SIR JOSEPH WARD

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1920, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD

RECEPTION AMD SPEECH. tecu puk.mr >SFOCiAiio:.'.--rorv7.ioHT.]

WINTON, Feb. 24. Sir Joseph Ward was met bv the Mayor of Winton on his'arrival, and the band. He was given a warm welcome. In the course of his leply, lie stated that he and Lady Ward would be leaving for Australia shortly for a few months, on ail invitation he had received two days after the election.

A banquet was given in honour of Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. There were ofiO present, while many others were unable to gain admission. Lady Ward was made a presentation of a handsome fur rug. Many apologies from leading Liberals were received, all strongly laudatory of Sir Joseph Ward’s services.

An address was read to' him, which traversed his work in connection with the constituency, the country and the Empire.

At Winton to-night, facing a great audience, Sir Joseph Ward addressed the electors. Sir Joseph Ward delivered a lengthy speech, traversing the incidents of the recent election, with familiar reference to the imputation of sectarianism into politics. Sectarianism, lie said, had been employed to an unprecedented extent in Awarua and the other electorates.

Sir Joseph- cited a large number of publications issued by the P.P.A. and the Orange Society, and the statements in their official organ. This publication lie denounced ns being scandalously untrue and unfair. The Bey. Howard Elliott stated, at Bluff, on December 12tli that it had cost between £15,000, and £16,000, to carry Catholic children past State schools. As a matter of fact it hadscost nothing; but lie (Mr Elliott) inferred that the speaker (Sir Joseph) was responsible for the expenditure of this amount. The principle of issuing free school tickets to children attending private primary schools was affirmed in 1886, before lie ever was a member of Parliament. It was affirmed on the motion of Major Atkinson. In 1889 it was adopted by the Railway Commissioners, and it had been in force ever since. The cost mentioned by Mr Elliott was a hook entry, by which the Railway Department got e red if from the Education Department for the carriage of the children of all denominations.

The statement, lie said, was piade by Mr Elliott at Bluff, and by others elsewhere, that in 1911, when lie was Prime Minister, that there had been 6,000 appointments to thp Civjl Servicp, of whom 4,OCX) were Catholics. Yet the actual total number of appointments to the Railway, Postal and other Departments in that, year was under 1200. While lie was Minister of Railways, from 1900 to 1906, a total of 4176 appointments were made, an average of 023 per annum. No person’s religion was stated upon the application form, and the Minister seldom, or never, saw the applicant personally. Thp or gap. of the Orange Lodge apd the P.P.A. had accused him of getting Mr L. Isitt to attack the P.P.A. ip the Hpiisp. .That statement was absolutely untrue.

In tlie same issue tliev made a charge, indirectly, that- the letters of Protestants passing through: the Post Office were not safe' with him as PostmasterGeneral. This again was a deliberate untruth. No letters passing through the Post Office, came under the notice of the Minister, unless there was a breach of the Act; lmt at the same time referred to in this instance lie was out of the country. Sir Joseph said he was accused of moving a motion ' in

Parliament to exempt the Marist. Bros '’rom military service. His motion, ns a matter of fact, exempted all teachers, lecturers, and professors, and that was necessary, owing to the depletion of the

profession. It had been insinuated that his firm had engaged in profiteering during the war. That was impossible, for the reason that it dealt in products which were commandeered by the Imperial

Governmerit. Another statement used m several electorates was that when the Government came to the aid of the Bank of New Zealand, the Pope Had lent £2,000900, subject to a stipulation that the Papal Coat of Arms was to appear on the Bank notes until the amount was repaid. The Government never lent £2,000,000. Ip had guaranteed a loan of that amount, which was floated in London, by the Bank itself. The “Coat of Aniis” referred to was a copy of the seal on the Treaty of Waitangi. He had not at any time had anv communication with anyone in Rome, direct lv or indirpctl.v.

Sir Jospph Ward referred in scathing terms to the imputations cast uppp his loyalty ,and circulated during the election for political purposes. He alluded to his endeavours to assist in the defence and unity of the Empire, both before and during the war. He did not believe that the bulk of the Protestants approved of these attacks, and the polling showed that 336,206 votes out of 542,667 were cast for the opponents of the P.P.A,

Turning to the Reform Party victory at the elections, he pointed out that the Government held office on a minority vote, though lie did not wish to throw cold water on their jubilation at their majority in Parliament. ill eoneluson Sir Joseph hade an eloquent farewell to the Awarua (doctorate.