SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 81, 4 December 1914, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

IN THE ENEMY’S STRONGHOLD

MOTION OF CONFIDENCE CARRIED

PUKEKOHE, Dec. 2.

Sir Joseph Ward addresse about 1000 electors in the Premier Hall, Pukekoho, this evening. ' The Mayor (Mr. C. K. Lawrie) presided. The building was crowded long betore the meeting began. Sir Joseph Ward arrived at 8.30 p.m. Cheers greeted is entrance, and immediately a strong section called for cheers for Mr. Massey, which were given, but •there was dissent from a larger section. When Sir Joseph Ward' rose tospeak there was great cheering. Three cheers for Mr. Massey followed, accompanied by slight hooting. Then came a strongvolume of , cheering for Sir. Joseph Ward.

“The people,” Sir Joseph Ward said, “were promised reform.” A Voice: “We’s got it. (Cheers and dissent).

Sir Joseph Ward: “When I heard that I wondered if Rip Van Winkle had been resurrected.”

After dealing with taxation and borrowing, Sir-;Joseph Ward, asked what was the result of Mr. Massey’s first term of years. Voices: “The freehold.” (Cheers and disorder.)

At the stage the chairman appealed for a hearing. Sir Joseph Ward: I am not going into the freehold except to say this. It is a tenure of the country. It is not going to be altered. The bulk of the people found themselves ever so much better off by not converting, (Dissent and cheers), Mr. C. E. Stembridge moved a vote of thanks and confidence in the party under Sir Joseph Ward’s leadership.

Mr. C, A. Kidd seconded. Mr. Eames moved an amendment of thanks, and that as no valid reason had been advanced the meeting express continued confidence in the Massey Administration.

Te chairman put the amendment, and there was a great itemonstrationo of cheering and the thowing of hats and handerkerehiefs in the air. The chairman declared the amendment lost. Another similar demonstration followed the putting of the motion of confidence, which the chairman declared carried. There was an endless stream of interjections throughout the evening, but Sir Joseph Ward answered his points, and always wasable to secure a hearing.