SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 74, 1 August 1913, Page 3

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

SPEECH IN REPLY

[Per Press Association. 1 Auckland, August 1

Sir Joseph Ward, in his reply to speeches at his welcome to-day, referred to the general suggestion made that he should again accept the leadership of the Liberal Party. , He would be wanting in a sense of selfrespect if he did not acknowledge gratefully the communications received by wire and the'expressions given utterance to by old friends in connection with the matter. He took the opportunity of saying that he had never at any time in public life forced himself on any party or attempted to extort from anybody personal favor or assistance, which he had always appreciated when given, unless it was freely made. (Loud applause). It had been stated by one or more of the speakers that the present gathering was really in anticipation of a larger one to take place in Wellington in the course of a few days; but he did not see that even then he would be able to make his position any clearer than ho could that day. The future was absolutely unknown to anyone. “I have not,” he declared, “to force myself, and I do not want to lead any member of Parliament into supposing that I want to take up the position of leader or the position of a Minister of the Crown in connection with the party unless that party is absolutely true to itself. (Applause.) A house divided will never stand. Sections of the party, split *up as it is, cannot expect to , make a solid defence nor anything like effective progress.” .He could do no more at present than say that he was going back to Wellington to represent his constituency, which was a very important one. He did not object to fair or hard fighting, but when it came to a matter of protection of the interests of the people all personal differences should be sunk and a resolute united attempt made to promote the general good of the country.