseph Ward reiterated his previous denial that there was an alliance between them and the Liberals. It was a bogy his opponents were holding up to tho public. There were-more "Red Fods" standin" against tho Liberals in the present, contest in the South than at the last election. An enunciation of the Opposition's policy was followed by a repetition of his (Sir J. O. Ward's) position regardin?; Naval Defence. 'Hie present Government had never divulged why tho agreement made by him (Sir Joseph Ward) with the Admiralty for two Bristol cruisers had not been carried out. Tliis should not bo a secret. All that Mr. Allen had dono was to nrraugp, for the coming out of the Philomel and th?

withdrawal of the subsidy to the Bri tisli Navy.

Sir Joseph Ward was warmly applauded on resuming his seat. A vote of thanks and conlidenco, including a pledge to endeavour to oust the present Government was moved by Mr. T. Long and seconded by Mr. E. H. Potter. This was carried by a substantial majority only a few dissentient voices being raised. Prior to dispersing, the audience gavo Sir Joseph Ward three cheers.