LIBERAL LEADERSHIP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 22 February 1912, Page 5

LIBERAL LEADERSHIP.

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S POLICY IF DEFEATED.

STILL A FIGHTING MEMBER

The. Prime Minister concluded his speech on Mr. Massey’s amendment to the Address-in-Reply on luesday night with the following• . “No one will accept the decision of the House at the present juncture more cheerfully than I wl ]j> , am } hope notwithstanding all that lias bosn said that we are going to win—(hear, hear)—and in any case, it would be a bad tiling for the country if wo do not win. I have quite enough sense to realise that the fictitious ci.y, especially in the North Island: liu Ward down,’ told a tale, but the cry was certainly not, ‘Put Massey in. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Herries; That’s what we are here for. . , , , Sir Joseph: That’s what yon have been there for all along, and you are still there. (Laughter.) I have shown that the number of the Liberal voters was greater than those who suppoi ted the Conservatives under their reform alias. I am going to say Imre that I am not going to cling to office upon a small majority to please anybody. The Leader of the Opposition may try the game if he likes, and take the consequences if he pleases. Mr. Massey:"! have said so myself. THE NATURAL ALLIES.

Sir Joseph Ward; I believe the natural allies are Labour and Liberal, and that one of the greatest mistakes the present juncture would be to allow their natural ’ opponents—because they are responsible for the position at the present moment—to triumph. I have made it quite clear that the majority of Liberal voters was 50,000 more than tho Conservatives. As far as I am concerned, if we win this division, as I honestly believe we will, I do not propose to continue in the position I hold now after that win has taken place. In ocher words. I am not going to be pat in the position into which the other side, through its friends in the country, seek to force me, I am not going to be used as the butt to injure the Liberal and Labour party of this country. (Loud applause from Liberal members). They have used me as a butt, raising cries of every conceivable kind against me, personal n utters which were not misrepresentations, but deliberate and wilful falsehoods. (Loud applause.) INTO THE RANK AND FILE. “What I say to the Liberals and workers is this: I am prepared to go into the rank and file of the LiberalLabour Party to stand by and help them to the utmost of my ability. But I will undertake to say that as a free man I will be a much more dangerous man than I am with my present responsibilities. I have now to curb my tongue, and am unable to do what the i Leader of the Opposition and his peripatetic .band have been trying to do. But I do not care for these attacks. As a matter of fact, I have been responsible for saving this country from a,crisis three times in my history, and you will not find one unsuccessful flotation of ' a loan, large or ! small: , Whether the Opposition or Govern--1 msnt- press criticises the Governor's .Speech, or whosoever carries it .out, T have had the satisfaction of indicating a policy that will enable the men carrying .it out to drag the Leader of the Opposition at the chariot wheels. ,3’ha;t.policy will not be carried out in one or two sessions, but : it is tub groundwork for those who want to. stand by the farmer and the worker. (Loud applause.) The Liberal and Labour parties have nothing to thank the 1 large 1 landowners for. The; majority of the people of the North Liand may bo my'temporary enemies, but I .will never he ■ theirs, and in my private■;capacity after we win, and ne .will‘w,in, T am prepared to assist mv party, and have a happy time in Bellamy’s with Mr. Massey and his ientenants. I will help the Liberal and Labour parties to* check the large landed gormandiser from sweeping them out of existence.” (Loud applause.!