Sir Joseph Ward

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 21 February 1914, Page 5

Sir Joseph Ward

LEADER OF THE OPIOSITION AT WINTON. A POWERFUL SPEECH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. I Winton, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting at Winton tonight. Mr. R, Wilson, the Mayor, presided, and the hall was filled to overflowing. On rising, Sir Joseph Ward received an ovation. NO -MANDATE. He referred to the reasons leading to, his resignation, und while stressing his cheerful willingness to abide by the majority at the polls, lie would do his best for the country. He pointed out that at the election Mr Massey and his followers bad polled only 28 per cent, of the votes. The present Government thus had no mandate from the country, and no absolute majority of their own followers in the House. He expressed the opinion that before any leader formed a Government he should go before the people. This also applied to any member changing bis party, FINANCE. As to finance, the Hon. James Allen had criticised him for not raising a loan for ten years before leaving on.ee. The reason why he did not do so was perfectly sound. When the position between parties became close he felt it was proper to leave a possible successor .a free hand. Had lie known there was going to be a loan of sixty millions, and another of ten milions, raised by other countries, be might have considered the raising of four millions before going out of office. Yet, bad he done so, he would have been cried down from one end of the country to the other. Before leaving office he had aranged for one million from Home, and one million locally, which, with £BOO,OOO transferred to the Public Works .Fund, gave" the incoming Treasurer £2,800,000 to carry on the business of tiie country till October. Sir Joseph quoted figures'showing that Mr Massey had increased taxation bv 10s 3d per head, instead 1 of decroas'm? it, as promised prior to tiie election. He criticised the NAVY PROPOSALS as enormously expensive and ineffective in comparison with the system of contributions to the Imperial Navy. ADVANCES TO SEiTLERS. He compared the amount advanced to settlers by bis Government and by Mr .Massey, to the advantage of the former. Tiie system of Parliamentary grants for public works was continued, though tho '"Reformers" had once inveighed against it as degradilng. LAND POLICY PROMISED. ■ He criticised land settlement, and promised to outline later a system which would mean closer settlement, cheaper land, and greater production. BROKEN*' PROMISES. He twitted the "Reformers" with failcost of living, which had increased. They had not reduced taxation, but had increased it. They had not reduced the cost of living, which ad increased. They bad not stopped political patronage. They had not reduced working hours of Parliament. They had not stopped tho rush of legislation at the end of the session. They had not introduced a Local Government Bill, and had not promoted industrial neace. All these promises were unfulfilled. What a record, in comparison with beneficial measures of the Liberal Government!, He opposed the system of Pubic Service Commissioners, saying the Public Service should be controlled by men responsible to Parliament and the country. Sir Joseph Ward strongly denounced the statements that he prejudiced or hamered the Government in dealing with ~.,, ~., .^y {[f j,i

THE LATE STRIKE. He referred to the efforts of the Opposition t» bring about a peaceful settlement. He denounced the application of the guillotine, and the tactics of the Reform League in endeavoring to have resolutions carried and telegraphed throughout New Zealand condemning the tactics of the Opposition. That sort of thing was responsible for lowering the standard of publ'c life, and such tactics would recoil on tho heads of those responsible. He saw no solution of the industrial problem without some measure of State interference, but. capital already invested should be protected. Superannuation funds and sick ajid accident benefits would do much to improve the condition of workers. He claimed during 27 years ot public liftnever to have hit below the belt; never to have written anonymous letters about opponents; never to have written an article to a newspaper about an opponent. He had endeavored to play tho game, and to do his best to promote the interests of the whole country. The speech was frequently interrupted by applause, and another ovation followed its conclusion, wnen a vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously.