POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 4 November 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

THE LIBERAL POLICY. SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. AX IMPERIALISTIC DOCTRINE. SEVERAL REFORMS PROMISED. Wellington, November 2. Sir Joseph Ward delivered a speech at to-night's meeting of the Women's Social and Poltical League, outlining some points of the Liberal policy. It should be remembered, he said, that the Liberals had never lost power so far as the vote of the people was concerned. He said:—"But I need not here recapitulate ' the circumstances which led to our opponents coming into office, except to say that .it was with the assistance of some members who were returned by the sup- ■ port of the Liberal voters, and it was but right, that the opportunity presenting itself now should be availed of to enable the people to fairly and fully decide between the two. Ho regretted the holding of the elections this year. He had waited patiently for the Prime Minister to disclose his policy. ISo far it had not been forthcoming, and it appeared that one was likely to wait in vain. One of the weaknesses of the present Government was that they showed definite tendencies to wait with a view .to seeing how the political cat jumped, and were slow to lead in anything. After enumerating soinc of the bencficnit measures for which tlfe Liberals were, responsible, Ik 3Siid that their efforts had been in the direction' of improving and settling the country the uplifting of humanity, and the betterment of iTie condition of the masses. There could be little doubt that once the war was over the magnificent and impregnable British Navy which had bottled up the German Fleet, in its own waters, would not be required in such numbers roiin'd the British coast as in the past, and in the ordinary course of events it was probable that the Admiralty would place their surplus vessels at different points of the Empire. The Liberal policy so far as naval defence for New Zealand was concerned might be summed up in these words: "We stand by the Imperial Navy." "I believe," he said, "and have always believed, that New Zealand's strongest and safest course in the general interests of the Empire is to stand firmly by that great old navy. One is proud of the fact that New Zealand has been responsible, with the assistance of Australian and French warships, in securing Samoa. Tlie facts I have quoted show that the great—and what we believe to he unconquerable—British Navy, should remain intact, and to sland by it instead of establishing a separate local navy is the safest and wisest course for New Zealand to pursue both in our own and the Empire's interests, llad the l!)l)i) agreement been carried out, we should have had two British cruisers, three destroyers and two submarines permanently quartered in our waters, with Auckland |an the base. The alternative to an arrangcmcTit of this kind in to undertake the burden and responsibility of a local I navv. This would mean the imposition i j of a considerable increase in taxation, which, in the course of a few years, would assume proportions that would make it practically} unbearable. We should ovntiuuc our contributions direct to the Imperial Navy, as far a? our 1 moans would permit, and in return have j British warships upon our coast with a 1 naval base here, and with the provision 1 already made by me for the employment ,»f Nelv Zcalamlers on the vessels at I ached to the New Zealand station. THE LIBERALS AND DEFENCE.

A!! parties of our Parliament wore united to help the Motherland in this great crisis, and to suggest as a party cry, that tjie Liberals could not condtiet the business of the country at the present time was a statement that only had to he mentioned to show its intense ''udierousness.Hc ridiculed the cry, "Don't ■swop horses whil? crossing a stream." The r,il>crnl Government had Prtr.blishoil the universal training :jcin-i::c, ami if it had !!(;?■ 'jeer, in for,'.' New would not. have h::cn in a position to despatch in so short notice troops fully trained and c<i'.::;:;>ed to l--amo:' and the Motherland.

OUI DKIi.ADXOrOIiT I>7 ACTIOX. Couid it he denied that Xew ZenJand was the only oversea dominion that had a dreadnought t'hc battle line in the Kortti Sea, which had already done battle and was ready to do battle again? l'le was of opinion that no war tax would he necessary, hut if it should turn out otherwise, he should be quite prepared to have it, placed upon the shoulder:; of those best able to bear it.

PROPORTJOXAL REPRESEXTATIOX PROMISED.

The present system in connection with the enrolment of c!e>tors would prevent many from voti?i:r. The present oondi- | tion of the electoral law:-; was so un- J satisfactory that a cAianjjc must be made, and lie pledged the Liberal parly, : should they be returned to powu', to establish a svstem of proportional representation to the House of Representatives, the reason,-.hie grouping of rleriorati'S and the preservation of the country quota. Those wdio wanted proportional representation without the country ijnola m«<t remember that the country <|>texisted now. and had done so for ovei' t'. quarter of a century, and there v.a-i no possibility of obtaining proportional representation without the country quota, lie would also alter the present jaw to ensure thp.t under proper KaiVjrism!;!, every person of twcritvone yvars of age should have the right to exercise lib vote.

]\TiU-:A c 'E T>7 CinADHATEI) TAX. Tie for?shadowed :ni inc!'!-;i ; 'c in the rr.uhiiiti'il t-r;, commi'miuc; at :iui]. in to iii'lurr .siiln!iv:.--.io::, H»'' i;i! grailiintcil lax, fon-ing wMiviion. Ti!'- oivni-,- v.'ouM have two alternative, subdivision ur-Kt the Lnml Act within -ix. months. <iy suVdiviMoii Lv the i.ainl ilVrclmsr Hoard. tin tin l deferred iiaviiient 'System. I)'■ a'lvc>o;iio<l more facilities for land jifttV-Wi'Dl j;c»i rally. state A!l\-AVC::S. i!i' advorafrd 'm. • ei; ,iui: of adv.to v.'t:i'!i'■ "i*i!i! l l ]ii: - .i! i.i'lii' , l>\- i/'c !■:■ • uliii-■ hii' of ::it A::iv KlltllVUl 11:'! L k.' It W.I-: IV. "ii! I:.'' '' !ViI'.its workers Id (/'tain >-iii ;i;' COST I'lX i.IYS.W. "ilr al-o !';i>/<>ri':l an evt- rn-ini] of |.nv"-nt Stal.i' fmn-ti.>!U to •i.r.-.tmt r.umin ii*i'iTi«r jiii: -.vii 'i l'.iii nisi, of living, lit; iv'is prepared io ;.ji!i!::if :i -n'n r.-.e of a iirac' itnl nutnrr for a c-lieap

;and more efficient pure supply of milkl in the cities and toivns of the Domin-; ion, without adverse!v interfering with'those engaged in business, A similar scheme could be applied, he said, to both ,bread and meat, l/ul, to show the praetibilily of what lie proposed he would ( first apply it to milk, and then he was satisfied that the country could with adnvantage apply it to the other twoj r.vtieles mentioned. I TRADE UNIONS. Difficulties had arisen in the adminis-j tration by trade unions of their busi- j i fnesa, and in order to prevent the con- h tinuuncu of a position that was indefen-I■, siblc, power would be taken by him| J to prevent the executive of a, Union j j over riding the will of the Union itself.!?

WOMEN WORKERS. The repeal of section 20 oi the Factories Act, 1908, would also be carried out to ensure a forty-five hours' week for women workers in woollen mills. j BACKBLOOKS DISABILITIES. i The disabilities imposed on settlers 1 in the backbloeks, and especially upon our women, were very great, and in times of sickness maternity there should be available i.ee nurses for all those settlers with slender means who required their wrvici s_ He also advocated an Invalidity Biil. Children up to five years of age should be carried on the railway free, and those up to 14 years at half rates. i LIMITED BORROWING. . This country could not, in his opinion, launch out into excessive borrowing at the enormous rate, now being imposed. "I hold a decided opinion that our public borrowing should be limited for railways and public works to .-£3-000,000 per annum, the railways of the Dominion to be completed in fqur years, and then a stato ferry service between Wellington and Picton.

ENOOURAfiING THK BIRTII-RATE. "The decline in the birth-rate in New Zealand is a question that requires serious attention. It is naturally a difficult problem to solve, and. to a largo extent, is in the hands of the people themselves'; but from a point of statesmanship it is necessary tiiat something should he done. I propose that on the registration of the birth of every -child in New Zealand £5 s:iouid lie placed to the credit of the child in the Post Office Savings Bauk, and that tliis amounf. should remain in for a period of fourteen years, earning compound interest at the rate of 3 per cent., asseswil annually. The State would have the use of tlie money for the full period of fourteen year*, and this scheme should not only liave a'l effect upon the birth-rate of the Dominion, but should be a direct ■incentive to thrift, |

THE PUBLIC SERVICE. The Pubiic Service Act had not worked satisfactorily. .Many anomalies existed and it was his intention, in the event of his being returned, to introduce au amendment to the Public Service Act, providing for the creation of a portfolio of Public Service, and restoring direct parliamentary, but not political, control.