SIR JOSEPH WARD

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 134, 4 December 1917, Page 7

SIR JOSEPH WARD

■WARM WELCOME AT THAMEBL

OH TILIQUJB.''—IBM! ASSOCMTIOH.j

_ THAMES, 3rd December. Sir Joseph. Ward received a warn welcome •a± Thames; He arrived by motor-car -aitoxtt "1 o'clock, and was met some, miles out'from town by the Mayorf" the Chairman of the County Council, and- the member for., the district. On arrival he" was' entertained at dinner by the local authorities,. the proceedings being exceedingly cordial. =•-■■- - ' The Mayor (Mr.- H.v Lowe) presided, and; said Sr Joseph:; Ward \vas a Minis- • ter of the. Crown, a'statesman," and an Imperialist. He could', say without contradiction that.' no .man was more beloved by the people of New . Zealand - generally than Sir Joseph Ward.' (Applause.) He paid .a tribute to the work done, recently by Sir Joseph in England, both, financially- and otherwise, also to the good :work the 'Minister Jiad done, for ,JT«w. 'Zealand; generally and the Thames particularly during his long political career. ; . ■ ,-.

In the course of his reply, Sir Joseph ,v[ ard!;. re?enied to: the inflexible^ det«rmihat'ion'of every class of the conimuaity to do its "little bit.^' (ApplauseJ The New Zealand soldiers had proved themselves second to none in the-world. Referring to lord Lansdowne's letter Sir Joseph Ward' said they had to 1«% to' the wise statesmen of the HomelanS not to allow premature peace proposals to >way them at. this juncture. Th« enemy would have to be made to realisa that .-we were tho masters.-. Thea and then only could the British Empire,, through her representatives, decide what terms and conditions were to be formulated for the' preservation of civilisation and the freedom and liberty of the world. (Applause.) . .......'•