DEATH OF SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19975, 9 July 1930, Page 11

DEATH OF SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Collapse After Long Illness. 4 . LONG POLITICAL LIFE. Parliament Pays Tributes to Old Leader. [THE PEESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 8. ( After many months of failing health, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward passed away quietly at 3 o'clock this morning, at the Ministerial residence in Molesworth street, which was for many years the home of his old leader, the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon. Although Sir Joseph had been critically ill for several weeks, his passing was something of a surprise, as earlier in the day he appeared to be fairly well. There had been a slight turn for the worse, but the doctors attending him said then that it was impossible to predict that the end was imminent, and. that it might be weeks, or even months, before the patient's strength failed. In spite of the fact that Sir Joseph became} slightly worse yesterday, he received a Southland visitor in the afternoon, who expressed to him the sympathy of the people of Invercargill. He was the last to whom Sir Joseph spoke. He fell asleep shortly after his visitor's departure, and he did not awaken again. There was a slight weakening of the pulse at about midnight, although Sir Joseph's heart was good ttatU almost the end. He had conversed with members of the fattiily during the earlier part of the day, and they were not aware * until late that night that he was sinking. When the end came members of the family at the bedside were Mr and Mrs B. B. Wood, Mr Vincent A. Ward, and Mr P. Ward. Sir Cyril Ward and Lady Ward will arrive from Christchurch to-morrow morning in company with Mr and Mrs Gladstone Ward and Sir Francis Boys and Lady Boys, who is a sister of the late Lady Ward.