POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 1, 20 May 1914, Page 4

POLITICAL.

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT HASTINGS. ANNOUNCES DR ROBERT McNAß'fl OMDIDAITUBB. By Telegraph—Press Association. « Napier, Last Night. At Hastings to-night Sir Joseph Ward addressed an audience of between 800 and 000 electors. The heavy rain experienced during the last three tor four days still continued, yet, notwithstanding this, every seat in the theatre was occupied, and standing room' had to be refused to late comers. Sir Joseph and lady Ward were accorded a great reception on arrival, and the applause was renewed when he arose to speak. Although suffering from a cold, he spoke strongly for two hours, There were no interjections, and the applause, which punctuated hist address, showed that he had the meeting with him. He spoke mainly on the lines of hj» openair meeting at Ohristchtrrch on May 4, and broke very little ground. Speaking concerning the Premier'sstatements that when the Reform Government came into power thqy found the Treasury chests depleted, Sir Joseph stated that the Premier did not tell people the real truth as to the* cause of the tightness of money that he experienced after he attained office. He did not tell them that the scarcity of money vae due to the fact that deposits' in the Post Office Savings Bank had. fallen very considerably during their first year of their term of office. Sir Joseph repeated hie previous remarks regarding the naval policy of New Zealand, and added that he would use every means in his power between now and the election to induce the people to protest against a local navy being established. Dealing with the advances to workers and cheap money, he stated that he had received letters Irom all parts of the country, telling him of tihe difficulties facing borrowers in obtaining loans, and complaining of the high rate of interest asked. Since he had come to Hawke'g Bay he had' received two such letters fiwm persons who had paid 8 per cent, and procuration fees of l 1 per cent. Referring to the waterslders' strike, he said he believed in every man and woman havingi the Tight to strike, though he did not consider it the best method of obtaining what they considered themselves' entitled to. He repeated the assertion, that the strike could have been settled in two days. There were two Acts on the Statute Book which cou'd have been put into operation and prevented the strike from spreading. He did not believe in syndicalism. • Prior to the. last election, lie told candidates standing in the interest of the party now known as the Red Feds, that he could not subscribe to their policy, and the result was that at the second •ballot they voted for the Reform Candida tefl.

Referring to the Hawlce's Ray *eat, he said that during the last few weefcs meeting !iad been hold with n view to crystallising the opinion of the electors in the mutter of the selection of a. Liheral candidate. Delegates freni all parts of Hnwke's Bay had assembled to-day, and had unanimously selected' Dr Robert McNah —(loud cheers)—who, they considered, had the best chance of winniw? the seat. Pine concessions had' been made by the other aspirants for selection, who were entitled to consideration, and who, by standing aside, set a worthv example to other electorates. Ilhey hajl displayed a fine spirit, which would heln the Liberal cause. The. following resolution was carried unanimously and with loud cheers.— "That this meeting conveys a hearty vote of thanks to Sir Joseph Ward frr his address, expresses confidence rn his party, audi congratulates him on his able leiuferohip, and pledges itself to Mipport the selected candidate at the coming election."