BANQUET TO SIR J. G. WARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 172, 31 July 1901, Page 4

BANQUET TO SIR J. G. WARD.

[united press association.] WELLINGTON, July 29. A banquet, tendered to Sir J. G. Ward, Minister for Bailways and PostmaßterGenoral, by the Liberal and Labour party upon the conferment of his knighthood, was held at the Drill Shed tonight. The attendance, which numbered over 300, was thoroughly representative of all classes of the community. Mr Allan Ward occupied the chair, on hie right being the guest of , the;evening, and on his left the Speaker, Sir Maurice O'Borke, Messrs J. Walker, Hall-Jones, McGo nan, Carroll, Mills, Duncan, and a large number of members of both branches of the Legislature were also present. Several apologies for absence were read, among the number Mr Seddon, who regretted tbat a severe cold prevented him being present. Replying to the toast of his health, Sir J. G. Ward, who was enthusiastically received, quoted figures to remove an impression that seemed to exist in some quarters that the colony had reached the height of its prosperity and was on the wane. They should not allow themselves to be controlled by any spasm of pessimism, which might be calculated to send the colony backwards instead of forwards. There was abundance of money in the banking institutions at the present time, and there was no justification whatever for a pessimistic cry. He scouted the idea of any reversal of our prosperity. All classes of the community were in a much better position than when the present Administration took office, and with a vigorous, though pruden , public works policy nothing could deter the colony in its march of progress. He heartily thanked the gathering for the great honour that had that evening been tendered to him. During the evening Sir J. Ward was presented with a handsomely illuminated congratulatory address from prominent Wellington Trades Unionists.