SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1920, Page 6

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

SEASONS FOR HIS DEFEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Jan. 22. In the course of yesterday's speech, Sir Joseph Ward said that he had received many requests to stand again, but he thought that as the election took place so near Christmas, he considered it not the right thing to interrupt the festivities with election strife. He accepted the position as a sportstnan would. Sir Joseph Ward said he was fully cognisant of the bitter personal attack concentrated upon him as head of the Liberal Party. In nearly every electorate the leading journals prior to the election seemed not as much concerned with criticism of the Liberals as of the. "Wardists." He had been gathering information since the election and had secured evidence of literature that would be a diisgrace to the most barbaric people in the world. In all his Ministerial career he had never heard sectarian matters discussed in Cabinet and never had a consultation with the heads of any church regarding the elections or political support. He had never been asked by his own or any other church to use his position in any special sectarian interest. He never once attempted to appoint anyone to the public service on account of his religion. He challenged ■his opponents to prove their allegations to the contrary. Sir Joseph Ward referred to the Dominion's financial strength and to the need for combating Bolshevism throughout the world, concluding with thanks for the party's kindly expressions of | goodwill.