SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15825, 25 July 1913, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

NEW ZEALAND POLITICAL . SITUATION. (From Ova Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 13. Sir Joseph Ward's holiday visit is coming to an end. Next Thursday ho will travel overland to Marseilles to join the P. and 0. 5.6. Mongolia on his .return journey to New Zealand. It has just been decided that Lady Ward and Miss Ward shall remain here for another tlireo months. One main reason for this chango of plan is that Mr and Mrs Wood, of Christchurch, wish to stop in this country until September, and. of course,; the wedding cannot take place until their arrival in New Zealand, Another reason is that Lady Ward would -lileo to bo here when Master Pat Ward gets his long summer 'holidays. He is now at Downside College, Bath. Lady and Miss Ward will consequently be leaving towards the end of August, and in the interim they will most probably take a furnished house at Richmond-on-Thamcs. Mr Vincent Ward is in London on a fortnight's visit, having come specially from Montreal to see his parents. ■ Sir Joseph ■ told mo that he had originally intended returning via Canada, but he considered it unwise to go there in the unsettled political state of that dominion. If ho had gone lie eould not have avoided speaking, especially as he has had several invitations to attend various functions, and he would have found it verv difficult to keep out of tho naval controversy. In reply to my query, Sir Joseph said he had had a very interesting and pleasant time in England, and his only difficulty had been that he found it absolutely impossible to accept the innumerable kindnesses of people throughout the country. It was the first holiday he had had for many years, and from'tho health point of view it had done him an immense amount of good. He felt physically better and stronger than for tho past 15 years. During the four mouthy that Sir Joseph has been Home he has attended on an average at least one function a day, either in London or the country. When asked about the political situation in New Zealand, Sir Joseph said: "I am going hack on account of sessional duties in order to represent my constituents of Awarua. I cannot sav anything further. I liavo not discussed New Zealand nolitics since I left the dominion, and I do not intend to until after my return." His visit, Sir Joseph continued, had been absolutely free from politics. In conclusion, he mentioned that Lady and Mies Ward were extending their fituv. They had had a strenuous time, and tho next few months would be spent by thorn quietly at Richmond.