THE PRIME MINISTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15558, 7 March 1911, Page 8

THE PRIME MINISTER.

DEPARTURE FOR LONDON. FAREWELL GATHERING AT AUCKLAND. SIR JOSEPH WARD AND DR FINDLAY HONOURED. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 6. Tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) and the Hon Dr Findlay (Attor-ney-General) left by the Victoria this Evening for Sydney, en route to London, where they will attend the Imperial Conference and the Coronation selebrations. The whole of to-day was occupied with the making of final arrtkgements, and the Ministers had rery little spare time. Sir Joseph iHfard, indeed, was unable to see more pi all a few inends, and they had to £• content with merely shaking hands with hinir In the morning he met other members of the Caoinet, and some business was transacted. It was not till after a belated lunch that he was able to secure a little privacy for tho settlement of his family and private affairs.

Tho official send-off was given at the Albert Park this afternoon. Among those present were the lions Sir Maurice O’Rorke, E. Mitclielson, Seymour Thorne George, Major Harris and W. Beehan, tho Hons J. Carroll (Acting-Prime Minister), R. M’Kenzie (Minister of Public Works), G. Fowlds (Minister ot Education), T. Mackenzie (Minister of Agriculture), J. A. Millar (Minister of Railways), and D. Buddo (Minister of Internal Affairs), Messrs A. M. Myers, 0. H. Poole, F. La wry, H. Poland, A. E. Glover, V. Reed, J. Vigor Brown, W. D. S. Macdonald and C. Hall (members of Parliament), Lieutenant-Colonel Wolfe, Mr Beddoe (the Canadian Commissioner), the mayors and chairmen of several of the local bodies of Auckland suburbs, and a large number of influential citizens. Altogether the attendance numbered about 1600.

The Mayer of Auckland (Mr L. J. Bagnall) said the people of New Zealand were deeply concerned in the momentous happenings of the day, and 6ir Joseph \Vard would be justified in conveying to his Majesty the King, whom he would see crowned, tho verydeep senso of loyalty to himself, his throne and the Empire that pervaded this country. (Applause.) The Mayor then, amidst hearty applause, handed an address to the Prime Minister.

Sir Joseph Ward was loudly applauded when he rose to reply. Lie Baid he warmly appreciated the large gathering that had assembled to do honour to himself and to Dr Findlay. (Applause.) No one could fail to realise the responsibility attaching to the man placed in the position of a delegate to the Imperial Conference, and any man so placed was bound to exercise every effort to carry out those important duties to the best of his ability. The loyalty of the people of Now Zealand no one could question. He hoped that success would attend the important Imperial Conference they were going to. it was necessarily recognised by men in all parts of the Empire that they had got to a stage when they must show practical results from such gatherings as this Conference. Of one tiling they might be assured and that was that he and his colleague would do their duty to the utmost of their capacities, and in any position that might arise they would put on record their views, behoving them to be entirely in the interests of the Empire. (Loud cheers.) lie believed the coming Conference would achieve reform and infuse practical patriotism into the Old Land and those portions of the oversea dominions that had been drawn towards it as tho outcome of the swift steamer communication that now obtained. The conditions in this respect which a few years ago were regarded as sufficient for all requirements were now held to be unsuitable for the needs of the scattered portions of the Empire of which they were all so proud. (Applause.) The younger generation of New Zealanders were as determined to maintain the noble traditions of the past and the integrity of the Empire as the most Staunch Englishmen, Irishmen and Scotchmen who camo here in the early days to make this a iree country, with a free people, living under a free flag. (Applause.) He looked forward as aopefully as the Mayor and citizens did to the consolidation of the Empire. It was now necessary, said Sir Joseph, for the Motherland to realise that we were no longer growing up, and that what was all right ten or fifteen years ago to enable the Empire to maintain its position against any combination of other countries was not all right today. Unless they had an interchange of ideas and co-operation between the scattered portions of the Empire, it would be impossible to get them all to work in the one direction when necessary or to act all together for defensive purposes or self-preservation if pver that position unhappily arose. (Applause.) The Imperial Conference, to his mind, was an event of stupendous importance. At that gathering the questions of cheapening telegraphic and postal communication, of quickening transit between New Zealand and the Old Laud, all matters of the highest importance, would be discussed. He felt proud of the reference made “In the address to the ability, knowledge and professional skill of his worthy colleague, the Hon Dr Findlay. (Applause.) The qualifications which Dr Findlay possessed would not only be an invaluable aid to him (Sir Joseph), but should also assist the other delegates as well, no matter from where they came. Sir Joseph Ward, in conclusion, said he looked forward to the Conference, and he looked forward to the time when be would-return and give an account of what had been done. One thing that encouraged his colleague and himself in their mission was the fact that the people from end to end of the dominion had assembled to express their loyalty and wish their representatives Godspeed. He would only bo too proud when he was in England to convey that jnessago of loyalty to his Majesty tho King. (Applause.) He thanked the Mayor and councillors and citizens of Auckland for the kindly words of appreciation which the address contained and for the sentiments expressing goodwill to himself and Lady Ward, and the Hon Dr Findlay and Mrs Findlay. He left them with a full heart, saying “ An Revoir but not Good-bye,'” and he trusted that when he returned he would iino. them as prosperous as they wero »t present. Sir Joseph Ward concluded his remarks amid hearty applause and cheers. Dr Findlay said that parting was ffither a “ sweet sorrow ” when effect»d under such conditions. His hearers kad recognised that the mission tipo-n which Sir Joseph Ward and himself were setting out transcended all party politics, and it had lifted the feelings of the New Zealand people high above partisanship to unite them in one volume of good wishos. He went to the Imperial Conference as an untried ■nan, though he had had the honour of representing New Zealand before tho , greatest Court of Appeal in the world, the Privy Council. Though lie had not yet attended a congress of the oversea Premiers, he went now with one who had trodden the path with Both credit to himself and honour to his eountrv. It was a case in whjch the best promise for the future was the performances of the past, and he believed that every man in New Zealand was assured that Sir Joseph Ward would do his' best to make more and more articulate the feelings of loyalty . •xisting throughout this country, and vould join with the statesmen

of tho Empire in determining how that loyalty could be most ! effective for purposes of defence. I A great menace had arisen lately, and they had to do their best, not in a spirit of jingoism or aggression, to make safe the bulwarks of the Empire, and to see that no ocher nation would threaten that Britain which had so long stood I for freedom. And in matters of Im--5 perial defence no man had shown himself to be more enthusiastically intelligent than Sir Joseph Ward. New Zealand had taken a great stride in her own delences, and with hc-r courage in both hands had given Britain a battleship costing £2,00-O,COO, a gift at which no right-minded man or woman had i been able to cavil. That was an object lesson to the world. _ AY lien sacrifices wero demanded of New Zealand they would bo willingly made. The coming Conference would be, he believed, an epoch-making one. One of its cardinal purposes would be to provide machinery to improve the framework of tho Empire, and to knit closer to the Mother Couijtry all the parts, spread world-wide, of that framework. This country had a glorious past itself, and in this beautiful city of historical asso- ! ciations tho spirit of Grey and other great men of the past was ever present, and their blessing, with that of the people of .to-day, would help to make this country and nation greater still in the esteem of the world as the home of freedom and fairness. This must b? done by actions and not by words, by sacrifices and bv contributions, and bv demonstrations such as they had that day. (Applause.) THE PRIME MINISTER’S PARTING MESSAGE. A great crowd assembled on tho wharf to witness the departure. Sir Joseph Ward on the point of departure from tho wharf gave this parting message to New Zealand:—“l have the deepest feeling of gratitude to the people of New Zealand for the goodwill which has been shown to me so universally on my departure for the Imperial Conference. While, however, l appreciate in the fullest way this spirit of personal kindness, I fully recognise that much of the demonstration of goodwill I have received is due to New Zealand’s recognition of the importance to her of the great mission with which I have been entrusted, and reflects a strong and unanimous desire on the part of the people of this country to widen and improve that framework of Empire which will attach us still closer to our Motherland. Thus I feel that New Zealand’s goodwill is ns much for the mission as the man. This encourages me to do the best J can for the country I love and of which lam so proud. To one and all of my fellow citizens the kindliest ‘Au Revoir.’ ”