NEW ZEALAND'S PREMIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S PREMIER.

SOME OF HIS DOINGS.

[FROM OUB own correspondent.]

London*, April 12. On three days this. week Sir Joseph Ward was present at the Maritime Conference meetings, and preparatory to his departure from London on Thursday morning early he had a busy day on Wednesday. On that afternoon the New Zealand Premier was; present at the wedding; of a daughter of Mr. ? and Mrs. Moss Davis, of Auckland,. when he made an appropriate little speech; Lady Ward and Miss Ward were there also. In the evening they all attended the New Zealand Association reception at the Westminster Palace Hotel, at which the High Commissioner for New Zealand and Mrs. Pember Reeves acted respectively as host and hostess. Most of the morning was occupied at the Maritime Conference sitting, which .now has.', adjourned for about, a ..fortnight -r : .< .' Yesterday morning all the colonial Premiers now in this country, with the exception of Mr. Deakin, left King's Cross by the ten a.m. express for Edinburgh. Saloons had been attached to the train for the party, which numbered in all about 35 people, and included Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, Miss Ward, Dr. Jameson, his brother, Dr. Sinartt, Sir Albert Hiue, Mr. Moore. Other New Zealanders who helped to make up the total of 35 persons were: Mr. Cyril Ward, Mr. Hislop (Sir Joseph's private secretary), Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Hislop, Dr. and Mrs. Fitehett, Mr., and Mrs. James Mills, Mrs. Hamer, Mr. Belcher, Mr. J. Augustine Mason (private secretary to Mr. Reeves), and Mrs. Mason, and Mr. and Mrs. i Izard. > Mr. Freeman Murray, secretary of the British Empire League, travelled with the Premiers, who proceeded to Scotland under the auspices of, the league. ';- ■.;..: ' •.-■.'.. ■. _ A correspondent writes: "For every invitation . the New Zealand Premier has been able to accept he has had to decline about six others, and, as it is, his programme comprises a heavy, list of engagements for the next few weeks. In addition to social functions, Sir i Joseph : has been requested to speak on almost every * subject now agitating the public mind in England, but he has made it a rule to reply that as he is here in his official capacity, as a delegate to the Navigation and Premiers' Conference, it would be wrong for; him to engage in British party politics. Although those who invited him to speak have had no intention of bringing him into the arena of party strife in this country, it would be impossible to dissociate British politics from the subjects upon which the New Zealand Premier has been asked to 6peak. In declining these applications, Sir Joseph has made ; an exception in the case of the Navy League, a non-party organisation. The league has invited the Premier to receive a welcome, and at that meeting Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Austen Chamberlain will also speak." ; v On Tuesday evening Sir Joseph and Lady Ward and Miss .Ward were present at the dinner of the Royal Colonial ."Institute, which took place prior to the reading of a paper on "Federal Tendencies in Australia," by Mr. W. J. Hackett, LL.D., M.L.C, of West. Australia.

A Devonshire paper publishes; a likeness of the New • Zealand Premier, which ,it succeeded in obtaining after a; little difficulty, thus: ".' Sir' Joseph; (says, the paper) was in the middle of one of the multitude of interviews which lie has to give every day, and ■ try at the same time to cope with the 40,000 letters : that. he has received recently (some of, them !he got before he left New-Zealand,- but has not yet had time to deal with «hem). •■ Our photographer was allowed ;to pose'.hist- camera in position, 'and" when everything was ready Sir Joseph • stopped his business for a moment, and the photograph was made. This picture was taken at eleven "o'clock in the" morning, and up to that time Sir Joseph had not had time to have his breakfast." • : . . To-day the Morning Post devotes several columns to ■ The - Colonial Premiere—Their Services to the Empire." Of' Sir Joseph Ward it is remarked: "By a strange co- ■ incidence, ; at the very moment -when the whole: Empire /was;.mourning the sudden demise of Mr// Seddon, the Minister -who was destined 'to succeed him in the Premiership of ■) the colony,' and consequently as its •■representative at the Colonial Coni ference, wag paying a visit to London. As I to, the fitness of Sir Joseph Ward to sucI ceed the late Mr. - Seddon, there could be no '.question.' Both as a '/Ministerial colj league as a close" personal friend, the 1 mind |of the former Premier of New Zealand was well known to Sir Joseph Ward, in whose breast the flame of intense patriotism and Imperial loyalty : burned no less ardently than lin : that //of his '; chief. ':' A man /still in the ; prime of life, 'and of great energy of character, nothing can daunt Sir Joseph Ward's pride in. the resources of his colony, or. abate • his belief in the part New Zealand is qualified to play in tha future • development of the Empire." A lengthy sketch of ' the New Zealand Premier's career follows. : ■ , ■■'■■ Mr. W. P. Reeves has spent a good,deal of; time with Sir Joseph , Ward upon • a ■variety of .matters. But working at high pressure,;-. the Premier has had to devote Ins breakfast hour to the High Commissioner. ; ! Anyone putting his head into Sir Joseph's rcom in the early morning any day this week would have seen Sir Joseph taking his first meal, while Mr. Reeves with a, bundle of . papers discussed the colony s business with him.