THE OPPOSITION LEADER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 154, 5 August 1914, Page 7

THE OPPOSITION LEADER.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S SPEECH. Sir Joseph Ward said: "Speaking with a full sense of the responsibility that attaches to the holder of the officeof Leader of the Opposition, I wish, tosay that I fully recognise that the posi- - tion as it stands at present is one of the gravest that has occurred in connection with the history of the world. Although Great Britain has not been in any way a party to the rupture that hai unhappily occurred between the greai Continental Powers, the fact remains thai her position is so great that it seems tc me to be next to impossible for hex to remain a silent onlooker. ; Whether that will turn out to be so or not we cannnot but feel a sense of great satis-. "* faction in the knowledge that England »/ possesses statesmen full of wisdom and experience who will be backed by a-race whose courage whenever called'upon to . face danger and difficulties has neve* < failed! • ..., - •; MARVELLOUS UNITY. "We have had the experience already of the marvellous iinity that arises at a juncture when the position of the :Empire is in any way threatened. Nothing could be finer in the expression of

this trait in the British character than, the rapidity with which the gaping wound that a week ago presented such an ugly appearance and which seemed incapable of being healed has closed up. The dissensions were so wide seemed impossible to avoid a between members of our own race wi^ife the British Isles. Yet the moment -oas a sign of danger on the from beyond the shores of the land the internal troubles almost taneously ceased; and, more than the contending factions who had J>effltt,g ; strengthening themselves to attack other simultaneously extended the of brotherhood to ' the British ment and to each other, both offeringf >£& to take up arms in unison., for tection of Empire interests commojn 'to^-bjj

2bem all. I would like to say I feel equally proud of both the Ulstermen and Nationalists who so splendidly sunk their strong differences. They have shown a fine example of loyalty to the whole world. But this has always been the . experience of Britain in the past, and sueh actions redound to the honour of our fellow countrymen and to the glory of the Empire. Indeed, it is such actions that make for the prestige and the power of the British race, and which have helped to make Great Britain and the Empire what they are. ■ • OUTPOSTS OF EMPIRE. '-'Then 'fib look afield to the outlying portions of the Empire. Canada has acted magnificently; Australia equally so. And New Zealand has, through the Prime Minister, already indicated its . willingness to assist; and in the past has ever been ready to make every sacrifice to help to keep the bonds of Empire intact and to preserve unsullied the great traditions of the Motherland. There need be no question in the minds of anyone in the present crisis, either here or abroad, as to our unity of action. The Opposition Party of which I am the Leader will co-operate in every way with the Government ©f the day' in any action it may be necessary to take to preserve the integrity of the Empire. want to say that as far as this side of the House is concerned, hon. members most cordially concur in the arrangements the Prime Minister has announced as having been made, and will co-operate with Jtdm and his Government in the present crisis in the general interest of the whole world." (Cheers.)