SIR J. G. WARD AT KAIKOHE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2463, 17 May 1915, Page 9

SIR J. G. WARD AT KAIKOHE

COST OF LIVING. (By Teleeraflh.—Press Association.' Auckland May 15. The Leader of the Opposition, Sir Joseph Ward, addressed a public meeting at Kaikohe last night, and received a favourable hearing. The ,hall _ was crowded. . Sir Joseph Ward reviewed the present political position in tho Dominion. and referred to the by-election that was to take place in the Bay of Islands. The selected Opposition candidate. Mr. G. G. Menzies, was one of the old colonists to whom New Zealand owed so much. The "Liberal" party were proud of the support of such men. The regret was that they were engaged in elections at all at the present juncture. Against his wish, the genoral election was held, and six months after they were still engaged in fighting elections, instead of exerting every atom of tho country's strength in prosecuting the war and minimising its attendant evils. Referring to the position in the Dominion, he would ask them if they were satisfied with the position regarding the cost of living in this country. The Commission that had been set up by the Government for the purpose of controlling the price had always acted too late to protect tho people. They locked the stable door when the steed was stolen. The Commission had done comparatively nothing in order to have tho prices of necessities regulated in the' interests of tho masses of tho people. Sir Joseph Ward stated his Imperial creed as "one great Imporial Fleet, and 0110 glorious flag flying over one British Empire, under one King. At the conclusion of his speech, tho Leader of the Opposition was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence without a dissentient voice.