SIR JOSEPH WARD AT BLUFF

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 44, 15 November 1919, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT BLUFF

"NOT CONSULTED" ON THE PARTY SYSTEM. By Telegraph-Press Association. Invercargill, November 14. "Sir Joseph Ward addressed a larga meeting at Bluff to-night, the Mayor (Mr. Bengali) presiding. deferring to local matters, Sir Joseph AVard advocated tho expenditure of ,£SOOO 011 fish freezing works at Stewart Islnnd nnd an improved Bluff-Stewart Island service. Keferring to the statement by Mr. -Massey at AVaiuku that the Liberals would not agree to a fusion of the two parlies iitsl year in the general interests of the country, Sir Joseph AVard declared that ho had. never been consulted 011 the matter, knowing .nothing except from the Press reports of the Eeform caucus. "I deprecate the efforts of the other party to endeavour to make out that T, as leader of the Liberals, was responsible for the continuance of the party system. Ido not soy fusion would bo a good thing, and I do not say it would bo a bad thing, but I was never consulted." Sir Joseph Ward went on to support a system of superannuation for miners and waterside workers, and, by the extension of the National Provident Fund, superannuation for all who would contribute, for, he declared, a gift was' never appreciated. He declared himself in favour of spending ■£100,000. a year on training an air force for commercial and defence purposes, lie had been .ic-sponsible for the sending of an officer to report on New Zealand in this connection. He did not agree with tho reports, which entailed too great an expenditure. He said lhat with aeroplanes as mail-carriers six stations would mean that practically everyone m tlio country would have, a, daily delivery. He was still against a local navy, and was pleased to sec that Admiral Jellieoe supported him with a recommendation that New Zealand contribute towards the upkeep of tho British Navy, and have a sub-squadron in the Pacific with hendqnnrters at Ihe China station. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was passed, nnd the motion acknowledged the many great public services rendered to tho Dominion by Sir Joseph AVard.