“INSPIRING EXAMPLE"

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 May 1930, Page 5

“INSPIRING EXAMPLE"

TRIBUTE TO PREMIER COLLEAGUES’ EULOGY SENSE OF. PUBLIC DUTY. / i.Hy 'itsifgrapu —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May. 16. Referring to the Prime Minister’s resignation, a tribute from iris ministerial colleagues has been issued by Mr Forbes, who. states : ‘‘l nm speaking on behalf of myself and my colleagues in the ministry when 1 say how deeply we regret that, owing to the state of his health, our leader has felt it imperative, to follow the earnest of his medical advisers s by , relieving himself of the cares of office. “Our close, association with the Prime Minister has enabled ns to see with what courage and mental resolution 1m has fought against the physical handicap which overtook. him towards the end of the last session of Parliament. This attitude is typical of the man and has. been demonstrated time and again throughout his. long career of public service. Now that Sir Joseph has decided to relinquish the responsibilities, of administration I am certain X am voicing the feeling of all New Zealanders when I say that we earnestly hope that he will recover health strength and that he will enjoy many happy years. “We, as his colleagues naturally feel keenly the official parting from our leader and take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the confidence which he showed in asking us to join his Ministry. Sir Joseph has been a considerate leader and we have appreciated his sound judgment and wise counsel. In addition to our admiration of Sir Joseph’s capacity as. a political leader, we recognise that he had a still wider conception of his public responsibilities. As an Imperialist he established for himself a reputation which extended far beyond New Zealand. Inspired with intense loyalty to the Crown he 'brought to ‘bear at many Imperial conferences a constructive capacity which undoubtedly has helped in the evolution of our British commonwealth of nations.

“The Prime Minister’s decision, to retire from the forefront of public life creates a gap which will be hard to fill j but his career is an inspiring example to all New Zealanders whose sense of public duty prompts them to serve their country.’.’ LABOUR LEADER’S TRIBUTE, HOPES FOR SPEEDY; RECOVERY. TAUPOj. May 16. Referring tq the resignation of Sir Joseph Ward, Air H. E. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, said that as a political opponent of the Prime Afinister he desired to join with every section of the people in sincerely regretting that as a result of his illness Sir Joseph should have found nimseif compelled to resign his office. He paid a high tribute to Sir Joseph 'Ward’s strong personality, and said that his long association with the political life of tbe country and many items of legislation standing on th© Statute Book left his name with a lustre. Sir Joseph’s hold on the allegiance of a large section of the people was responsible for the measure of success achieved by the United Party at the last election, for it was. fully recognised that no. other Liberal leader cauld„have succeeded in bringing together in one camp the diversity of. political interests which made up the United Party. His task as. head of the Government must have been rendered all the more arduous by the fact that only two of his Ministers had had previpus Cabinet experience, while some of them had not even had previous Parliamentary experience. Whoever might be chosen to succeed Sir Joseph as Parliamentary leader would undertake a perplexing responsibility, and hone would envy him his task. It -was. a tribute to the popularity of Sir Joseph Ward that in the evening of' liisf life he had been able to win his way back to the Premiership, and B his strongest opponents, equally with his most ardent supporters, while deploring the circumstances which compelled him to stand, aside, would join in wishing him the speediest possible recovery from his illness and the full enjoyment of the rest which he had now decided to take, and which he had fully earned.