A GREAT TRIBUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 1, 30 November 1914, Page 6

A GREAT TRIBUTE.

. "LEADER OF THE PEOPLE." j (Special to News.) j Auckland, Friday Night. 1 Never has a public man received such a stirring reception as that accorded to Sir Joseph Ward at the Town Hall tonight. Long before the advertised hour of the meeting the building was packed in every part, including the platform. No tickets of admission were issued, it being a case of first there, first served. When Sir Joseph Ward arrived there was a huge crowd inside the hall, unable to gain admission, and the leader of the Liberal party had great difficulty in getting through the crush. His arrival inside tho building was the signal for an enthusiastic and spontaneous outburst of applause and cheering, the demonstration being renewed when Sir Joseph arrived on the platform. The chairman, Mr J. Trevethick, in introducing Sir Joseph Ward, said the leader or the Liberal Party had the confidence not only of Auckland, but of the whole Dominion. (Loud applause.) He referred to the great audiences that Sir Joseph had had from one end of the Dominion to the other. Such great demonstrations proved conclusively that Liberalism was not dead. (Applause.) Those who had .traduced the, Liberal Party would find that the people were solid for what was right, just and true. Sir Joseph Ward was not only the leader of the Liberal Party, but the leadej 1 of the people of the Dominion. (Loud applause.) When Sir Joseph Ward rose to speak there was another great demonstration, the applause and cheers were deafening, and lasted some considerable time.

When silence was restored Sir Joseph said no man in any part of the world could fail to be touched to the heart at such a great reception. ,Applause.) After a speech which lasted over two hours, Sir Joseph resumed his seat amid a great storm of applause and cheering. Mr T. Lang moved: "That this large and representative gathering of Auckland electors thanks Sir Joseph Ward for his very able and instructive address, expresses confidence in him as leader of the Liberal Party, and pledges itself to do everything in its power to oust the Conservative Tarty from the Treasury benches." Mr K. H. Potter seconded, and the motion was carried, as the chairman stated, by a vast majority. The meeting closed with loud cheers for Sir Joseph Ward.

"AN ACCIDENT." In the course of his speech at Auckland on Friday, Sir Joseph Ward said the Masscy Party had gained the Treasury benches by an accident due to the forgetfulness of some men who were returned to Parliament in 1911 for the purpose of supporting the Liberal Party and for the purpose of opposing the party now in power. (A Voice: Where are they today?) Sir Joseph replied that they were in a precarious position, and 011 -the morning of .December 11th the lesson which would be published to the world should serve them for the remainder of their political lives. (Loud applause.)

"SOMETHING PECULIAR." Before Sir Joseph Ward loft Wellington, he told his Auckland audience on Friday, ho had had his attention drawn to something peculiar going 0:1 there in connection with the rolls. He had been informed that a number of men not living in a Minister's electorate, had been supplied with commercial travellers' permits in order that their votes might be recorded not in the electorate in which they lived, but in another electorate altogether, and they were not commercial travellers at all. There should be absolutely no interference with the ballot or rolls. (Applause.) . THE WESTLAND SEAT. Hokitika, November 27. j( Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon was nominated • for the Westland seat this morning.

! NOMINATIONS. i 'Mnstcrton, Last Night. Mr. 6. 11. fyta was nominated for the Masterton scat to-day. DuuodSiii, Last Night. Messrs K. Scott and W. A. liudkin liave been nominated for the Central Otago seat. MR. I-lAWKINS AT INGLEWOOD. -Mr. W. H. Hawkins. Liberal candidate for tile Stratford seat, will address the electors at the Inglewood Town Hall on Tuesday,, December lot, at 8 p.m. A cordial invitation i> extended to all, and particularly the ladies. Mr. Hawkins is one of'tlio best platform speakers in the present electoral campaign, is a (hard liitter, and liis meetings are always interesting.

MR. D. J. HUGHES AT EAST END PAVILION.

Despite the boisterous weather last night, over one hundred and fifty electors attended Mr. Hughes' meeting at tihe East End pavilion,, and accorded hisn a rery warn reception. Mr. Fred Bellringer presided. Mr. Hughes traversed in extenso the backward trend of the ad'ministration of the Reform Parists, and showed how disadvantageouisly it comjarcd with the achievements of the Liberal Party, whoso policy for the future was the same as that of the pan —the interests of the masses and not .The clai3scs, He strongly condemned the attempt to bribe local electors by a spurious promise of a £40,00 grant "for the Girls' High School—a grant, however one knew anything about except Mr. Okpy. At the conclusion of an address lasting one hour and a half, several questions were asked and i:ttisfartordy answered, and. Mr. Hughes was accorded ;i hearty vote of thmila for his address, of confidence in him as ft suitable representative for the district, and of confidence in the Ward administration, On a call for x show »t lmnds practically every hand in t"us room was raised affirming the motion, amidst applause.

THE BARTY'S PLEDGES KEPT. The party had been accused of not keeping its pledges. He referred to reforms in finance, land, Legislative Council, Public Service, and other reforms, as well as the improved conditions of' old-age pensions for women, pensions for widows and veterans, and said the | pledges in regard to these matters had l 5! en ..kept. It had been impossible in the time at their disposal to fulfil every pledge, but they had laid the foundationstone of a policy, and had placed thereon a structure that would last for years. He had not time to recapitulate the policy put forward a few years ago, but he asked them to read it.