RE-ENTERING PUBLIC LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 57, 8 March 1923, Page 8

RE-ENTERING PUBLIC LIFE

A DEFINITE PRONOUNCEMENT

i'l STAND STRAIGHT-OUT AS A

LIBERAL."

"As a-matter of fact, my health is quite restored, and that was the first consideration in deciding to attempt to re-enter public life," remarked Sir Joseph Ward on his arrival in Wellington by the Main Trunk train this afternoon. "After the late Sir William Herries' death, the men who locally are entitled to the first consideration in standing on the side of politics to which I belong, interviewed me and asked me to stand. They told me that they would not under any circumstances consider the suggestion to stand if I were agreeable to do so. A number of them from different portions of the electorate urged that I should favourably consider the matter, and I intimated that if there was a general request from the district I was disposed to favourably consider it. I gave them sufficient time to weigh the matter from a local as well as from a Dominion standpoint. "After a meeting of representatives from every important part of the electorate, they unanimously requested me to become a candidate, and I replied that under the circumstances I would do so. 1 have come to Wellington for a few days, and will return to the district next week —probably speaking at Tauranga on Wednesday or Thursday, next. After that, my meetings will be'arranged by the local committees.

"There is unquestionably," said Sir Joseph, "very great enthusiasm, and I think a sincere desire on the part of many of the supporters of the late Sir William Herries—apart from the liberals—throughout the electorate to further my., candidature.. They have communicated with me, and have told me that they would do all in their power to ensure by return.," . . . Sir Joseph remarked that he.had received scores of congratulations and good wishes from all over the Dominion and from Australia, and even a cable from London, where it appeared that his reentry into public life had been announced in one of the London dailies. In reply, to a question as to his political position, Sir Joseph said: — I am standing straight out as a Liberal. I shall explain my position, fully in my first address at Tauranga, but. I may here say that in coming again into public life. I am not prompted by a desire to bring about chaos in the public life of the country. I think I can be ofc some service to the country, and I certainly want to deal with the financial position as I regard it. I think, as I have said, that I can be of assistance at the present juncture. I have every faith in the future of New Zealand; but we are not by any means at the end of the lane so far as the general position of the country is ooncerned.