NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1919, Page 2

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

.WHY IT WAS TERMINATED

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S INTERESTING STATEMENT.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A public reception to Sir Joseph Ward, leader of the Liberals, was tendered at #ic Town Hall to-night. The building was crowded. The ex-Ministers present were Messrs MacDbnald, Myers, and Wilford, also Sir John Findlay. Sir Joseph Ward received prolonged applause. He said that for the iirst time for four years he was a free man. His obligations in connection witli the war had been discharged. Referring to the New Zealand soldiers, he said they deserved to be well treated by the Government.

Referring to criticisms regarding his withdrawal from the National Government, he said: "Mr. Massey did not aak me to continue in the National Government. That is a pretty good answer to some of those people who ask me why I did not stay there. I want to tako the opportunity of saying that I had no quarrel with him." When the Peace Treaty was signed two months ago the National Government it was agreed should lapse. "I want to tell you," added Sir Joseph, "that there were very important matters on which I was not consulted. The absence of consultation after the conclusion of the war would be enough to induce me to withdraw from the Government." An attempt has been made to create spurious sympathy for the Reform Party, but the Liberal Ministers had left their work up to date in every respect. Bills prepared by Liberal Ministers were left in the hands of the Government, The Budget and Estimates were complete, except for the new proposals of the year. If he had known the Government's proposals he could have completed the Budget in half .an hour.

dir Joseph Ward went on to say that tasks of enormous importance lay ahead. He hoped, therefore, the electors would see the necessity of a strong government representing the moderate elements. When the Liberals left the National Government the Dominion had accumulated a sum of fifteen millions invested in war bills. Any public men who sought to weaken that position ought to be left out of public life. That accumulated money, with sinking fund in hand amounting to £1,500,000, ought to go into the sinking fund for extinguishing the war debt. The public debt of New Zealand, after the war accounts were closed, would stand at two hundred millions, and the annual charge to be met about twelve millions.

Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to deal with his policy as recently announced. He said in reference to the charge of insincerity that he was prepared to put into operation in one parliament, and the greater part in one session, all the proposals he made. The State bank was a necessity. In regard to land settlement the Dominion must look to the large estates for settlement. The purchase of comparatively small properties had simply inflated land values by displacing farmers who had to.buy land elsewhere. '

Regarding profiteering, Sir Joseph Win! said it had been goin<* on in New Zealand. Parliament must see that trading proceeded on a fair basis. New Zealand being an exporting country, it was madness to interfere with the exportation of produce at the highest price producers could command. He advocated nationalisation of the coal mines. The Government must'provide millions for houses to be rented at not more than TOs Od weekly. He could demonstrate that such a house could be handed over to a wife and "children in the event of the death of the breadwinner. He mentioned the need of fast suburban trains to carry the workers.

'Sir Joseph Ward had a good hearing throughout. Mr. John Hutcheson (ex-M.P.) moved a vote of thanks and confidence. This was received with cheers. Mr. HutcheRf>n stated that the declaration of policy had cleared the atmosphere. The Liber? als had left the Cabinet in a manly and honorable manner.