ELECTION SPEECH.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 573, 18 November 1902, Page 2

ELECTION SPEECH.

(Per Press Association.) WINTON, last night. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a crowd ed meeting iiere this evening, reeeivinj a great ovation, lie said it gave bin great pleasure to address the elector of the constituency which lie had ha< the honor of representing for Die las fifteen years, and lie appreciated tin compliment paid him by the splendit gathering that evening. lie defendei the financial position of Die colony am l-lic Potation of our loans, denying ; statement that he Bad. said the colon) would not need to go on Die menu) market, In the Financial .Statement he had indicated that a portion of the loan would he borrowed in the colony. He churned great credit for the Government for Die enormous concession? which had Been made on. the -railways, As to rumors as to the insecurity oi Die position of the colony, lie would not, lie said, have continued in office find not matters in that, respect iieen all right. He defended the land settlement policy, and dealt with the rf. forts to establish steam service with South Africa. Regarding the Bank of New Zealand, lie claimed credit for the Government for averting a great financial disaster, and said it- had oeen proved that they had acted in the best interests of the colony—the colony would not lose a, penny by what had been done. Regard inn Die recent purchase of a steamer for Lake WakaDpo he said there was no use of having cheap raifwy) lares if they did not encourage the public to take advantage of them, lie eulogised the Premier in regard to Die way he had represented the colony in England, and said it would lie a grand Uiimr if they had a system of preference to British goods carried i:: British ships to the colony, in conclusion fie referred to New Zealand as being inhabited by a sturdy people who were founding what wav destined to he one of the strongest outposts oi the British Empire, and nc hoped that the trust placed in the ha mis of the people of to-day would not he abused by their successors. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously.