NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 48, 20 November 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR

NO RELAXING OF EFFORTS TO WIN

SHIPPING PROBLEM

ADDRESS BY SIR JOSEPH WARD

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wlnton, November 19. Sir Joseph Ward, who is on a visit to Southland, arrived at Invercargill on Saturday afternoon, and was accorded 3. very hearty welcome home. He was met at the railway station by the Mayor ana councillors, and congratulatory speecnea wore given, and reference made by tho Mayor to the valuable 6ervicc6 Sir Joseph Ward had rendered not only to Zealand, but to the Empire as a whole. On Sunday, Sir Joseph Ward paid an unofficial visit to the Bluff, and thin evening he visited Winton, where he receives a'hearty .welcome, the Town Band turning out and playing him to the halt. In proposing Sir Joseph Wards health at a dinner riven by the Mayor and councillors, tho Mayor (Mr. T. Walker) said they welcomed him not only hs ttucmember for Awarua, u constituency he had represented faithfully and well for thirty years, but they welcomed him, also, as a Minister of tho Crown and joint head of the National Government, and as one of the first to represent the Dominions on the Imperial War Cabinet. He had made a reputation throughout tho pire not only as a great Imperialist, but as a great and far-seeing statesman. War Work the First Consideration. In the course of his reply, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the supreme sacnhcea that had boen made throughout -the bmpire. Whatever the future had in store, they were not prepared to relai their efforts to win tho war, in tho interests not only of those of the present generation, but for all those who were to follow. This was not the .time when statesmen could give up actual war work to toy the foundation stone for building up tho future structure of Empire, but there was no reason why they should not all think about the important and far-reach-ing subjects concerning the future relationship between tho oversea countries and the Motherland. Our duty was to thfiiTi Imperially, but at the same tima not to forget tho ordinary requirements and interests of our own people.

Capital and Labour Must Co-operate. Problems of a most difficult nature had to be eottleu, and Now Zealand would have to apply itself with great determination and fixity of purpose when the war was over to ensure the future prosperity of the country. And there would; have to be co-operation on a sensible basis between Capital and Labour to produce the best result. He paid a tribute to tho statesmen of Great Britain. They bad a gigantic task and enormous problems to unravel. , ~ , „ A public mooting was held in Moore s Hall later. It ivas a wot night, but the building was crowded. The Mayor presided. Not a Time for Party Politics. Sir Joeopli "Ward said Flio present was not a time suitable £or political aotion from the standpoint of party politicians, whether they were in the ranks or in tha position of leadership. All they were concerned in was winning tho war, bo that tho freedom of the world and civilisation might be preserved. (Applause.) That was why tho National Government had been formed.

A Good Number of Steamers in Sight. Referring to tho shipping problem, Sir Joseph Ward said it was well known at Homo that New Zealand could not live unless she could get her products away. He could not give away any figures, but wo had in eight a good number of steamers, and he did 'not think those in control of the shipping at Home would allow New Zealand to become endangered by not having a proportion of steamers to carry away tho products of her soil. (Applause.) end of March next New Zealand would have raised internally over fifty millions sterling. The Cost of Living. In regard to the cost of living, New Zealand was tho beat off of the whole Empire. There hud been criticism, but when men and women had been invited to show how things could be improved .they had not a single practical proposi'tion to bring forward. • New Zealand had only a white population of 1,100,000, and vet we're the war to finish within the nest twelve months we would be financially the strongest portion of the British Empire, and we would then be able to relax the high taxation the war had made necessary. Ho and the other members of the Ministry recognised it to be their duty to keep the farms occupied and at work, and would do everything in their power to carry this out. (A £ Joseph Ward was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation, followed by cheers for himself and My Ward. The meeting concluded with the National Anthem.