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North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13983, 20 November 1917, Page 7

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"XI « » . . ' SIR JOSEPH WARD IN THE SOUTH, > i - ACCORDED HEARTY RECEPTION. v ' , it PROBLEMS OP WAR AND AFTER. f- . , (Ptff Press Association). WTNTON, November 19/' Sir Joseph Ward, who is on a visit to Southland, arrived at luvcrcargill on Saturday afternoon, and was accorded a very hearty welcome home. ThcJMinister wal met at the railway station by the mayor and councillor, and congratulatoiy speeches weio given. Reference was made by the Mayor to the valuable services Sir Joseph had reu-. dcrcd, not only to New Zealand, butMo tire Empire as a whole. v ■■■'••' On Sunday Sir Joseph paid an un- ".'■:. official visit to Bluff, and this evening ho visited; Wiuton, where l|e received a hearty welcome, the town \band turning out and playing him to the hall. , In proposing Sir Joseph Ward's ' health at a dinner given by the Mayor ■..'"■ and councillors, the Mayor (Mr T. Wal- .--. kcr). said they welcomed him, not only as the member for Awarua—a •. stituency he had represented faithfully . and well for thirty years—but they welcomed him also as a Minister of the Quwn and joint head' of the National y\... government, and as one of the first to fty represent the Dominion on the Imperial \j War Cabinet. He had made a reputation; throughout the Empire, not only as a great Imperialist but as a great ami far-seeing statesman. In the course of his reply, Sir Joseph Ward referral to the supreme sacrifices that had been made throughout the Empire. Whatever the future had in store, they were not prepared to relax their efforts to win the war in the interests not only of those of the present generation but for all those who were to follow. Tins was not the time when statesmen could give up actuhl war work to- lay the foundation-stone for building up the future structure of the Empire, but there was no reason why they should not all think "about the important and far-reaching subjects concerning the future relationship between the overseas countries and the Motherland.' Their duty was to think ' Imperially, but at the same time not to forget the ordinary requirements and interests of our own people. Problems of a most difficult nature had to be settled, and New Zealand would have to apply, itsolf with great determination and fixity of purpose, when the war was over, to ensure the future prosperity of the country. There would have to bo cooperation on a sensible basis between capital and Labour to produce the best results. Tie paid a tribute to the statesmen of Great -Britain. They had had a gigantic j , task and enormous problems to unravel. A public meeting was held in Moore's Hall later. It was a wet night, but the building was crowded. The Mayor presided. ;Tsir Joseph Ward said the present was not a time suitable for political action, /'■■'. from (he standpoint of party politicians. ji ''.■; whether they were in the ranks or in a position of leadership. All -they were concerned in was winning the war, so that the freedom of ■ the world and civilisation might be preserved. (Applause.) That was why the National Government had .been formed. Referring to the shipping problem, Sir Joseph fail! it was well known at home that tfew Zealand oould not live unless she. could get her products away. He could not' give away any figures, but they hftd in sight a good number of steamers, and he did not think those in control of the shipping at Home Avouhl allow New Zealand to become endangered by. not having a proportion of steamers to carry away the products of the soil. (Applause.) ' By the end of March #iext New Zealand would have- raised internally over £50,000,000. In regard to the cost of living, ho said New Zealand was the best off of the whole Empire. There had been criticism, but when men and women had been invited they had not a' singl&jmictical proposition to bring forwaruT New Zealand had only a white, population of 1,100,01)0, and yet, were the war to finish within the next twelve months this country would be financially the strongest portion of the British Empire, aud they would then be able to relax the high taxation the war had made necessary. He and the other members of the Ministry recognised' it as their duty to keep, the farms occupied and at work. They • would do everything in tljcir power to , carry this out. (Applause.) . Sir Joseph Ward was accorded a' '}, hearty vote of thanks by acclamation, s ■ followed by cheers for himself and . Lady Ward, the meeting -concluding with the National Anthem.