ARRIVAL OF SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 35

ARRIVAL OF SIR JOSEPH WARD.

CORDIAL WELCOME TO DUNEDIN,

CIVIC RECEPTION.

Sir Joseph Ward arrived at Dunedin by the first express from the north on Wednesday afternoon. Despite the unpleasantly wet and cold afternoon, there were fully 100 people on the station to extend to Sir Joseph an informal but cordial welcome. Among- the number were his Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Downi© Stewart) and a number of prominent citizens. After the visitor had been briefly welcomed,- cheers were given for both himself apd Lady U aid. Sir Joseph then drove to the Town Hall, where a civic reception was to be tendered him. AT THE TOWN HALL.

ihe spacious council chamber was taxed to its utmost capacity when the Mayor,accompanied by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr J. A. Johnstone (representing the Navy eague), entered a few minutes before the half-hour. Again, the reception tendered to Sir Joseph was warm and cordial. Ihe Mayor stated that they were all glad to welcome Sir Joseph Ward back to the dominion after his trip to England, and to see linn in such good health and spirits as lie was. (Applause.) As they were aware, on his previous visits to the Old Country lie had al ways iiad to go cumbered with, the cares and responsibilities of office, but on the last occasion ho had gone cs a private citizen for the purpose of a rest and of having some recreation after hit long and arduous labours. Of course, ho did not know that many of them would agree with Sir Joseph as to what constituted a rest, because it was obvious from the papers that his journey had been one long round of engagements and banquets, balls and luncheon parties, and very few of those present would look upon that as. a rest. However, Sir Joseph Ward had been for so long a prominent figure in New Zealand politics that many of them could hardly remember the day when ho did not occupy a high, position in the Now Legislature.—(Applause.) Continuing, the speaker stated that there -were two things to which ho would like to make reference. The first of these was that it must have, been extremely gratifying to Sir Joseph Ward to see the manner in which the visit of the battleship Now Zealand Vo our shores had stirred the feelings of patriotism in the community. That had been to an extent that had not been equalled for many years, and he thought it was safe to say that there had been no such domonstratione in the history of Now Zealand since -the despatch of the contingents to South Africa. Since the ship left these shores they had seen tin l enthusiasm with which sho had been greeted in Canada, and it was obvious that the action of the Government of which Sir Joseph Ward was the head in having presented the battleship to the British Government had aroused the utmost interest and enthusiasm throughout the whole of the Empire.—(Applause.) Mr J. A. Johnstone, president of the Otago Branch of the Navy League, address? ing Sir Joseph. Ward, spoke as follows:'—

“ On behalf of tho executive of the Branch of tho Navy League, it is my ploasiuir duty to welcome you back to New Zeolimcl. You, a<? one of its patrons, are well; aware that tlie league has no political creed, and that its sphere of action is outside tho maelstrom of party strife. Your reappearance amongst us, therefore, on this occasion is all the more gratifying and welcome because we occupy a common platform, and one that is more elevated than that, of tho party politician. Wc oru here 1 recause wo appreciate your Imperial citizenship, and because we realise that no Now Zealand statesman has played so important a. part as yourself in recognising that it is upon the supremacy of tt'c British navy, under the good providence of Clod, that our national safety, and even our national existence depend. At an opportune and apparently critical moment in the history of our nation, as the head of the then Govorrment of New Zealand, you offered tha Imperial Parliament the gift of one battleship, or more, if required, and that action has called forth the admiration and approval of almost cverv section of the inhabitants of riie vast Empire to which we belong. On the one hand it has been tho means of elucidating to the world the fact that we Britishers realise that we are one people and one family, and that what affects the parent or any one member of the family a fleets the whole family, and on tho other hand it ha., drawn us closer together in bonds of affection and unity of purpose which no pecuniary consideration can sever. It ir, to foster the spirit of true patriotism that the Navy League seeks by every means in its power to educate public opinion, and especially that of the rising generation, with regard to naval history and oaval matters generally; and by means of the press, bv the dissemination of literature, by the holding of public well as by our annual naval history Cf i-i the schools of the district, we hope to attain that end.” Continuing, Mr Johnstone said that the recent visit of the Nc\r Z aland to the dominion had been a most powerful factor in bringing the question into prominence, and the sight of the practical embodiment of patriotic spirit created a deep and lasting impression nnon the minds of the many thousands who wem privileged to see tier. The Greatness and power of this unit enabled thorn in their far-off corner of tho Empire to appreciate fully the tremendously important part that was played by the whole British fleet in protecting the various trade routes and in maintaining the noace of the world. Bill JOSEPH’S SPEECH. Sir Joseph Ward, who was received with applause when he rose to speak, ca.'d that he desired in the first place to express to tfie Mayor how very much he appreciated the cordial welcome extended to him on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin. It reminded him very strongly of the past to see the Mayor presiding on this, to himself, auspicious occasion. It seemed hut yesterday that he had been in the House of Representatives with his (the Mayor’s) late father. He could only conclude that either the Mavor must bo younger than he looked or he himself must be very much older than he felt.—(Laughter.) He congratulated him unon his elevation to a very dignified and responsible position.—-(Applause.) Refining to his visit to the Old Land, Sip Joseph said that there was a lot there to attract one and to centre one’s attention on the many-sided questions which came up for consideration before the men who wove their seniors in many respect/!. But there was a great deal there that made one think whether New Zealand was not a very much happier country to ho in. Though lie ar-

rived in Dunedin on a wet day, what warmth there had been in his reception It nad seemed to him that from Auckland to Dunedin there had been a spontaneous desire on the part of all the people of all shades of political opinion to welcome back one who had tried at any rate in various wavs to do something to help on the important destinies oi this great and growing young country.—(Appla-use.) In passing, ne would like to"say that nothing afforded him gitiater satisfaction tnan to sec any of the vital questions that affected every section or the community removed beyond the arena of party politics.—(“ Hear. hear.') It was however, a difficult thing to accomplish. Jt required a certain amount of concession < the parties responsible for carrying on aie daily life of a country such as theirs. \\ here the question of finance was such a delicate one, and of such grave import, it was ot supreme importance that they should all try to do nothing that could be used adversely against the Government or the country in that respect, because, after all. it affected every section of the community. The sentiments expressed by the Mayor and 1 Johnstone gave a clear indication of the desire of the people to place the all-important and over-riding' question of defence on ci plane above party strife and contention. The interests at stake in all parts of the Empire were so enormous, and the future ot their young country was so involved in the destinies of the Old Country itself that minor considerations should be put aside once ana for all and the aim of responsible people should bo to bring about a system under which every part of the Empire was gmng its quota towards establishing a great empire navy placed in different parts of the Empire for local protection as well as combinin'-- for the defence of the Empire itself. There was no use in the oversea countries running away with the impression that thev conld wog the dog. If the centre of the Empire by any chance got into difficulties they might have n small tail out in the seas, but" the dog itself would be the heart of the Empire—the British Isles. They must keep that in an impregnable position, and thej could only do it by helping the people in the Old "Country to see that they had a navy so strong that they would be in a position to sec that no one could touch a hair of the head of a Britisher in any part of the world. Mr Johnstone had made an extraordinary remark. He had said that members of the Navy League occupied a more elevated position than the men -n party politics. Ho dissented from that, because the other day he had boon up Ln the air several hundred feet—(Laughter), —and in a more elevated position than any of them. Continuing, the speaker said it was a mistake to suppose that he would accept the freedom of the city which had been offered to an opponent and rejected. If the offer had been made to him first ho would have got them the half-million at once. —(Laughter.) In all seriousness ho did not think there was any need for them in this great country to take a despondent view of the position financially in the old world. Ho said that with a remembrance of the fact —and it could be borne out by looking back and seeing what the position was several years ago —that the money market had ruled higher in_ England than in this country for a period of two or three years. They had so muc;i nionev at Home for investment that when the trouble on the Continent passed by they would find there thousands and thousands of waiting investors. who every year wore providing between three and four hundred millions of money for investment, who would not hold on to the high rate they had fixed there and would be glad to give Dunedin what it wanted because it was a capital city to invest in.—(Applause.) Continuing, Sir Joseph saia that the general prosperity in the dominion did not leave very much room for fault-finding, and it was a glorious thing to reflect that the troubles that people had been looking for had never come. Difficulties had been experienced in this country in the past, and they would probably be experienced in the future, but ho would far i sooner be in Now Zealand than in some of the Continental countries. For the past 10 or 15 years some of these countries had been striving to get alongside England in connection with the navy and the army, and had evinced a desire to obtain a share of the great commerce of the world which lie British nation possessed. He was back here as a free and independent representative of the people. It was a grand thing to feel free for once. It was a glorious tiling to have no direct responsibilities and to have a loyal constituency that overlooked your faults, and that reduced vour majority when it was not pleased with you. —(Laughter.) In conclusion, ho desired to say that he was here as a brother man to help his brother members of Parliament to do their best for New Zealand, to ottempt to improve the legislation affecting the social conditions of the masses of the people, to make this country a prouder portion of the British Empire, and to bring about more co-opera-Jion and co-ordination. and at the same time to complete the local economy of the dominion in helping the other portions of the Empire to stand four-square to any other nation that tried to attack it. —(Prolonged applause.) Mr John Loudon proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, and this was carried by acclamation. RECEPTION AT ASHBURTON. ASHBURTON, August 13. Despite the fact that heavy rain was falling when the express train passed through this morning, Sir Joseph Ward was greeted by a crowd of over 500 people. Ho was welcomed by the Mayor, the Chairman of the County Council, and many friends. His speech in reply was on the lines of those already given since his return to the dominion. Before the train left hearty cheers were given. CORDIAL WELCOME AT TIMARU. TIMARU, August 13. When the first express passed through today Sir Joseph Ward was met on the station by a largo crowd, and a civic reception was accorded him. The welcome was of a very cordial nature. RECEPTION AT OAMARU. (Fkom Ocn OffX Coep.ksponde.vt.) OAMARU, August 13. The railway platform was crowded to-day whet) the express train, with Sir Joseph Ward as a passenger, passed through. The Mayor briefly, in the name of the citizens, welcomed Sir Joseph back to New Zealand, and expressed a hope that he had returned benefited in health by his trip, and prepared to continue his good seivicos in the interests of the dominion. Sir Joseph, in his reply, made no reference to his future jourse of action, remarking that lie did not

know what might arise, and that it would be unwise to attempt to divine the future. Cheers T - ere given very heartily for Sir Joseph, whose reception was in marked contrast to that which he received here just prior to the general election. RECEPTION AT INVERCARGILL. INVERCARGILL, August 15. On his return to Southland on a flying visit to his constituency Sir Joseph W aid was accorded a hearty reception. He was met at Gore by the Mayor and a largo number of citizens, and was cordially welcomed there. A similar ceremony took place at Mataura. On his arrival at Invercargill Sir Joseph was greeted by a large crowd, and escorted by the pipe and br? ss bands to the rotunda in the Post Office square. Here he was officially welcomed by the Mayor and warmly cheered. Sir Joseph was then escorted to the Councn Chambers, where ho was presented with an address thanking him for the services no had rendered Invercargill when in London by raising a loan of £90,C00. for which soivice ho had declined to accept any payment. A portrait of Sir Joseph had been hung m the Council Chamber, and this was ie>> mallv unveiled. , . In the evening Sir Joseph was entertained at dinner by a gathering o f representative citizens. His speeches at the various functions were on the linos previously reported, and ho gave no indication of his political intentions. The receptions throughout were spontaneously hearty, and Sir Joseph, expressed his "thanks for the expressions of goodwill which distinguished h:s visit to nis old province