SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 March 1925, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Inasmuch, as the Southland Daily News may be regarded as the mouthpiece of Liberalism in Invercargill, the indications seem, to point to pressure being brought to bear upon Sir Joseph Ward, to contest, that seat at the election next December. For private reasons, the Hon. J. A. Hjanan is moving his home from Invercargill after twenty-five years a.s member for the town; lan-id it is not to be wondered at that the local party leaders, in casting about for a likely successor, should think instantly of the former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, himself' a Southlander, and, a* member for an adjoining, electorate, for so many years a Ministerial colleague of Mr. Raman. Hardly a fortnight ago' Sir Joseph lost two grandsons in three days, and the-third boy of the family is: still sorely stricken with infantile paralysis. It is not. to be expected, therefore, that Sir Joseph Ward’s present mind runs oil politics ; nor will he be .approached bv h\s most ardent supporter until the pangs T domestic grief have lost their first bitterness. But it appears only a question of months before the former champion of his. party must, decide whether he will again seek election, at all, and, if so, for what seat. His name has been mentioned already in connection with Wellington. North, but the personal appeal will come stronger from the south. In any case, whatever locality he may select—for there are bound to be enough offering—there will be many of all shades of political opinion who will hope to see Sir Joseph back in the House. We ourselves cannot by any means see eye to eye with Him in political creed, and it is useless to pretend that he was a huge .success as party leader; but he was —and, provided he dan recover the health and vitality of six yeans ago, still will he —.too able a statesman to be lost to the country. This year’s election promises to be highly interesting in more ways than one; but it would be a lasting pity if the blind .spirit of party should enter the contest to rob the Dominion of the services, either on the Government or the Opposition benches, of men who have proved their wotth in administration, anti their undivided loyalty to their country and the Empire.