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SIR JOSEPH WARD AT WINTON

EXPLAINS HIS POSITION HOUSING, SETTLEMENT AND FINANCE fly Telegraph—Press Association Winton, November 13. Sir Joseph Ward opened tho campaign in his constituency at Winton to-night. On arrival at Winton he received a \ery cordial welcomo from Winton residents and constituents from other parts of his electorate, and was entertained at dinner by the Winton Borough Council. At tho meeting in the evsning tho hall was filled by i<. large audience. The Winton Band played Sir Joseph and Lady Ward to tho hall, whi'ro they received a. hearty welcome. The Mayor, 31 r. T. Walker, eaid Sir Joseph Ward needed no introduction to a Winton audience.

On rising to speak Sir Joseph WnrJ was received with loud applause, lie referred to the fact it was thirtythreo years since he had first stood before a Wintou audieiice, and expressed deep appreciation of the loyalty of tlio constituents who had stood by him through good repute and iH-rep_nt» all that time. Passing to tho main part of hi,s address, Sir Joseph Ward said that Reform candidates and Press wero now talking and writing as though he and the Liberal members had joined tho Keform Party. That was nlieolutely contrary to fact and agreement. Ho never was a member of tho Ileform Party, but joined as Leader of tho Liberal Party for purposes of unity to help win the war. He carried out the agreement in every respect to the letter. After peace was signed as Leader of the Liberal Party lie with his colleagues left in accordance with agreement. He would have b?en traitor to the Liberals had ho stayed in and''dishonest to tho people who had fleeted the Liberal Party. Sir Joseph Ward then proceeded to review his work as Finance Minister in the National Government, dwelling particularly on his lean-raising operations ana the accumulated surplus. He condemn' e<l his succpssor's financial proposals' on lines following his utterances in Parliament. Increased Production Needed. Ho held strongly that where wo wero proposing to put increased settlers, including soldiers on the land it was our bounden <lnty to have 'railways an/I road facilities nwle. nhcul to give those coining upon tho laud find many of ihoso already on the land the opportunity of getting the.ir products to market. In tlio reconstruction necessary to meet altered conditions duu.to tho war it' was clear that we had to change our whole method, and a. tremendous increase, in production ivas necessary to help us to bear the additional burden that had been .thrust upon, th.u people duo to war expenditure. It was idle to disguise that we had not sufficient manhood in the country to carry on' a vigorous pot icy of railway, roads and bridges construction, and it was imperatively, necessary that immigration of the right class' should 1)0 encouraged to come and help the country where there was such great shortage. The services when completed would enable absorption of thousands of people. It would not prejudicis the workers , and it would help the country as it whole to provide the largo additional revenues which are essential. He was convinced from the course now being adopted by the Government in not providing tor additional avenues of revenue beyond those we already possessed together with tho rushing of such heavy loan money into a. short period that we. had additional taxations staring us in the face. Tho present taxation was in tho main heavy enough in all conscience, and if his views were carried into effect it could be materially reduced. Sir Joseph, Ward recapitulated his -nationalisation schemes. lie was against the "go-slow" policy, but as a result of long experience and the thoroughly unsatisfactory condition that year in and year out had arisen in connection with llio working of coal mines he had come to the conclusion that in the best interests of the country at least some of then) should bo nationalised. Tho "ro-s'iow' , policy was disastrous in lcw.ilts and inimical to the best interests of miners and workers. Anyone who advised such a colirsc was not their friend. It was bringing a large section of tho public into and no sensible person could defend such a policy. It was hurling Huge-earners, traders, business peonle, and Iho best interests of tho State in all parts of the Dominion. Housing Scheme and Soldier SeUleMent. Ho held tho view strongly Ihnt.ono million a. year for four years should bo expended to (provide workers' homes, and that these could bo provided lor a rental of 10s. (id. a week for a liveroomed house, and to meet a proportion of houses of larger families with, increased accommodation, at most 11.;. (id. a week should V charged, lie. wa.-i strongly in iirvmir of iucrcii-ing land settlement for soldiers and civilians. The attempt to spend fourteen inilliuns in one year on tho funnel , and buying of individual farms from f;1 tiers was farcing up Iho value of land lo mi pxleiil. li'.iat he was afraid would seriously militate against those who look up land 'it prrFCiit rates. All Cro.vn lands and Native, lands wlliicli had liwn acquired liy MuCinvormiKT.t should lv made i'.vailablo for urlUeinent. and small farms iriini individual farmers should not bp. purchased, as it brought the laud into immediate competition with soldiers for fresh laud. I Soldier nottleniont land should be taken

from the larger ostites, and tn keep the value down to reasonablo rates the graduated land tax would require to bo materially increased on tlho larger aroa.s. Otherwise he forsaw disaster to those who were taking up lands at present values, if. , was sincerely in favour of helping' returned soldiers and their dependants in every way possible. We owed a duty to ourselves and to posterity, and we should do the right and genjrous ti'nin" to them, and in Iliis opinion there ■HUs "nothing the people had to pay for would be more readily given- than for purposes connected with soldiers. Ho was strongly o]>po.'»;d to hastening the displiarge'of soldiers who were not■ wUiolly fit to re-enlor into civilian employment. Ho was exceedingly eorry to seo that there was causs for complaint made that men have been discharged while still unfit for ordinary work. Military Forces in New Zealand, He was opposed to any attempt to build up a large military force in this country because it was not necessary. He held that the cadet system which had 'been in operation gave an excellent foundation for discipline, and that the Territorial .system in operation before Hie war should b"e continued. The complete demobilisation of the Expeditionary Forces should be carried into effect without delny. The Cost of Living. The cost of living, winch had been so enhanced all "over the world, and also to a lesser extent in New Zealand, was felt by every section of the community, and niore especially by those among the lower paid classes. Thoro could be no doubt that to help meet what was a great pinch fora largo number of people throughout the country everyone- had to recognise that a higher basis, of pay was not only essential but unavoidable. It was i' difficult problem to cot down the cost of living to" anything like its former extent where the increased cost was partly duo to increased wages and to many oilier ca-uses, and ho felt that the world had to face- the fact that to help to meet it employers in all walks of life, nnd tho State, Hie greatest employer of the lot, had to face tho altered position cheerfully and do what was necessary.

Imperial and Other Questions. Ho was n. strong supporter for anything Hint would liiako for tho unity of (lie British Empire, and he expressed his approval of the League of Nations. Ho was opposed to any local navy schemes, and was glad to find Admiral Jcllicoo in his report did not encourage such a system, hut advocated one linked up with ti lo British Navy, that in tho interests of this country and Empire as a whole lip hoped to see put into practical and effective working nnhr. He believed in strnnr finance, and Relieved that tho present taxation could bo reduced by increasing Iho avenues through which revenue vjas to 'be produced, and by ensuring that those best able to bear it should bear their proper share of taxation. In conclusion, he advocated financial assistance to local industries, aerial postal services, motor lorries for country rnmsport where there are no railways, financial assistance for oil boring- and gold prospecting, further reform in oldage pensions, and pensions for widows and orphans, and other proposals on tho lines of previous utterances. A rote of thanks and confidence and an expression of appreciation of his valuable services to tlio Empire was carried by acclamation and without a dissentient. Oliccrs were given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19191114.2.76

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 43, 14 November 1919, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,477

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT WINTON Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 43, 14 November 1919, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT WINTON Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 43, 14 November 1919, Page 8

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