INVERCARGILL SEAT

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 221, 14 August 1930, Page 8

INVERCARGILL SEAT

MR VINCENT WARD RETURNED. ABSENTEE VOTES TO COME. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Aug. 13. The by-election for the Invercargill seat made vacant by the death of Sir Joseph Ward was held ’to-day and resulted ns follows: Vincent Ward (United) ... 4799 James Hargest (Reform)... 4307 Majority for Ward ... 492 When the final returns were announced this evening, tho Returning Officer had received advice of 377 absentee votes and 312 postal votes having been recorded, making a total of 689 votes still to be counted. It is estimated that there will be approximately 700 votes all told to be counted. It is hardly likely, however, that with these votes the result will be altered. Keen interest was taken in the election, which was conducted under ideal weather conditions. _ Actually 9139 electors in Invercargill went to the poll, and this total, with approximately 700 absentee and postal votes, makes the grand total 9840. There were 12,000 electors on the roll, eo that - the percentage exercising their votes was 82. A vast crowd gathered in tlie Post Office' Square this evening, and after the final returns had been posted each of the candidates gave a brief address. Enthusiastic supporters of Mr Ward carried him shoulder high along the main street from his hotel to the Post Office. NEW MEMBER’S CAREER. The new member for Invercargill, Mr Vincent Ward, is tho second son of tho late Sir Joseph Ward. He was born at Bluff in 1888, and attended the public school there until he was botiveon eight and nine years of ago. Then his father, on his appointment as a Minister of the Crown went with his family to live in Wellington. There Mr Ward completed his education. At the age of 17 ho entered the National Bank of New Zealand as a cadet, a position which ho hold for twolvo months. Ho then left tho bank and travelled to London where ho joined a firm of Now Zealand produce importers with tho object of gaining experience. Six’ months with this concern was followed by twelve months on tho staff of an insurance company, with experience at Lloyd’s. Thus equipped ho crossed to America, and received an appointment with tho United States Steel Corporation, in whose employ he remained for two years. Later ho joined up with a shipping business in Montreal. During his residence in Montreal ho was, when in his twenty-first year, elected a member of the Council of the Board of Trade.

On the outbreak of the Great War Mr Ward volunteered with the Canadian forces. The stato of his health resulted in his being discharged as unfit, and, realising that there was no further chanco of joining tho Canadian forces, he went to England and enlisted as a private in tho “Devil’s Own.” Again, after several months, ill-health resulted in tho Medical Board ordering a rest. Later he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, went into training at Chatham barracks, and was ordered to tho Tenth Cruiser Squadron in the North Sea. He was transferred to tho Southend Boarding Flotilla, where he remained, for 18 months, until a wcok bofore the Armistice was declared, when lie was sent by the Admiralty to New York to the Ministry of Shipping to take charge of ships to and from Franco and Italy. By tho time ho arrived in Now A ork tho Armistice had boon declared, but he remained with the Ministry of Shipping for several months before returning to New Zealand. ■ , ~, , On his return to Now Zealand Mr \\ ard joined the firm of J. G. Ward and Co., at Christchurch, remaining thero for two years when, at tho request of Ins father, he went to Wellington to act as Sir Joseph s private secretary, and attendod to business matters. When Sir Joseph.. Ward took office as Prime Minister, Mr Vincent Ward acted as his confidential secretary, a position which ho held until Sir Josephs resignation from office.