SIR J. G. WARD'S SPEECH

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1609, 23 November 1905, Page 2

SIR J. G. WARD'S SPEECH

{Fan Press Association.)

W infcoD, last night. Sir J. G. Ward, Minister for Railways, member for Awatna. addressed a large assembly of his Wiuton constituents tonight, and was very favorably received. He defended the legislation of the Government, and submitted that tbe administration of progressive measures, initiated by tbe Liberal party, should not be put in the hands of the Opposition, who had failed to figuratively murder Borne important Acts. He defended the colony’s finance, stating that its power to meet obligations was beyond question. In roferenee to railway construction, he believed it would be better for the colony to build one line at a time, and if he were able be would put every man employed oa railway construction on tne North lelaud Main trunk, 0;ago, Central, Midland,- and. North of Auckland lines successively.' It would then be possible to cease borrowing for railway coustruotiou, and branch railways could be carried oa out of surplus consolidated revenue. Further adjustments were contemplated in regaidto season tickets, annual sectional tickets, the carriage of commercial travellers’ luggage, long dißtanoes, charges on native coal, haulage of ground phosphates and locally manufactured cement. He referred to tbe benefits reaped by the initiation of a West of England steamer service, and hoped shortly to have a cargo connection with Ganada subsidised by uo.h Governments.

He supported classification in the Civil service, and pronouuoed ia favor of extension of superannuation by the. establishment of a general scheme for all the colony’s employees. He was against making o'd age pensions universal under the present system, aud thought that Compulsory contributions would be distasteful to many. A system of annuities carried ont through life assurance offices upon a low basis of contribution, the State giving a propot tion of the premium, might be the mo9t attractive. He supported the optional system of land tenure, and opposed the 999 yea.V lease. The State should retnin the freehold of file lands acquired under t ; u> Land for Settlement Act. He was piepaied to give most careful consideration to the question of

tenure being reviewed. He predicted a readjustment of tbe Customs tariff next session, and advocated .emissions of necessaries and raw material. The graduated tax on large estates would have to be revised. Tbe colony should have no besi-. tation in increasing contributions to tbe British navy. Au offer had been received

to establish wireless telegraphy botween New Zealand and Australia for £20,000, and he was hopeful that the connection would be established. Taxation bad not been increased, except iu the graduated land tax, against ,wiiieh there was the exemption of improvements and mu-ssi'oob in Customs. Be hr mat et nes - year’s meeting of tti3 Wo lu s Foetal Corn's.once tbe universal postage would be adopted. A vote of thanks and confidence Was passed,