No Private Pledges on Public Issues

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 115, 5 August 1927, Page 16

No Private Pledges on Public Issues

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS HARD KNOCKS IN ELECTIONS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. “TF you are not prepared to get knocked about and stand criticism it will be better to keep out of politics," declared Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Representatives, when referring to his personal experiences in connection with electioneering. Particular reference was made to the Tauranga election, when, he said, he struck many hard knocks, but he expected to be knocked about a bit in general elections. “I do not go about whining about this," went on Sir Joseph. He said: “I have been in elections where tactics have been used that could not be called quite wholesome. At one time I had six Ministers in my electorate, and how many members of Parliament I forget.. I ran against them everywhere. I had one of the strong supporters of the trade approaching the hotels asking their friends to vote for the prohibition candidate. My opponent had sigmjd a pact, and I was asked to sign a similar one and refused, because I would never sign any undertaking privately, but am always prepared to make a statement publicly. I don’t then have to come and take a seat in the House and shiver because of having to explain my position to two different narties. I think it would be a wise thing for the whole lot of us to publish our pledges before we are elected. It would save a large amount of trouble, and if any adjustment were required it would be done later in the House. You will feel freer if you never give a private pledge upon a public issue. I would like to see the Government bring down a sensible Bill to deal with elections to eliminate personal advantage. t