LIBERAL LEADER

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 9

LIBERAL LEADER

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S REGRETS

Sir Joseph Ward spoke a$ the New Zealand Times Office. He was received with loud cheers. He said that as far as his own defeat was concerned, he took it as a man, and he was not going to make any complaint about his treatment by the electors of Awarua. He regretted, however,' that he was unable to compliment his opponents on the tactics that had been adopted in order to secure his defeat. (Applause.) He had served in the public life of the Dominion for a long time, and he wished to thank the people of Awarua for the consistent manner in which they had supported him. Sir Joseph said ,he looked upon th« present position quite dispassionately. ' He realised that it would be a day or two before the final position would be known; but, whatever the result, he hoped that it would be in the interests of the people of New Zealand, and that the new Parliament would deal efficiently with the many,problems with which it would be faced. During the whole of his public life, Sir Joseph continued, it had been his aim to do the right thing by the public. (Loud applause.) He expressed regret at the defeat of Sir James Carroll, one of the finest politicians he knew. (Applause.) He wanted to thank those of the public who had ' stood by the Liberals in the past. He concluded by wishing the assembly the best of luck, a merry Christmas, and & happy New Year. (Loud cheers and prolonged applause.)