THE WARD MINISTRY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2643, 28 August 1906, Page 5

THE WARD MINISTRY.

A BBIEF BIOGRAPHY. Sir J. G. Ward, the Premier, is almost a New Zealander, having been born at Emerald Hill (Vic.) in 1857, and coming to the colony in childhood with his C rents. Southland has reason, indeed, to proud of our neW Premier. /With his colleagues from this district, Sir Joseph has pushed on all legitimate works, and secured votes to open up the back blocks. A man of kindly disposition and indomitable courage, he has won his way to a high position, and has earned a reputation for ability to grasp financial problems. Sir Joseph's history, from his boyhood at the Blufi school to his present high position, is too well known to be recapitulated here. Suffice it to say he has the best wishes of every patriotic Southlander. If Sir Joseph cannot claim New Zealand as the lwd of his birth, Lady Ward proudly boasts that she was born in Invercargill, while their family—one daughter, Eileen, and four sons, Cyril, Vincent, Gladstone, and Awarua Pat—all claim New Zealand as the land of their birth. The Hon. Hall-Jones was born at Folkstone, Kent, in 1853, and when quite a young man came to the colony and settled down in Timaru as a carpenter, j

He soon f.irgcd ahead, and on the death of Mr Seddou was Appointed Premier, which position lie held till Sir Joseph returned from England. The lion. J.is. McGowan is proud to be an Irishman, and he was born at Maxwell Court in 1841. He came to the colony in 1864, and shortly afterwards commenced storekeeping in the Thames district, where he is held in high esteem. The Hon. Jas. Carroll is a native of New Zealand, and his selection is most popular. He first saw the light of day at the little town of Wairoa, in the Hawkes Biy district, on August 20, 1857. He was at one time native interpreter in the House of Representatives and a member of the Executive Council, representing the Native race in the Ballance Government in 1892. The Hon. Albert Pitt is a Tasmanian. In 1864 he was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand at Dunedin, and shortly after took up bib residence in Nelson, which district he now represents. He is an enthusiastic volunteer, and in 1897 he commanded the New Zealand Diamond Jubilee Contingent which weut to England to represent the colony. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds claims Ayrshire, Scotlaud, as his birthplace. He arrived in Auckland in 1863 and soon set up in business as a clothier, and prospered exceedingly. After last election he went to Scotland to meet old acquaintances, and also to attend the centenary celebrations of his father. Mr Fowldn is a prominent temperance advocate. The next on the list is a Southland-born man, who was educated at the old Grammar School, Invercargill. We refer to the Hon. Robert McNab, who was born in 1864. He has proved himself one of the most industrious and useful men in Parliament Mr McNab is a strong supporter of volunteering. He holds the degrees of M.A. and L.L.B. from the N.Z. University. India was the place of birth of Mr John Anderson Millar, but be received his education in Edinburgh. He was born in 1855, and came to Otago in early manhood to learn sheep-farming. The trip out gave him a taste for the sea, and eventually he worked his way up till he was chief officer. In 1887 he left the sea life, and ranked himself with the Labour party. His connection with the maritime strike is too well-known to be enlarged on. Mr Millar always had a warm heart for the worker, and is proud of tho fact that he has helped to perfect the Shipping and Seamen's Act and the Factories Act. His inclusion in the Cabinet is a popular one among the workers, and it is thought that Mr Millar's assistance will tell in the heavy task now before the new Ministry.— • Southern Cross.'