THE NEW PREMIER.

Evening Star, Issue 12884, 6 August 1906, Page 3

THE NEW PREMIER.

Sir J. G. Ward is almost wholly a New Zealander. Born at Emerald Hill, Victoria, in 1857, he came here in childhood with his parents. They settled in the Awarua district, which Sir Joseph, has represented since ho entered public life. At the age of thirteen he entered the postal service, at sixteen he went into a merchant's office, and at twenty he tried the Railway Department. When of age he Parted on h4« own account ?>s a grain exporter, and was so successful that he soon established business agencies throughout Australia. His interest in public affairs date? from the time he was twenty-one years of ace, when he was elected a member of the Campbelltown (Bluff) Borough Council. Afterwards he occupier! the position of mayor of that borough for rive years. For a very long period he had a seat on the Bluff Harbor Board, and was chairman for four years. He was also a member of the Invereargill Chamber of Commerce. He first entered Parliament as member for Awarua in 1887. He was a prominent member of the Young New Zealand party then formed, and in his second session made such a telling speech on tho ocean mail question as to cause our then parliamentary reporter to predict that at no distant period he would take Ministerial rank as Postmaster-Gene-ral. At the ensuing election (1890) he was returned unopposed, and when the late Mr Ballance came into power in January following the subject of this sketch accepted the office of Postmaster-General. Consequent on the death of Mr Ballance in 1893 lie became also Colonial Treasurer, but three years later, owing to private affairs, relinquished his portfolio. On July 15, 1897, at the time of his bankruptcy, ho tendered his resignation from the House of Representatives; stood for his old scat at the byeelection, was re-elected, and resumed his place in the Home as a private member on September 28, 1897. In 1899 Sir Joseph rejoined the Cabinet -as Minister of Railways, Postmaster-General, and Colonial Secretary. Subsequently lie became Minister of Public Health, Minister of Trade and Commerce, and Minister in charge of the Tourist Department—all these departments ©wing their existence to him. 'Thrice he has held the position of Acting Premier; while in 1902, during the absence of Mr Seddon in England, he discharged the heavy duties of Leader of the House, and by the celerity with which he conducted its business received the commendation of all parties. Or the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of York the honor of knighthood was conferred on him. Sir Joseph Ward left the colony in February of this year to represent'it at the •Postal Congress at Rome, and he worthily discharged his trust. He then went on to England, where he-was at tho time of Mr Seddon'a death ; mid if Sir Joseph had not been absent from the colony he would have been immediately called on to form a Government.

Among the more important measures with which his- name in associated may be mentioned the advances to settlers' scheme, in connection with which he visited England and floated a loan of oiw and a-half millions at the rate of 3 per cent. ; the inauguration of the penny post; the completion°of the " All Red " (Pacific) cable ; the clarification of his two most important departments—Postal and Telegraph and Railways ; and the passage of the Railways. Superannuation ' Act.' In his younger days Sir Joseph was a prominent oarsman and cricketer, was an enthusiastic volunteer, and still retains the position of honorary captain of the Bluff Navals and the Winton Rifles; is president of the New Zealand Amateur Football As-sociation and patron pf the Southland Rugby Union. The Premier enjoys a reputation for his ability to grasp financial problems, and is- noted as tht fastest speaker in the House. Lady Ward is an Invercargill native. They were married on December 4, 1883, and have four sons (Cyril, Vincent, Gladstone, and Awarua Pat) and one daughter (Eileen).