LEADER’S DEATH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 8 July 1930, Page 9

LEADER’S DEATH

LATE EDITION

TRIBUTES FROM ALL SIDES i COUNTRY’S LOSS STRESSED , PARLIAMENT TO ADJOURN ' 1 funeral at BLTJFF. I (By Telegraph—Special to “The. Star.’’) ( WELLINGTON, July 8. < As a mark of respect to the memory , of the late Sir Joseph, Ward, the House , of Representatives, will adjourn lor a weak. When the House meets this afternoon Hon. G. W'. Forbes will move a motion placin'; on record the iiioh appreciation of the services rendered! New Zealand by the deceased statesman and after tributes have been paid to Sir Joseph Ward’© memory, the House will adjourn until Tuesday lText. All public office? M\v Zea'iand are being closed to-day ebcept these required to remain open for urgent. public business such! as the tele, graph and 1 railways. . ' Siir Joseph Ward is to be burred at ■ Bluff on Sundae afternoon. He will ji rest in the same cemetery as Lady . Ward l and their two twin children, who died’ in early infancy., and Sir Joseph s late mother. Bearing on the funeral arrangements, the Prime Minister informed your correspondent, that- while members of the family of the deceased) statesman would hare prefer red a quiet f line raj, leaving for the South Island on .It ©dines day night, the Government, realising that the public! would; desire a fuller opportunity to, pay their resuects to Sir Joseph Ward, had expressed a wish that the following arrangements should be made, bv it, and! in this the family had concurred. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Hill Street Basilica, at 10 a, m. on Wednesday, and the body will lie in State, there until 4jim. on Thursday, when the funeral procession will proceed by a. route yet to be arranged through the city to the southern ferry steamer. The casket* will leave Wellington at 7.45 p.m. on Thursday and arrive at Lyttelton, at / a.m, on Friday, connecting with the 8.35 a.m. express from Christchurch to Invercargill where it will arrive at 9 p.m. on Fridav. The body will be taken to the. Basilica in Invercargill, remaining there until 9 a.m. on Sunday, when a service will be held. The funeral procession will proceed a,t 1 p.m. by motor for the Bluff cemetery, and the service at the graveside will take place about 2.30 ‘p.m. Tlie Prime Minister and hits colleagues will he the pall-bearers at the church and at the graveside. The solemn Pontifical Mass at Hill Street Basilica will he sung to-morrow morning at. 10 o’clock by Archbishop O’SHiea The deacon will be Father Bowl inn- S.M., and the .sub-deacon Father” Kcllv. Archbishop Redwood will assist in the mass from his throne ana he will also be assisted bv Father McCarthy, S.M., and Father Connolly, S.M.

LOSS TO COMMUNITY. MR. POLSON SPEAKS FOR FARMERS. (By Telegraph—Special to "The Star. ) WELLINGTON, July S. Mr. W. J. Poison, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and Independent member for Stratford, said : “In common with every other section of the community, the farmers of New Zealand deplore the death of a man who played so great a part in moulding the history of the Dominion.” The speaker said that even those of the farming community who had not agreed with all Sir Joseph V ard s views recognised his unselfish devotion to duty and what he believed to be the best interests of the people as a whole. Two generations of New Zealanders would” have personal recollections oi Sir Joseph Ward’s political work, and his name would be interwoven with the records of this Dominion for a much longer period than that of any other statesman. He became not only a New Zealand and Empire figure, but also a world figure. He possessed a graciousness of manner that made him approachable to everybody, and his noble cresture in resigning the leadership of the pnrtv touched a responsive chord in the heart of the nation. “On behalf of the farmers of New Zealand,” concluded Mr. Poison, “1 would like to extend, my deep sympathy to his relatives.”

WIDESPREAD CONDOLENCES. ■ SCHOOLS CLOSE AS MARK OF RESPECT. r(By Telegraph—Special to “The Star.'} WELLINGTON, July 8. Mess ages of sympathy from all over New Zealand were received to-day by relatives of Sir Joseph \\ ard. Members of the family at the bedside when the end came were Mr. and Mrs. 15. B. Wood Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Ward and Mr. Pat Ward. Mr. Cyril Ward, heir to the title, and Mr. Gladstone Ward arrive in Wellington from the South Island to-morrow. A simple, yet impressive, tribute to Sir Joseph; Ward’s memory was paid by the Minister of Education, who decided to close all schools this afternoon and also on Thursday on account of the funeral. SERVICE TO COUNTRY. HIGH SENSE OF OBLIGATION. WELLINGTON, July 8. The Prime Minister, when approached by pressmen, paid a very feeling tribute to his old chief. n ~, r “I came into the House, said AH Forbes, “when Sir Joseph was Prime Minister, and before that I bad fo - L lowed his career very closely, with aUfor his boldness and initiative He was one of the outstanding men of the very progressive Seddoman Ministry, and when I entered the House lie had succeeded Mr Seddon as l > rime Minister. “I was struck then by his very capable grasp of all public affairs and the statesmanlike manner in which ho handled the difficult problems which he had to face. Notably, there was the question of Imperial affairs, lead-

ing ultimately to the gift of a dreadnought to the Mother Country, and the '"’inauguration of widows’ pensions and generally carrying forward the policy of his former leader. Then the time came in 1912 when lie stepped down in the interests of hi's party to make room for Sir Thomas Mackenzie. “Throughout Sir Joseph’s term of Opposition I was his Whip and 'continued in that position for over 10 years. 1 came to know him very inmately during those years- and 1 came to know how public spirited lie was and how his .sole desire was to do the best ho could in the service of the country for which he had so great- an affection. . .

“He would never countenance in any ■ay methods which might -be considerd 'clever, but which were not straight, le was the soul of honour—'very crupulous in the observance of any u’omise he< made. Then, when the Jnited Party was formed and he was sked to take the leadership, I was ,ne of those appointed to urge his ac-e-ptaucei of that -position, and the renit of the election showed that this •ho ice was a very wise one, because it vas acclaimed by people throughout •sew Zealand. , ~T , , , “WWen Sir Joseph Ward asked me o accept a position in his Ministry I vas pleased to range myself alongside rrv old leader. Right- throughout the /line I have been in the Cabinet I was /■ery closely (associated with him and mined his complete confidence. When, iwing to his failing health. Sir Joseph resigned the position of Prime IVliniscer and I was asked to assume that responsibility. I felt that in doing so it was with his full concurrence and goodwill. “There was no doubt about his unfailing courtesy, which often in the stress and strain of political life w a.s tested to its utmost, but never iVas there a weak link—always courtesy for the greatest friend or bitterest opponent. , . , „ “In liis long illness, which we all regret. he remained cheerful, and there is no doubt that it was his intense desire to carry out his public duties faithfully and efficiently, in line with his high sense of obligation to his country, Tvlircb <x>n tribute cl good rleal towards bis breakdown in healtli. Sir Joseph’s relations with his Cabinet were cordial throughout, and we feel keenly the loss of a. chief for whom we had the greatest respect and affection.”

“LINK WITH PAST SEVERED.” MR. HOLLAND’S TRIBUTE. WELLINGTON, July 8. Mr. H. E. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, said: ‘T personally, and the Labour Party as a whole, will join with all other sections of the people of the Dominion in mourning the death of -Sir Joseph W ard, in offering sincere condolences to the bereaved relatives and in sympathising with the Prime Minister and his colleagues in the great loss they have sustained. Sir Joseph Ward’s presence in the House and his leadership of the Government until illness laid him aside linked the present period with the strenuous past of from 30 to 40 years ago, and his death is like the breaking of a link of historical significance,”

DUNEDIN EXPRESSES SYMPATHY

“GREAT SENSE! OF LOSS.” DUNEDIN, July 8. “The people of New Zealand must feel a great sense of loss in the death of Sir Joseph W r ard,” said- the Mayor (Mr R, S. Black). “His name will go down in history as a wonderful Imperialist, showing practical and intense love for liis country a.nd Empire. He was. one of our greatest men. His sponsoring of the gift dreadnought to the Motherland was one of the acts of his life which will stand out as a shining example of his fine Imperial conception of duty.” The Mayor has telegraphed to the family Dunedin citizens’ deepest sympathy.

STATE OF THE PARTIES.

TWO BY-ELECTIONS PENDING. (By Telegraph—Special to “The Star.’) WELLINGTON, July 8. The state of the parties! in the House as a, result of Sir Joseph Ward’s death is as follows:—United 1 24, Reform 28. Labour 20, Independent 5, Country 1. There are two vacancies—ln.verca.T--gill, caused by Sir Joseph "YVairids death and Western Maori, previously held by the late Sir "Maui Pom are. BURIAL AT BLUFF. PALL-BEARERS TO BE COLLEAGUES. WELLINGTON, July 8. Following tributes to the late Sir Joseph Ward in both the House oi Representatives and the Legislative Council this afternoon there will he an adjournment till Tuesday next as a mark of respect. , Requiem Mass will he celebrated m the Basilica at 10 a.m. to-morrow, and the body will he conveyed to Bluff for burial on Sunday morning, leaving Wellington on Thursday night. The Prime Minister. Cabinet and ! members of both Houses will attend the funeral, the pall-hearers consisting of Ministers of the Crown. All Government offices are closed today.