Political

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 280, 29 April 1914, Page 5

Political

SIR JOSEPH WARD. ON DEFENCE AND FINANCE. ]>• Telegraph —Press Association. 'Dunedin, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward addressed about 400 people at Queenstown last evening. He said he was responsible for the introduction of the Territorial Act, which he was satisfied was in the interest of the people as a whole. New Zealand was told by some people that we should form the nucleus of a local navy, and co-operate with Australia. Sir Joseph combatted this, and emphasised the ' importance of continuing our contribution to the Imperial Navy. It was ridiculous to think that our navy should consist of one Bristol cruiser. He asked what New Zealand's "toy" navy would do if the British Navy were smashed. When in Sydney, Mr. Allen had contradicted a statement of Sir Joseph Ward's as to the cost of Australian defence, but it was Mr. Allen who was wrong. Admiral Henderson, adviser to the Common- i wealth Government, estimated that the i cost would be £25,295,000, while depreciation would be £1,240,000, and there were replacements totalling £34,135,000. i If New Zealand went in for a local navy ■ it must be efficient. This would mean an enormous cost. The Government was being directly opposed by all expert opinion. Five years from now the country will be paying £1,500,000 yearly in connection with naval and land defence. ' This was more than, the whole vote for education, and more than onehalf of the expenditure on railways, "and," asked Sir Joseph, "where is the money coming from?" Dealing with the Advances to Settlers and Advances to Workers schemes established by him, he said that over four- , teen millions had been lent to settlers and workers, and less than £IOOO had been lost. The "Reformers" were going round tho country, stating that during their two years in office they had 000, while in the past five years he (Sir Joseph Ward) was in office he had advanced £7,100,000 loans for settlers sit iYz per cent, and £1,700,000 loans to workers. Sir Joseph was enthusiastically applauded, and received a hearty vote of thanks.