Sir Joseph Ward at Eltham.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7832, 26 May 1905, Page 2

Sir Joseph Ward at Eltham.

A POLITICAL SPEECH

u . (Per Press Association.) !- ELTHAM, May 25. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a large . meeting here to-night. He said * everyone' must rejoice t„ know that J the Premier of the colony was re- ■ stored to heavth. Regarding tlie - rumours of quarrels in the Ministry the spe a ker said they were entirely J without foundation ; there never hnd ( been a quarrel between Mr Seddon ~ and himself since they becrnme ast sociated in the Ministry. Sir Joseph - quoted statistics showing the won- - doriul progress of Tarannki during - the past ten years in agriculture, livestock, and the dairy industry. f Tho output of butter for the year - .1903-4 was ]32,<>oscwt, and of - cheese 1703 tons. The increase in - butter value in tho last ten years . was X2U.VJBB, and of chctjse £22,I 08(i. The Minister went on to i-e----f view the financial statement on the lines of Sir Seddon's Dunoditi speech, i He condemned the tendency of some . parts _of the colony to inflate the > value of land. On the land question i he supported, the appointment of the • lend Commission.- The information the Commission would Kuin would Ixi i of infinite value. He himself was I keeping a perfectly open mind until ! tho report was available, lie did not ' believe in the nationalisation of land. In the sense that some people were ; advocating it, tho theory was next > door to impossible. Sir Joseph - Ward quoted figures showing the allocation for railways in the North and South Islands, deprecating the ! cry of island against island. Refer--1 ring to the mail service, he read a communication he had addressed to tho Commonwealth Postmaster-Gen-eral regarding bringing about a mora equitable arrangement in the puyiiient of the Suez and 'Frisco mails by tho respective colonies. Ho claimed that in addition to those New Zealand should have « Vancouver service, Aluo that New Zealand should set her face against the present invasion by yellow and black races. He strongly advocated reciprocity with Australia. Shaking on butter freights to London, he said that whereas New Zealand jspajing 7s per cwt., Australia now pays Hs Bd, and hp had drawn attention the matter. lie hoped so () n to havo a fair field. Sir Joseph referred to the adulteration of New Zealand Milter in Holland. He staled that hi had cabled to the Imperial Government. The Minister advocated su* perannuation for civil servants, the development of'water power, ami in dividual titles to native lands. lit his own opinion! nil lands should be bought, u|i,| the natives treated tlva as in the West Coast settlement lands, dealt with' by the late Mr Ballance. He held , that the old system of taking land , under the Land for Settlement Act , should be re-intradu<K>d, owners pino- j ing theft Yttlup fin m and tho <lo- r having, tho right to resumo j Ut 10 pep cent, increase. , A voto of thanks and coniitlonce way c u#aninwusiy cajrjpi,. i