SIR JOSEPH WARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 51

SIR JOSEPH WARD

(Frou Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 18. At a mass meeting of the Royal Colonial Insitute last week, Colonel L. S. Amexy, Under-secretary for the Colonies, read a paper on _ “ The Reconstruction of the Empire.” Sir Joseph Ward was also invited to speak, and, although the meeting was not open to the press, Sir Joseph was good enough to give me an outline of that part of his speech dealing with the question of the Imperial Conference. He commented on the fact that- there was not nearly enough representation at the Imperial Conferences of the past. A great deal of the time had been taken up with discussions of recent policy as affecting the representatives locally. Empire matters were too Dig, too important, he said, to have the proceedings of the Conference subordinated to the political requirements of any one part of the Empire, whether the Motherland or any other portion. They had enough difficulties ahead of them in the matter of genera! reconstruction —industrial and commercial—without adding to them the very baneful one of allowing the people to remain in doubt as to what the expressed views of their representatives were. Sir Joseph also expressed a very decided opinion that it was entirely wrong to confine the Imperial Conferences to any one side in politics. The Government of the day from every part of the Empire necessarily must be there, hut in his opinion the Leader of the Opposition should also be invited to the Conference, and in these times of development in politics, tlie subordinate parties, where they had their own Labour leaders, should, in his opinion, also be present. _ It might prevent difficulties to have this brought about, but one great desideratum would bo the avoidance of matters of Imperial concern drifting into any political channel belonging for the time being to the party in office. It would be a great factor in bringing about a full consideration and discussion of many matters of importance to the people, both of the Motherland and the overseas countries. No doubt a great deal of valuable work had been done up till now, but there was much yet to be accomplished. He pointed out that in the House of Commons every party, upon any matter great or small that arose for discussion, had an opportunity in the lie-lit of da- through publicity, to suggest, support, or oppose any proposals, and the same principles should be followed in the Imperial Conference. Sir Joseph and Lady Ward are still in London, though they intend to pay a long deferred visit to Hull in about a fortnight's time. After that they will go on to Bath, where their son, Mr Pat Ward, is living for the time being. Mr Vincent Ward, who at present is in America, will shortly join the family party. Mr Gladstone Ward, who was recently married in Egypt, is about to return with his wife to New Zealand.