“INFAMOUS LIARS”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2081, 24 January 1920, Page 2

“INFAMOUS LIARS”

SIR JOSEPH WARD ON A SECTION OP IflS OPPONENTS. Speaking at'Wellington, Sir Joseph Ward said that, with all his national desire to help the country that he owed everything to, ho would not represent any constituency in New Zealand in Parliament on the score of bigotry, (Applause.) In the 33 years he had been in Parliament, and his 2(5 years in Cabinet, lie laid never upon any occasion heard brought up for consideration or discussion tilings that had been charged against him in blade and while in this country. He had never heal’d an allusion in Cabinet or Parliament to the maintenance of the traditions of Protestantism nor the quest ion of Cathulieisiji discussed in that way. He had'never heard in any single intance, a consultation which the heads of any church, his own or any other, in regard to elections or asking for support; and he had never- been asked by the head of any religious organisation in the country, his own or any oilier, to have has position used for the promotion of any church or section of church people. (Applause.) Right through nearly. 33 years he bad been in Parliament that had been so, am! he wanted to say, without any feeling of any sort dr kind, that one of the most deplorable things that could occur to o young country like this was how the traditions of the Dark Ages brought into New Zealand for the purpose of allowing any man to gain any position, which, however noble if might be to till it to the best of one's ability, was not Avorth anybody adopting such methods to get into Parliament. lie hoped that would enable those who differed from hhn in matters of religion lo realise that he had never one!.' attempted to appoint anyone to the Public Service on account of His religion. He had the records in his possession, and he challenged his opponents to attack him on (hat matter and he would show that they Avere most infamous liars in traducing a public man in the way they had. (Applause.) He av.is not going to allow the people to renin in under Die Avroiig impression Avhich had been deliberately circulated for political purposes without giving them, proof lo enable them to judge the so-called Christians who had visited his electorate, some working there for two and M-half years not on public questions, hut making lying statements with a vieAV to putting him out of public life.- (Applause.) He accepted the result of the elections; hut he held (hat. he avus entitled to criticise* I lie courses adopted hy his opponents and to lake such action in regard to them as he avouHl hike later on. (Applause.)