POLITCAL PILOTS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 June 1914, Page 5

POLITCAL PILOTS

Sir Joseph at Dargaville

Sir Joseph had a splendid meeting at Dargaville on Friday night Jast, and on resuming his seat received a great ovation. Ho also announced that he had endorsed the selection of Mr Hoe as the Liberal candidate for Kaipara. Mr J. Stallworthy, exmomW for the district, moved the following resolution: "That this meeting thanks Sir Joseph Ward, the Leader of the Liberal Party, for his able address on the political questions of the day, expresses its entire confidence in him as Leader of the Liberal* Party, and looks forward with confidence and with an earnest desire to see the triumph of that party under the leadership of Sir Joseph Ward at the coming election." This was seconded by Mr J. Eae and carried unanimously, the meeting breaking up with cheers for Sir Joseph Ward. * #- # . Carried Shoulder High There were about 5000 persons at the big meeting in Victoria Square at Christchurch last Friday night, when the Prime Alroister delivered a political speech. The disturbers were not numerons, perhaps, 150 at the most, but they had placed themselves near the rotunda in small knots and were so persistent that it almost appeared that their organisation had included some rehearsals. At the end of the meeting Mr Massey received a great ovation, and he was carried shoulder-high away from the rotunda, and was escorted to his hotel by an enormous crowd, cheering wildly, a few hoots being intermingled. * Confidence at Davonport Sir Joseph Ward delivered a political address in the Parish Hall at Devonport the oth-jt nip hi, when all the seating accommodation was occupied and many were standing. On the platform were Messrs Myers and Glover, Ms.P. The speech dealt principally with farming interest?, which, the speaker claimed, cerq benefitted by the system of taxation introduced by the Liberals when thuy repealed the property tax. A vote of thanks aud confidence was passed almost unanimously, Trying to "Corner" Him Whatever may be said of the Premier, Mr Massey, he has an opinion of his own, and tells the people all alike if you don't like the policy of the present Government, you know - what to do next election day. This i» what one may safely cail " square dealing " in rpply to the National Peace Council deputation at Christchurch, Mr Massey said that the scheme of defence had been approved by Parliament and people. (Voices: No!) :His Government took the responsibility for the.Defence Act jufrt as did the Government which placed it on the Statute Book. The Government was willing to improve the Act, but it, held that the young men of this country must he trained to do their duty in the event of the Empire being brought to war. The present Government was goin<? to stand or fall by the principle of the Defence Aot. "If you don't agree with that," he added, " you will g6t your remedy at the end of the year. Vote igamst us!" Deputation: "Hear, hear!" Mr Massey : "We are not going back in the slightest degree on the principles of the Defence Act." * . .# # ' On Prohibition Then again, in reply to tne deputation mustered by the Canterbury Prohibition Party, the Prime Minister in the course of his reply, said that he was not a prohibitionist, although he belv/ngeu to the temperance party, and was heartily in accordance with what Mr Isitt had said with regard to putting two issues before Parliament, as some of the speakers had advocated If he we;e to do that, he was honestly of the opinion that both issues would be rejected by a majority of ten in the Lower House. The Bill would be killed as dead as Julius Caesar. He wanted to give the Bill a chance. (Hear, hear) So far as he was able to judge, it would pass its second reading. When it came to the r;oniinUtee stage, which was even more important, any member had the right to move -'in amendment, so long ns it whs reasonable an 1 relevant. Tt was the r'ght of every member to test the f'-oliii^ of \\u\ UouK(-> on such a question, fo long as his amendment was not frivolus