PRIME MINISTER AT WINTON

Evening Star, Issue 14495, 21 February 1911, Page 7

PRIME MINISTER AT WINTON

ENTHUSIASTICALLY FA REWELLED BY CONSTITUENTS. On arrival at Winton yesterday Sir Joseph Ward was met by a number of the townspeople, and was escorted by a procession headed by the Winton Band to the public hall. There ho was presented with an address recording appreciation of his services to the Dominion as Prime Minister, and indebtedness for tho able performance of duties as member for Awarua for tho past twenty-five years. Wishes were also expressed for his success as New Zealand’s representative at tho Imperial Conference. Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of his reply, outlined the measures passed last session. Under the National Annuities Act a man could provide for his widow and family in case of his death, and further the needy backblocko.r could, by a small payment, ensure getting a sum attunes of maternity that would enable him lo send his wife where she could get medical attention, and Unis reduce tho risks that nowadays had to be taken by the poor ba< kbit Viters. Our exports and importations had touched the record of £10,000,000, and tho in tho hank had made another record, while the population in the last nine months had shown an increase which in proportion outdistanced all the other Australasian States. In regard to loans, the speaker pointed out that every loan had, according to the Art, to be provided with n sinking fund, and every bit of unrip i sued by the Dominion was endorsed by having printed on (no back "This loan is secured by a sinking fund.’’ The sinking fund moneys would be loaned to settlers, workers, and loeal bodies on approved securities, and were administered by a tum-polilical hoard, and no Government dared to touch the moneys for oth-T than the purpose set a),art. To do so would im-an a repudiation, and the Government that- did so would not live forty-eight honis A vote of confidence in the Government and in Sir Joseph Ward as tlnnr leader was unanimously carried amidst loud cheers. On the conclusion ot the speech tho hon, gentleman received an outburst of applause, width was continued for some minutes, and he was later ptesonlcd with an address signifying appreciation of his s-avict.i to tin; electoral•• and the Dominion, and confidence in him and the Government.