SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 79

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

COM PLIMENTAR Y r LUNCfIEOX

DEGENERACY IN THE OLD LAND. WELLINGTON. August 5. Sir Joseph Ward was the guest of t.iie Now Zealand Club at luncheon to-day.

In his speech he said ho had no political secrets to disclose. Ho hold it was desirable that some sort of permanent system should be established whereby the best results might bo obtained for the protection of the great world-wide Empire. in the Old Country ho believed that there was u very great deal of interest taken in tide problem at the present time, and it was increasing all the time.

" In all parts of the world,” Sir Joseph continued, “the man who cornea from Ne.v Zealand receives a very enthusiastic reception. It is recognised that this is a marvellous country, and that as a people vve have a physique superior to the genera) average. I travelled more during my J. st visit than before, and it is my opinion that wo have everything in New Zealand they have in the Old World exc<pt one thing, and that is age. It is that which gives England its charm for visitors from overseas, but it is our youth that is our charm. Ago has its beautiful side, but it has a terrible side also—a devastating effect in the Old Land. '1 hese are the signs of degeneracy not visible in a young country like ours. I would like you all to realise this: that wo should endeavour by every possible means to make it impossible for degeneration to come here, and to do everything in our power here to make it impossible for them to band down their degeneracy. In the Old Land I found everywhere I went extreme poverty on the one hand and extreme wealth on the other.—(Shame.) This is the difficulty of the age. It is the problem of age and degeneracy which is occupying the finest intellects in England to-day—to try to cope with this hereditary

degeneracy which K'" s on from one generation to another. We in thi« country should try to keep the .nroblem away. Wo should try to prevent, any paths ever being made which would lead to degeneracy and only have to lx> pulled up when the trouble may already have entered into the community. We should try to keep those paths that lead away from degeneracy, and not pull them up by unwisdom in the name of re form. —(A pp 1: i use.)