THE PRIME MINISTER

Evening Star, Issue 14534, 9 December 1910, Page 3

THE PRIME MINISTER

AN ADDRESS AND A REPLY. [SrECIAL TO THE STAB.] PALMERSTON N., December 9. There- was a very hearty demonstration on the arrival of the Prime Minister at the railway station yesterday en route for Botorua and Auckland. Members of the local Liberal League assembled and pave three cheers for Sir Joseph Ward and as many N for Lady Ward. Mr J. N. Johnston, as president of the League, read the following address on behalf of the PamieTeton North Progressive Liberal League : We desire to congratulate you on the successful termination of a Ion;; and arduous session, and to express our sympathy with you in the late unwarrantable personal attacks, and to express tho very keen appreciation with which all fair-minded men have read their complete refutation in Parliament. We regard such attacks as debasing to political life, and the splendid vindication of its. honor and purity which you have made as distinctly clearing the political atmosphere and restoring public life to a higher piano. As members of the Liberal party, we would convey out great appreciation of your services and the fullest confidence in your leadership, and as citizens of the Dominion we are specially desirous of expressing tliis confidence in one who has so often represented the Dominion at tho seat of Empire and in Imperial Councils •with credit to New Zealand and distinction, to yourself. Now that you aT© about once more to leave for London on a similar mission, we fool that your presence in London will entirely nullify the attempts that have been mado Ix> discredit the country and yourself—these attempts with which the people of this Dominion have no sympathy. We also desire to wish Lady Ward and yourself a very pleasant and. useful holiday at Rotoroa, and to hope that you may come back full of health and strength to fulfil your patriotic- mission :is the Dominion's Prime Minister and choeon representative and ambassador. .Sir Joseph Waj-d, in reply, said that when tho country came to tovioav tho work of last session they would realise that it had been of tho greatest usefulness, and that it placed ns in some respects in advance of any other country in the world. Ik'appreciated the sympathy expressed by the Leagno in ll'.o attacks which had been so long' made on him. It was an. UnUritish and an unfair method of attacking public men, and one he had never and worold never adopt himself. Ho had hie faults, like other men, but he tried to do his duty, and as long as he held his present position ho would try to do his duty undeterred by such attacks. He did not care, for such opposition, nor for tho pt'opio who carried it out. Sir Joseph dealt with the scope of the Imperial Conference, pointing out that they could not shut their eye* to tho wonderful development of othor nations, a.nd it was necessary for Mother and Daughter Nations to consult as to the beet methods of safeguarding their mutual welfare. £ir Joseph concluded by expressing appreciation of tho action of tho members of the League. Such kindly sentiments as they expressed made him face tho difficulties and rcrsTjynsibilities of his position a little more cheerfully, and encouraged tho_ Administration in its work for the benefit of the people of the country.