DOMINION POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2, 23 April 1914, Page 2

DOMINION POLITICS.

SiR JOSEPH WARD. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, April 22. To a pressman to-day, Sir Joseph Ward, who had just returned from a visit to Sydney, speaking on naval matters, said: “It is a mistake to suppose that the idea of a local navy meets with general approval in New South. Wales. There is divided opinion amongst a large section of the eommuity upon this point, and at least two of the important Xew South Wales daily papers are strongly adverse to the local navy system. Naturally, I avoided discussing the matter, excepting to give a reply by invitation to some observations made by Mr Allen, Minister of Defence at Milton, and published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The more 1 discuss the matter with well-informed men, the more I am convinced that the course that has been taken by the present Govrenment is an unwise one.”

Sir Joseph Ward to-day gave an emphatic denial to a statement by the Premier in a speech at Whangarei last night, in reference to the action of the Opnnsition on the Second Ballot .Act "Repeal. Bill last session. Mr Massey said, “The stonen’all was set up, but was quelled when "the Opposition got fn know that he '’Mr Massey) intended to ask for a lissolntion. which thev did not want.” “The position.” said Sir Joseph Ward, “was that we were stopped by the guillotine being applied by the Chairman of Committees. The fear of a. dissolution never arose, so far as the Opposition was concerned. In the first place, it is very questionable whether a dissolution could have been obtained, and in my opinion it would have been unconstitutional if one had been granted. Tbe question of the repeal of the Second Ballot had never hc n n before the country without a substitute of a system of majority rule in its plea, and in anv case the Opposition were not afraid of a dissolution at the time referred to. any more than they are now.”

BAY OF ISLANDS. Ohaewai, April 22. The Premier attended a conference of Reform branch delegates in Ohaewai yesterday afternoon to select a Reform candidate for the Bay of Islands. The meeting was divided between Mr Vernon Reed, sitting" member, and Mr G. Wilkinson, theReform candidate at the last deck tion. No selection was made. THE PREMIER UP NORTH. Ohaeawai, April 22. The Premier openeef the Kaikohe branch of the railway, of 17 miles, today at Kaikohe. Mr Massey said the line was of the greatest importance to the development of the north, as it would ultimately link the Whan-garei-Kawakawa section of the railway with the North Auckland Alain Trunk line. The Premier spoke of the need of railways to fully develop the north, which in the past had been looked upon as the Cinderella of New Zealand, but now was realised to be a productive area suitable for close settlement. At a meeting of Now Plymouth members of the Liberal party the following resolution was carried: “That this meeting desires to place on record its continued confidence in the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward as leader of the great Liberal party, and expresses the hope that ho will soon be leading the House and the country again.”