SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1919, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

HIS CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY. ■ Waipawa, Laat Night* " Sir Joseph Ward passed through Wat* pawa this afternoon, en route to Hastings. He received a most enthusiasts welcome, a call for cheers being re* sponded to vigorously. Sir Joseph Ward spoke for half-an- ' hovir, stressing the need for a afarong Government to carry the ship of Stat* through the troublous times ahead. He advocated a forward publis works policy, and expressed his firm belief Mat the Liberals would at the general election again come into their own. ; Sir Joseph Ward addressed a similar open air meeting at Maaterton, Pahifrtua, and Dannevirke, experiencing the same measure of cordiality in each centre.

SPEECH AT HABTINOS. LIBERAL POLICY REVIEWED. '.' Napier, Latt Night. bir Joseph Ward arrived in Hastings < by motor car this evening, and addreued* a very large audience in the Mnqidpl , Theatre. Ho received a good hearing, audi Was seldom interrupted. Sir Joseph! ward spoke for two hours, dealing with' subjects upon which ho has already spoken in other centres, and the platform 'i laid down in his manifesto upon seceding from the National Government. He spoke at longth on his proposals 6«r nationalisation affecting coal mines, » State Bank, hydro-electric schemes, and the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service. At tho conclusion a vote of thankg aafl j confidence met with an equal volwmurf "ayes" and "noes," but was declared aas I ried by tho Mayor (Mr. G. EbbettJ, wfco '■ occupied the chair. A TRIUMPHANT TOUK. DAY OF SPLENDID RECEPTIONS,' (Special to Daily News.) Hastings, Last Night Rarely in the history of politics in Sam Zealand has a greater tribute been pati to any party and its leader than wa» tendered to-day to the Leader of Uw Opposition, Sir Joseph Ward, while to was journeying by motor from Marti*borough to Hastings. The weather tsW bitterly cold and showery, but despite! this fact the car was stopped at practically every township and village eta soot* ty settlers who were desirous of greeting Sir Joseph Ward, and of expreaamgiS hope that the Liberal Party would be returned to power with a substantial maj- . ority on December 17th.

It was not until Pahiatua was reached,, however, that the great popularity of S|r * Joseph Ward was made thoroughly maxtfest. As the party wag about to Immb • the hotel, after lunching, to contaau tte journey, it waß discovered that soma SM people, headed by the Mayor, had aseem* bled, and as Sir Joseph stepped from the doorway he was greeted by three hearty wr cheers, and a request that lie should deliver a short address. Sir Joseph acquiesced, and delivered a vigorous oration of some twenty minutes' duration, the lhain feature being a vigorous appeal that a Government representative of all shades of public opinion, excepting that of the extremists, be returned to power. A resolution, embodying an expression oi opinion that Sir Joseph Ward was a eapable and progressive leader of the liberal Party, and that he was the only man competent to guide the Dominion solely through its present financial difficulties,! > was carried amidst applause and cheers, With one dissentient voice. At Dannevirke* Sir Joseph was vth corned by the Mayor and about 600 residents. He acceded to a request to apeak for a few minutes from the steps of tha ':." post office, and at the conclusion of Ids remarks, motions of confidence in tha Liberal Party, and in Sir Joseph Ward, were carried by acclamation and cheats. The enthusiasm seemed to reach itj maximum point at Waipawa, where the .-,' majority of the residents were congre- V; gated in the main street as the car paw* , ed through the town. A halt was nuUfev and after the cheers had subsided, and ' formal greetings had been exchanged, a Maori chieftain did a haka in welcome. At the, conclusion of an impromptu speech, Sir Joseph Ward was entertained at tea, after.which the car rolled off to the accompaniment of cheers.

Hastings was reached at T. 15 p.m,, at •• which time the Municipal Theatre was well filled. At 7.35 the building was crowded, some 2000 people having gained ingress. The entrance of the Leader. »f the Liberal Party was the signal for, an outburst of applause and cheers. Sir Joseph then delivered an address on tie lines of his speeches at Martinborough. ,'< He was listened to attentively, the only *' interruptions being in the nature of «'•' • plauße. A motion of thank* and COM- &/*■' dence was,carried unanimously. . \■!?.•. The reception everywhere, aoevrded the . *•'" Leader of the Liberal Party was tmly >- remarkable because of its spontiniety. ■ THE PRIME MINISTER. .', y HIS NORTHERN TOUR. ' Auckland, Last Night. ■\ J The Prime Minister had a remarkable I ',i reception at Tuakau this afternoon, £he ,■,&. town was gaily decorated and children* -■''' lined'lthe appreach to the hall, which was*" crowded. The chairman extended *V ■ hearty welcome to Mr. Maseey, whose name, ho said, was familiar throughout/ the world as a result of his conspicuous" j work as the head of the National Government. Mr. Massey was received with cheers, '< and his speech was punctuated with an- ' plauae. Alluding to defence he said he j' did not suggest a great standing army,:' ;' but it was essential to keep the navy ! ~. supreme. (Applause.) Dealing wjth- ■■{ the Opposition and the Extreme Labor :' ty Parties, which he said appeared to be in V :; competition as to which should have tho,/ :' greatest number of nationalisation pro- ' I posals, he said it reminded him of a doo-> ' tor who prescribed the same pill for."*- *\ every ill. (Laughter.) ,In this-case , ;} nationalisation was the one pill. While believing nationalisation was necessary' "TJ to break up monopoly, he laid down the ' % % principle that the State slftuld not ta--terfere with industry, which could better - he run by private individuals. ;: He declared, his belief that the prin- ' , cipal cause of the increase of the cost :< of living was the tremendous issue of pßper currency, which had the inevitable > effect of cheapening money. He did not - A believe the cost of living would be great- Z ly reduced until much of the paper eur-. . '.' rency was withdrawn, and this would be*' , ' , | a jrradunl process. New Zealand J would welcome the ex-service men Bri- "& tain was going to assist to {to obroad, '1 and in glowing terms he <.poke of the 3 great ideal of Kipling of British people ' .?? under the flag. .y A unanimous vote of fhunks and con- • '.j fldenee was carried amid cheer* ' J