A COMPLIMENT FOR SIR. JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 512, 20 May 1909, Page 4

A COMPLIMENT FOR SIR. JOSEPH WARD.

Eakly in April last wo had pleasure id congratulating Sir Joseph Ward on tha very 1 proper stand he then , took to rci pudiate tho ■ suggestion that cither the Government or the people of New Zea» land regarded the offer of a Dread' nought as boing in any way related to the question of colonial preference, or as being made for any reason other than ii desire to take a share of the burden of liripertrtl defence. At thitt tiliie ait attempt WHS being made in the ■ Mother Cbuhtry to uso the offer as ftn arguriioht in favour of colonia.l prefcrcncc, and party politics wore thus bftihg dragged wo a groat nn.tlonftl ksuo wllifcii Uioiilii

bo considered oh lines entirely free from party considefiitidhs. Sin Joseph Ward promptly and very propcvly' made the disclaimer mentioned, and his remarks wore cabled htiliiti ib Thei'e they wcro widely published and conilitonted oiij with-tlio result that tiioso Who hall bctin Siißkijtg to dhtilngle th<J Dominion's offer in tiie discord of British party conflicts were forced to abandon their efforts, and it was made perfectly clear that the bffer Was Unconditional as to any return to bo received therefrom beyond the return which all parts of the Empire must gain from tho strengthening bf British naval defdnCe. Sift Joseph •Waud hiust derive some satisfaction from tho fact that his early explanation df New Zealand's attitude had tilt: desired effect, "