MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13378, 29 March 1912, Page 6

MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER.

SHI J. G. WARD'S RETJRE-MENT.

[United Pjiess Association.]

Wfillngton, March 2S

'Follow Citizens,—

To-dn/y T b.v down the dutioß and burden of tlw Leadership of tho_ Liberal Party. I assumed it nearly «x years ago, not ivithout^niany misgivings tliafc 1 'cou'.d not maintain that nnrivallod public record which tho late Mr. Seddon closed by death in tireless devotion. I feel that I cannot unfairly claim to iiavo used such abilities as I possess as well as I could, and as industriously as I could, in tho service of this country, and in tho promotion of what I conceived to be tho best interests of tho groat mass of my fellow-countrymen. It is a quarter of a ctsntury since I was elected a member of Parliament, 'and I became a: Minister of the Crown over twonty-o*)<> years ago. 1 recogni.su that it is given to but lew men to bold Ministerial office Far ?o inng : . f time, «»ud wbi'o I , have never hesitated to limit or resist <;c<:tional, 01 el.-i:-::; interests, I havo (ay. •'■• "l.v ;.'.-: '1:!: r:::-v) created class eitvnv<<: withou; always securing a iTivr^iri iding : rvji.-Tft ..if tho great mass of tlir. onnimunity for whose welfare 1 wp.s fttri ing. The mos-l _ disLcarl/'. JiiiiL', , c-xp. [.jonce rf !'■:"'• -/f''.']> is that while the <>l»sst!<; of privilege and monopoly fiercely, :nid <li'ti• m "iiVfti ,oly, attack m mi.') fflr r:!i inv.v':v. s <;'.' 'heir interests in tho or life of tl:-> commonwealth, the j.'TO"t )>r,\k of the p-vnvile lie is seeking to benefit not ini're-quently regard his efforts with apathy and indifference, and rii t-i-dr.y- i;; taking k»avo of the leadership, and of all prospect of other ?!i; iy.h' ':'! oT'cp I am fully justified in savin;l; thot what has incited p.srainst me t!v> bitterness, misrepresentation and fibiif-o poured upon mo was mainly tVo uncinrinrnmising attitudu I fhave always t.\kon towards the forces of conservpvif'm, mr>!H>pnly and privi'ege. The v.'hole trend and purpose of tfcc mMSnrc,N r>-.:?n'r] h.i.s been for tho protection of i)\j ix^-ple against the possible opprcrsK:!! of i:ho great vested interests. I feel v. ftn.se of pirdonablr> pride in a ;-ii'-.-ey of I lie -Statute .l>ook for the last five years, and that sense of pride is heightened by a widw survey of tho P!f>r:s:>:■!■,■ !li v. c.'be'pecl to make taw durim: all t\-> pr'-vions years 1 was a member o> tho Ball sr.ee and Seddon Cii'iinnts. I am now past middlo life, and from the years of early youth until to-day my life has been one of strenuous labour. Tho best years of this lift- have Ik>si <riven to my country, hence it is that I ".'.:eept with great cheerfulness tin- tvt-iroincnt which circumstances h:\v-? forei-d upon jp.e. My prospective Hsnro wines to me the more gratefully in that I am no wiling deserter from my post in the field. To me, whatever m- bitter critics, may say my Party!s intrrofits are nearer than any personal advantage, and while I Khali no lo'"-ei h:-v> il^o powers and privileges of leadership I «hal! arr-ist jn the fullest degree tho party to which I havo so loric: lx-l-on;;: '!. f l"avo the. leadership with no son re of bitterness or rosontent. and as a nnY.-vte member C shall continue to fool tho same intense interest in -the country's progress as I have always Mt ihnni<;li;-,iit the yo?.rs oPmy Minist-erin] life. _\i *. Into "oader wont out of office, into the silence of 'death. My oxit is different, but .wero ho living and in retirement. I am diseased to feel that ho to-day would havo fj^iakon mo by tho hand and cheered me with the assurance that looking at my work 1 bad not been urnvort-hv to succeed bim. .-.- t | j ~..,! L ,-. |iT .;p c i },- v . t))( , , JO , fief that thoso of my fellow-countrvjnon who read this mos'sago with fair and impartial minds will pass upon my years of leadeishii) :n> e-Miallv jiencrous judgniont.

JOSEPH GEORGE W-UID ■Wellington, March 28th.