WELCOME TO MINISTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13695, 11 September 1906, Page 5

WELCOME TO MINISTERS.

A WELLINGTON FUNCTION. (Pir Unit-id Press.Association.) . WELLINGTON, September 10. Ino [own Hall was crowded to-iitulii-«lii«ii tho citizens of Wellington Ijjndored ■i public welcome to Sir Joseph Ward and "2i» ' J eiv mc*nibor ? of the Cabinet, Messrs ll'llui', Al'Nab. ami Kowlds. The Ministers ocen-ed a groat ovation on entering the imilctmtc Sir Jnsopli Ward, in (he course o .a speech, said he ttm | |,j, colleftrjnos claiincd thai, they had nailed their colours to the mast, and would keep them flying, i iii.' historian of the future would doscribo '"." policy of the Government as 1 ' bold, wide, liberal, and magnetic, intended "for he good of all classes, lief ore the people •Mil an opportunity of judging that policy it was somewhat premature of some of their out Irioiids-and he would sooner have an "Pro enemy than a false Friend-lo pass Jiidginont upon it. Touching upon the cliier mailers of policy disclosed in the Widget, Sir Joseph said lh o principle of removing some portions of public debt. liad never before been placed before- the people m practical form, though it had ™en tallied about on many 'occasions. Native hunk would he lirouuhl into nccnpattioii in the interests «f (],,. Maori nwnnrs mill of ihn pnoplp gonnrallv. Tlio Goyernnient, was trying to limit the area of largo estates, for Ihe reason that the country was only a small one. and Ihe area of Crown lands limited. Thev did not desire that those things'which'had been such a blot on. the annals and records nf other lands should exist in this country. It would not hi' necessary to go to London next year for public ni'iuey.' The colony could m>w choose its market.

.Spoeohes wore 'made by oilier Ministers, and were warmly received, the proceedings being very cordial throughout.