SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 74, 23 March 1912, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHED? j BY LIBERAL PARTY. ELECTORAL SYSTEM REFORM. (Per Press Association .) Wellington. March 22. The members of the Liberal Part; entertained Sir Joseph Ward at Inn chosen to-day. Mr. Ha nan, in pronof?; ing the toast cl his health, said he liar always been a worker in the cause o* social and democratic refornn and bar achieved world-wide reputation as Postmaster-General. Though he miglv retire for a year or two. Mr. Hanai thought they would ultimately, fine him occupying the position which hit ability and talents •merited. Mr. Myers said Sir Joseph War' was a man the Dominion could ill af ford to spare. 1 There was a revnlsiqi ■ of feeling throughout the country ir, his favour, and if an election was heir to-morrow those who voted against tin Liberal 1 candidates at last oleetioi would reverse their votes. ,■ Sir Joseph Ward, in the course ohit reply, said he felt deeply tin compliment paid him. Naturally h< felt' the'severance , Ti'cni j -the party whose'assistance and co-operation lit gratefully acknowledged. He adder that it was marvellous to look had and see the way in which the country had /been developed during th< past twenty years, and he said thay the present gathering would always, be fo him a happy memory. Tin members of the party were all anira’ ated by a desire to bring about a for tun ate ..issue tp, the. difficult position a ; nd lie felt sure they would select, ; ■ loader who would be capable of carfy‘ng on the work of the party and facing any difficulties that might arise, The abuse of the motor-car system at elections was an abuse that, ough: to bo reckoned with, and he suggested that the use -of vehicles on polling da; should be prohibited,, but that ii country electorates the State shouh •employ motor-cars carrying the returning officer and scrutineers to g< round among the people (women am sick persons, and so on), and thus g' still further towards ensuring the re' cord fig of votes. If, in addition, the; prohibited canvassing, they would gel as near to a perfect electoral systen as possible, and ensure the return o J tiie best men to Parliament. ,(Ap plause.) He bad been a hard workhq man all his life since he began worl at 12 years -of ago, and lie should no J bo sorry to be clear of the heavy re spor.sibilities of office. Whatever In might be dong, he would always fee it a pleasurable duty to assist the Lib eral Party, 'with which lie had beci 'connected for so .many years. Ho also voiced his pleasure at the way ii which the members of the Maori Vac ■had expressed their kindly feeling to wards him at the present juncture and finally he thanked the gathering for the honour they had clone him. (Applause.) RESOLUTION FROM POSTAL OFFICERS. . Wellington, March 22. ihc following resolution was passed ■by the Wellington branch of the Posf -and Telegraph Ojfficers’ Association ■and will be forwarded to Sir Josepi (Ward : “This branch of the Post am ■Telegraph Officers’ Association viewt 'with sincere regret your resignation •of the portfolio of Postmaster-Genera' and Commissioner of Telegraph, and desires to place on record its deep ap preciation of the many services ren dered to the officers of the department during the long term you have •been its Ministerial chief. The brand recognises the goodwill which pervaded your sentiments towards the staff •and desires that you in turn should ■know that this feeling will ever .re11|ai'1,,a happy remembrance of the staff.”