The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1929 ALL CRY AND LITTLE WOOL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 681, 5 June 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1929 ALL CRY AND LITTLE WOOL

AS the guest of Auckland last evening- Sir Joseph Ward had a pleasant experience. The Town Hall was not big- enough to hold all the citizens who desired to hear a veteran statesman put the political world straight; not less than four thousand people were genuinely glad to see linn and extend such a welcome as is reserved for the best of friends; and the general conditions were enriched with that stimulating music of mountain and moorland which is appropriate equally to dirge or delight. Thus every circumstance at the outset of an eager meeting presaged a great occasion crammed with opportunity for a political triumph. What followed, however, failed to justify high anticipation. Had the welcome speaker been any politician other than this administrator, who personally is the most likeable of men, one would have said at once and been done with it that the address was merely a political fizzle, yielding nothing better than disappointment. The Prime Minister did not have an outstanding message for an expectant people. His speech largely .was an old story, weak in substance, but strong as ever in assertion and extravagant claim. Here and there, of course, a promise of something new and better emerged from the familiar and rather frayed narrative, but it was flitsome and unstable as a will-of-the wisp. And occasionally the Prime Minister was sound and firm on argument in support of the Government’s policy. This was most noticeable in the vexed question of railway construction and railway stoppage. Though more details might well have been given as regards the cost of projected completion of mam trunk lines and the prospect of profit, there is no doubt at all about Sir Joseph's contention that the long, bad day of short branch railways has passed, giving way to the era of quick motor transport on good country roads. It is obvious that, if railways may be expected to earn interest on their capital cost and possibly a little more, such an agreeable result will be secured only from long-distance traffic. Therefore, it can be said frankly that the Prime Minister’s talk on railway construction and the opposite, though also an oft-told tale, was by far his strongest argument and firmest effort. For the rest, perhaps the least said the better. It was at its best remarkably disappointing. Many statements were applauded like hopeful and exhilarating discoveries, but then the great audience was sympathetic and in the mood for generous praise. But when it had heard everything and weighed the best with the worst, and liad made every allowance for all the circumstances deserving of consideration, it could not escape the impression that the result was a sad disappointment and clear disillusionment. There was nothing in the speech to grip and take home for appreciative study. Sometimes in the course of the diffuse address there was clause for wonder. Take, for example, the definite statement that the Government had borrowed .£.7,000.000 at per cent. Sir Joseph raised a gale ofi laughter by observing to those who are urging the Government to travel swiftly along the road of extravagance and spend prodigally that, if anyone could expand and blow £7,000,000 into £33,000,000, such a wonderful person would he -welcomed in the Ministry. Hitherto, the greatest expanders and blowers have been Ministers, and if they can now explain where and how they borrowed £7,000,000 at the moderate interest of £4 10s a hundred, scores of local bodies and other questing borrowers will expand and blow with gratitude. The people may expect the promise of magic from politicians and, in their simplicity, applaud the prospect of enjoying- it, but the practice of mystery will not satisfy them. It has also to be noted with polite surprise that the Prime Minister claimed with resounding confidence that the Government already had done everything it had promised before the elections last year to get done in record time and with the perfection of political achievement. Here, again, most people would require a big pinch of salt with which to swallow such a boast. To speak with the candour that politicians can understand and always deserve, the claim is sheer political bluff and nonsense. Before the election there were, among other joys to come, promises of reduced taxation, and a speedy end to unemployment. Have these been fulfilled? As for the great song about buying eight improved farms and placing- fifty men on the subdivided holdings,, the expensive system is the very negation of the United Party’s pre-election policy. The best joke of the occasion last evening, however, was the thrilling announcement that £SOO would he spent on preliminary investigation of the Harbour Bridge scheme. This was a secondhand sensation. But it was in keeping with the rest of the Government’s policy.