SIR JOSEPH WARD’S SPEECH

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1928, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S SPEECH

(Auckland Star.) ( The'really great reception given to Sir Joseph Ward did credit to Auckland’s ‘gratitude and Auckland’s Liberalism. The huge audience in the ball, .and the overflow outside, were wiih - him almost to a man, and their enthusiasm was good to bear. '1 hose who went were attracted partly by the. distinguished record of the ■'.speaker, but sitch an attendance and such enthusiasm prove that there is a wide dOmaud for a change of Government and that the choice of Labour is not. as so many would have us believe,, the only alternative:. Here we may note the admiksioiY of the “ Herald,” whichwe do hot rCmember to have seem before, thqtitliere should be room in New 'Zeahind politics for a possible a)-, ter native to the Government besides the .Lahom't Party.,” -which, in tin*, “ HerakPs ” opinion* is in sp, many respects impossible. Those who, like ourselves, have been trying to save the Liberal Party from the combined attack of Reiform and Labour, will remember this admission.

Sir Joseph Ward let the Government off far too lightly. Hard hitting is needed pn the platforms of the United Party. * Nor was his speech complete as an exposition of his policy that the party should adopt and should expound emphatically and in detail. It was, however, a vigorous exposition of Liberalism by one who has done moic for that cause in New Zealand than any other living man. It brought back the past in a strange way to hear Sir Joseph tell or remind his audience that it was he who had introduced the lending of cheap money by the State. His proposal to introduce seventy millions of money into New Zealand is not what it- might have seemed to be from one portion of his speech. What Sir Joseph evidently means is that he would arrange the finance in one year. He made it clear that the actual borrowing is to be spread over a period. Such a loan programme may he rather more than the country could stand, but the vigour of the idea behind it—of speedy completion of railways and extension of settlement—conies as ; a refreshing contrast to the timidity and mental poverty of the Government. After all, the wisdom of a borrowing polici depends upon the use that is made of the money, and a great increase in borrowing would be justified if if added proportionately to the productivity of the country. Quite properly Sir Joseph attacked the Government’s conception of policy that it. is wiser ,to, help a’'man'already on the land . than to promote more settlement. Why, he asked,, is it not ' possible to do both? He stands for a vigorous land settlement policy, including the planting ’ of emigrants, and he spoke with approval of the group system and pioposed that the admirable Flock House scheme of training be extended to New Zealand boys. Why not? When we add that he denounced aggregation, and declared that it must be stopped; contended that there was a future foi still smaller holdings; and announced that if he had his way he would bring compulsion to bear upon large land-owners in the matter of selling for sub-division —a step which the Gov-., eminent, because of its affiliations, dare not take—when all this is noted, it will be seen that Sir Joseph Ward offers a land policy that is greatly to be preferred t@ what passes for policy in the house of Reform. He belongs, of course, to tile party that revolutionised land settlement in New Zealand. He has vision, and the Governmenc has none. He had something to say about “ Government in business,” and the business world should welcome his reference as giving hope of a new era when their affairs will he relieved from perpetual . interference. lhe United Party should be capable of elaborating what he said last night on this and other subjects, and of making, the necessary additions to its programme. Sir Joseph has given it a vigorous lead.