SIR JOSEPH WARD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 March 1929, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

j GREAT TRIBUTE PAID. J BANQUET AT INVERCARGILL HIS CAREER AS STATESMAN. j (By Telegrapu—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, March-20. Probably no greater tribute could have been paid the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, than the welcome accorded him this evening, when over 2A)O people assembled at a banquet in the Drill Hall,, the decorations and lighting of which were the most arnmtious undertaking of the kind -in Southland. There were representatives ox the whole of the province. In addition, there was a notable gathering of Cabinet Ministers. A crowd of upward of 1000 had congregated iu front of Sir Joseph Ward’s hotel, and he was given a rousing reception as he entered his car, which was preceded by a pipe band and followed by a long"procession of cars.. The route was lined by large crowds. in proposing the toast of “Our Guest,” Mr. J. C. Thomson, a former Liberal member for Wallace, said that, considered . from the point of " view of public service, Sir Joseph Ward was the most distinguished Soutklarider the province had produced in the 73 years of its history. - Within its borders there had arisen a statesman gifted with foresight, initiative, wise discernment, quick judgment and prompt action —qualities always associated with greatness—who for over 34 years had helped to share the destinies of our. rich and beautiful land; one who had achieved a world-wide reputation as a financier; whose pronouncements on any of the great financial problems in the spheres of commerce and politics were always received with, respect, and who had reached a position in the State and the Empire which fell to the lot.of few men to attain.

Referring to Sir Joseph Ward’s work in Parliament, the speaker mentioned that there was one measure which the well-known author, Sir Rader Haggard, called a brilliant piece of legislation, and which he recommended for adoption in Britain, the State Advances to Settlers Act, which had placed thousands on the road to independence. It was a piece of legislation that marked a new era in statesmanship, and which would be a more lasting memorial of ’ Sir Joseph Ward than anything else lie had done.

Sir Joseph had reached a time of life when service would give him more pleasure than self, and there was no reason why, granted health and strength, lie should not be spared many years to serve his country with the same ability, zeal and devotion as had always characterised his services.

On rising to reply to the toast SirJoseph was accorded an enthusiastic, reception. “I think lam right hi saying that any man would realise in these circumstances that anything lie. had attempted was a mere consequence compared with the pouring out of appreciation that has taken place tonight,” said Sir Joseph. He realised the small requirement of age in his position and he did not appreciate tlie : expressions of those who had been sym-' pathetically inclined towards him. He was afraid the wish was father to the thought, and there were some who would be glad to have him out of the arena in. which both were engaged. He wished to. say that, all over the Empire, in trying to gain positions politicians should be above sacrificing the best interests of the people. ) The Prime Minister declared that he' had been tongue-tied on taking office When questions and criticism were levelled. He was not aware that the position of the consolidated revenue was not so satisfactory as it should have been, especially as it was an era of the country’s greatest prosperity. He hoped to make an announcement of the true position of the country’s finance shortly after the end of the financial year. He spoke of the Government’s desire to overcome the unemployment difficulty, and by closer settlement, he believed the country areas could absorb 5000 or 10,000 more people. The Government’s policy was to complete productive railways, and since taking office he had stopped the work on one railway which it was believed would not prove productive.