POLITICAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 84, 8 December 1914, Page 4

POLITICAL.

MR. MASSEY AT PONSONBY

A BIG AUDIENCE

AUCKLAND, December 7

The Prime Minister spoke at Wind'd’ Theatre, Ponsonby, this evening, to i crowded audience. Many were un■blc to gain admission. Mr. Massey lelivered a stirring speech. He dealt iih various political question on the ines of his previous addresses.

A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by a large majority with cheers* and counter cheers!

DUNEDIN, December 7

In reference to an Oamaru Press Association message quoting the accuracy of some figures used by opponents of prohibition in a pamphlet, attention has been directed :o the following statement claimed to have been compiled from Government statistics. Prom 1900 to 1905, under license in Oamaru, savings bank -deposits increased' i£40,000 (in place of £5300 as stated), and from 1905 to 1911, under license-, they decreased by £949. Against these figures were placed those dealing with the license districts of New Plymouth, where the increase in deposits was continuous throughout ten years’ period (1901-1911), the figures being £136,570 and £301,693 respectively; it is contended the point of the statement is not materially affected by the mistake in taking the total credits at the end of the year for deposits during the year, SIR JOSEPH WARD AT BALCLUTHA BALCLUTHA, December 7. Sir Joseph Ward visited Balelutha to-day and was warmly received at a large public meeting here. He replied to a number of criticisms recently directed against him. He pointed out that the Telefunken Co. is a British company, and is in use on many of the steamers in Canada and in Australia. He again denied his firm had a store of wheat, and said he would not allow a speculator to hold wheat at this juncture. He had always helped the woollen industry in New Zealand and in his remarks in the north he had never proposed that duty should be taken off any article that could he made in New Zealand. He referred to the increase in taxation, and of the public debt under the Massey Government and went on to touch on many other matters touched on by him in his northern tour. A motion of thanks and confidence, together with the wish that Sir Joseph Ward would be Prime Minister, was carried by a very large majority.