POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 31 March 1914, Page 2

POLITICAL.

LIBERALS AND "REFORMERS." Comment was made by Sir Joseph Ward at Te Aroha last week on the works of the Liberate as compared with the works of the "Reformers." The old adage, "Example is better than precept," Sir Joseph applied in this domparison:— When the Liberals had fought for a State Insurance Deparlmont were the present "Reform" party lighting for or against them'; (Applause). Liberals had reduced the tax on the necessaries of life from -10 per cent, to 4 per cent. (Applause). They hail given the farmers and the workers concessions.

Nearly twenty years ago he was told by his oppoicnts that bis State Advances Department could not be a success, but a great failure. What did they say to it now?

What had those men done themselves the last two years? They had. touolied the fringe of the old age pensions system; amended portions of the State Fire Insurance Act which at one time they were opposed to; they had amended here and there, and were now going about asking what the Liberals had done in twenty years compared with that?

How many people realised the fight he (Sir Joseph) had put np over the .State cable to Canada—(applause) which had reduced the rate from !)s lid a word to la (id? How about the postal reforms, he had instituted, which had saved so'much expense? If any of these reforms had gone wrong he and his colleagues would have been blamed and thrown out of office. But they bad not cared. They had done what they believed right, and Iliad proved successful, (bond applause.) The young people were not always acquainted with these records, and it was only fair to have them recalled. (Applause)". When he proposed assistance to the Bank of New Zealand the knees of his opponents had knocked together, but now they saw the wisdom of hL> action. (Applause.)