CAUCUS OF THE WARD PARTY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14293, 2 March 1912, Page 9

CAUCUS OF THE WARD PARTY.

A HAPPY FAMILY. (press association - te__gb___.) WELLINGTON, March 1. A meeting of the combined Liberal, Labour, and Independent Party w_ s held this morning. The following resolution ■ was moved by Mr J. Golvin, seconded by Dr. Te Rangihiroa, and carried" by acclamation:—"That this meeting' of members representative of the. Liberal Party, tho Independent Liberal Party, and the Labour Party-desires to tender to the Right. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward its assurance of its hearty appreciation of his distinguished and valuable services as leader of the Liberal Party, and congratulates.him upon the many liberal and progressive reforms introduced by liim and passed by the Government, which have proved of .great benefit to the people of.this Dominion. Thoso assembled also desire to congratulate Sir Joseph Ward upon the fact that the no-confidenco motion recently moved by the Opposition was defeated, and that now the right . honourable gentleman is voluntarily retiring from the leadership, they wish to express their great satisfaction at Sir Joseph's intention to contiuuo to assist tho Liberal and Labour progressive forces of the Dominion in their common fight against tho Opposition or the Conservative Party. They aro persuaded that the name of Sir Joseph Ward will bo recorded in history as one of tho foremost statesmen and ablest administrators in tho Australasian colonies." The motion was smoken to by Messrs Robertson, Veitch, T. W. "Rhodes, Forb.*, Coates, Hindmarsh, Payne, McCallum, G. W. Russell, Parata, and Atmore, by whom it was oordiallv endorsed The gathering broke un : with cheers for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward It :s reported that every one of the forty members who voted against tho nmendmont of tho Opro_ti6n in the House last ni_ht was either .resent or accounted for, and that the'gathering was most enthusiastic