SIR JOSEPH WARD

Grey River Argus, 10 July 1930, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

REQUIEM MASS Oversea Tributes ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD’S EULOGY. • (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 9. A, largo and representative attendance was present at the Requiem Mass for Sir Joseph Ward in the Basilica this morning. The Primo Minister and members of the Cabinet acted as pall-beaters.

Others present included the Chief Justice (Sir M. Myers), Judges Blair and Herdman, Major Bathurst, and Mr A. T. Day, representing the GovernorGeneral.

The service, which was most impressive. was conducted by Archbishop O ’Shoa.

A eulogium was delivered by Archbishop Redwood. The Archbishop said that in the death of Sir Joseph Ward, the Dominion had sustained a very great loss, and the Church had lost a devoted, earnest and edifying Christian.. The State had -lost a very distinguished and successful Prime Minister, and society at large a most generous friend. It was fitting that, they should examine the foundation of such a successful career. He had no hesitation in saying that the foundation was built on faith. Sir Joseph Ward had been a just man and surely no greater eulogy could bo paid him than that he did his duty to his God, •his country and his fellow men. The example of his life was one that could be profitably followed b} T all left behind.

Archbishop Redwood concluded by extending the deep sympathy of the Church to the relatives.

Then? was a big crowd about the Basilica when the coffin arrived, and they remained there during the ser-

vice. The body now lies in state in the Basilica.

MESSAGE FROM THE KING.

WELLINGTON, July 9,

The following cablegram was received by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe) from His Majesty the King this morning:— “Please -express to the family of the late Sir Joseph Ward the deep regret with which the Queen and T have heard of his death. We first mad? Sir Joseph’s acquaintance nearly twenty years ago, and we know how 'gratefully his long anj distinguished services to his country will be appreciated. ’ ’ GEORGE R. I. BRITISH PREMIER’S MESSAGE. WELLINGTON, July 9. The following cablegram was received this morning by His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord' Bledisloe) from- Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Prime Miiffster of Great Britain:— “It is with the deepest regret that I and my colleagues have learned of the death of Sir Joseph Ward. I know how heavy will be the loss in New Zealand.

“Forty-three years of public life, the leadership of a great party and the highest political office twice achieved ,will assure him a permanent place in the annals of his country, nor shall wo forget how deep a debt of gratitude is owed to him for his long and distinguished record of public service to the Empire, and for his wise statesmanship and his (unswerving courage, both in peace and war. “Please convey our profound sympathy to his family and to the Government and the people of New Zealand, and add by personal regret at the loss of an old friend.” (Signed)— Ramsay McDonald.

Presbyterian Tribute

WELLINGTON, July 9. The Wellington Presbytery, at its meeting to-day, referred to the passing of the late Sir Joseph Ward. The Presbytery recorded the following motion: “The Presbytery desires to express its sincere sympathy with the family and friends of Sir Joseph Ward, late Prime Minister, in the bereavement which has befallen them in his death. The- Presbytery also expresses its sense of the loss which the , community has sustained in the death of this statesman who, through many years served his country and Empire with conspicuous capacity and untiring devotion. His commanding abilities merited, and received, the high esteem of his fellow citizens, to whom he was also endeared by an unfailing courtesy and kindness of heart. The Dominion has, in losing him, lost one of its great men.” TPvOTTING CLUB’S CONDOLENCE. WELLINGTON, July 9. At the annual conference of the New Zealand Trotting Clubs to-day, a motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Sir Joseph Ward was moved by the Chairman (Mr J. Rowe), who paid a tribute- to Sir Joseph’s memory, and the motion was then carried.

WEST COAST RUGBY UNION VOTE At the meeting of the West Coast Rugby Union, last evening, feeling re-j ference was mad e to the passing of] the late Sir Joseph Ward by the Pre-! sident, Mr A. A. Adams. It was fitting as a representative sporting body, he said, that they should recognis e the passing of one of New Zealand’s foremost and greatest political figures. A motion of sympathy was carried in silence, members standing. THE FUNERAL AT BLUFF. WELLINGTON, July 9. The arrangements made for Sir Joseph Ward’s funeral at Bluff will

give members of the House and Legislative Council an opportunity of attending the burial and arriving back in Wellington on Tuesday (morning. The official party, which will leave on Friday evening and go straight through to Invercargill on Saturday. It will be able to return to Christchurch. Sunday and leave Lyttelton on Monday evening. The Prime Minister and his colleagues of the Cabinet will be the pall-bearers both from the Invercargill Basilica and to the graveside at Bluff. Arrangements for the funeral are in the hands of the Prime Minister’s Department, and the Department of Internal Affairs.

THE SCHOOLS. The schools of the Grey district, as | elsewhere, will, in accordance with the I decision of the Government, observe j to-day a holiday as a mark of respect j to the memory of Sir Joseph Ward. I From the various local bodies of the j district messages of condolence with! his relatives have been forwarded. | This morning at 9 o’clock at St, > Patrick’s Church, GreymoUth, Re- > quiem Mass will be celebrated for the ' repose of the soul of Sir Joseph Ward. I and. the pupils of the Catholic schools I of the town and district are expected | to attend on the oeasion. J

SIR CYRIL WARD. Sir Cyril Ward, who inherits the naronetcy as the eldest son of th? late 3ir Joseph Ward, is a native of Bluff, and a member of the Christchurch shipping agency firm of Kinsey and Co. Educated at Bluff school and St. Patrick’s College, he spent some time on the “New Zealand Times’s” staff and then joined his father’s firm at Invercargill, going after some years to England; where he spent' - four years on the staff of the Manchester Ship Co., which he represented in New Zealand on his return. Rejoining J. G. Ward and Co. for a further term, he 4 a ter entered the firm of Kinsey and Co., being also Belgian ViceConsul at Christchurch. PARLIAMENTARY TRIBUTES. WELLINGTON, July 9.

In his reference to Sir Joseph Ward in the House, the Prime Minister said that it was to such men that the Dominion was indebted for the soundness of its foundation. He had contributed in a large measure to the building up of New Zealand; while his kind nature and natural courtesy had won him hosts of friends. Des-pite-failing health, he had not thought of himself, and spared nothing when he felt his long experience and counsel would be of benefit to the country, and he never had shirked hard work. Throughout the Dominion the feeling would be at the close of his long and distinguished record: “Wp'l done, thou good and faithful servant!” His record would remain the greatest and fittest monument to his ' memory.

Mr 11. E. Holland, Leader of the ’Labour Party, said that but few men I could have endured the strain of so long and active a political career as that of Sir Joseph Ward, arid marI veiled that Sir Joseph had been able , at the age of seventy years to return to the House and to the position of Prime Minister. Close friendship with him had been maintained even by those most strenuously opposed to him. Among his doings at the Imperial Conference, everyone who read that phase of his career must have been struck with the efforts he made in 1911. to raise the status of his country to that of a Dominion. The thanks of New Zealand, and indeed of the other Dominions were duo to Sir Joseph to a large extent, for the attitude he took up ‘on that occasion. The Labour Party had had differences with Sir Joseph on fundamental principles, but in their strongest conflicts, deceased was always exceedingly gentlemanly and courteous to those opposed to him. The conflicts of the past were forgotten in his death, and he was remembered for the great deeds he had done. Mr Coates (Leader of the Opposition) referred chiefly to the imperial aspect of Sir Joseph Ward’s life and to his optimistic, cheerful and energetic character. His history politically extended over half the record of self-government in New Zealand. All would honour him as an imperialist, arid as one who acted on the belief that the Empire was worth fighting for, and who worked for its unity. Quit? apart from politics all would remember him as a personal friend.

Hon. Mr de la Perrelle said there had been no more brilliant figure in the public life in New Zealand than Sir Joseph Ward. He showed personal qualities that won the affection of his fellow-men, 'irrespective of Party. It was safe to say that he had no personal enemies. Sir A. T. Ngata said the names of Seddon and Ward would never be separated in the minds of the Native people. If Sir Joseph Ward had been able to stage-manage his conceptions, he would have stood head and shoulders above anyone else in New Zealand. In an executive capacity, however, Seddon was the greater man. Most of the great legislation that had been passed could be traced back to Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Rushworth, on behalf of the Independent members of the House, said Sir Joseph Ward had left an indelible mark on the people of the Dominion and on the Empire as a whole.

Mr Savage said that Sir Joseph Ward’s greatest quality could be summed up in the words, “He was a man among men.”

Hon. Mr Atmore said Sir Joseph -had been a great benefactor, irrespee.tive of denomination, and had done -great work in the passing of legislation for old age pensioners. Mr Howard spoke in appreciation of Sir Joseph Ward’s record, particularly in the matter of old age pensions.

Mr Black, as the youngest member of the House and an ex-publie servant, referrred to Sir Joseph Ward’s eariy start as a public servant and to his kindness for the State employees. Mr Fraser referred to Sir Joseph Ward’s wonderful spirit, and said if there was one regret it was that he did not pass away as Prime Minister.