POLITICAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2372, 30 January 1915, Page 8

POLITICAL

SIR J. G. WARD AT DUNEDIN WHY HE IS THERE! j (By Telegraph—Frew Asroctatioi,) Dunedin, January 29. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a very large meeting in the Garrison Hall this evening. The Mayor of Dunedin presided. TBe speaker opened by asking "Why am I here?" and went on to say that he was there because he was a free man and they were free people. (Applause.) He instanced cases wDore the Prime Minister had spoken to assist candidates of bis party, and 6aid no one could object to him doing so. Tbey had bad a Minister of tbo Crown in this part of the country for over a week, a member of the Reform Party had como all the way from Auckland, thore was anoKier member from Canterbury, and one from the south, and they were all here for the benefit -of their health. (Loud laughter.) Did they mean to tell him these gentlemen were not working for the candidate who was standing on their behalf? Of couree tbey were, and he was entitled to come to Dunedin and speak on matters of importance at the present juncture.. Air. Massoy had been to the country, but had como back defeated. He had not won the election, and had no right to u dissolution and could not get it if no wanted it. The Labour members Sow In Parliament, recognising that it was only through the ballot-box, and by the education of the people, they could hope to liave a party of their own, had given him a definite assurance that they would support the Liborals and Liberal policy in the Parliament of the country. /(Applause.) They were sensible men wlio would give an assurance of that kind. (Applause.) For himself, lot him say frankly that recognising the responsibility devolving upon him es leader of a great party, ha would not submit to be squeezed or coerced on matters of policy by any section of the community. (Applause.) Ho wanted •it to be understood that ,1 stable Government could be established from tho Opposition side of the House, a' much stronger Government indeed than their opponents could establish. If ho did not believe that, or if effect were not given to that view, he'would not be a party to squeezing on the important affairs of the Dominion, nor would ho hang on by his eyebrows to any position, in Parliament. (.Applause.) He hoped the Liberals in Dunedin Central would not be deluded by the specious representations, of their opponents, who were trying to win their votes. Highly-trained legal men declared without doubt that had Mr. Statham not resigned, the petition to tho Electoral Court was bound to have been successful. It was only right that there should be a second election. Many of the Keform Party raised the, question of the war as another reason for the leturn of the Reform candidate to Parliament, but the Government had been entirely responsible for the holding of the election during the war. When i,ha question was before the House he urged a postponement of the election. . . The Government was responsible for holding the general election during the war, and therefore for the present by-election; so when beaten opponents raised the bogey of the war they were virtually asking Liberals and Labourites to make a present of seat to allow the Government to remain in office. Sir Joseph Ward severely criticised the railway expenditure proposed in the report of the General Manager, presented to the House last session. The proposals totalled-.£326,000, and ,this sum was not tor making new railways or roads or assisting settlers —it v. as for new railway.' stations. The present time, when a great war was on, was not the time for such a proposal. Regarding a local Navy, Sir Joseph Ward quoted largely from the official report of the Imperial Conference held in ,1911 to show that he had been misrepresented by his colleagues. The present war was going to cost the Old Country anything from £700,000',000 to £800,000,000, and if his proposals had been carried'out wo would not in this country be called upon to pay anything like what we were paying now in connection with the protection of the Empire. Tho speaker quoted from the Year Book for 1914 to show that the net indebtedness per head of the European population in 1912 was £79 ,13s. Bd., and in 1914 it was £84 2s. Bd. ■ That was the net indebtedness per head, * but the gross indebtedness included a sum of £4,976,000 raised at the end of the .year 1913-14 for debentures falling due in 1914-15. The net indebtedness included this amount, and yet they found some of their political opponents saying there was no increase in the taxation of the people. (Applause.) They never had anything in the history of New Zealand to equal what was going on to-day. The Reform Party had said that the Liberal Party's taxation was too high, and not only had • the Reform Government not decreased it, but there was an increase. At the conclusion of the address, Sir Joseph Ward was accorded an almost unanimous vote of thanks. 'ABSENT VOTERS' PERMITS. Dunedin, January 29. • In oonneefcion with the Dunedin Central election on Wednesday next the following information respecting absent voters' permits is calculated for the information of those concerned: —"On election day electors of Dunedin Central who happen to' bo absent and have ab-: Bent voters' permits con vote at any post office in the Dominion on presentation of their permits. Postmasters, postmistresses, or other persons for tho time being exorcising the functions of postmaster will supply the necessary ballot paper and post the vote in a sealed envelope to tne Registrar of Electors, Dunedin Central. Holders of permits are reminded that the election takes place on Wednesday, February 3, and that they can vote on that day only and between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tho candidates are C. E. Statham and J. W. Munro."