SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 72, 12 March 1903, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

BANQUETTED AT SYDNEY. IMPORTANT SPEECHES. PBB PBESS ASSOCIATION Received 12, I.SsO a.m. Sydney, March 11. Sir Joseph Ward was by Mr Cox, of Geddis, Bert and Company as dinner at the Australia Hotel. Sir E. Barton, Mr Reid, Sir J. See, Mr O'Sullivao, and other politicians were present. It was a large and representative gathering of commercial and financial interest".

Sir J, See, in proposing the health of the gaest, paid a tribute to his business capacity, and referred, feelingly to the troubles ha had j come through, and the integrity displayed in meeting his obligations. Politically the Statute hook of New Zealand showed Sir Joseph's c ipacity in his piifliam-nt ry l:l\>, Referring to the vijws hri had expressed on the j question of New Zealand joining the j Federation, the speaker hoped that 1 in the course of time the j people of New Zealand would see tin advmbility of becoming park of the' Federation. He ftls the benefit would bj muual. He hopsd in the far distant fa' ure, when Mr Seidon retired, tint Sir Jos?pti V» ar J would succeed him. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said New Z aland, while friendly in every way with Australia, still thought it advisable to watch and w ir, tha development of the Commonwealth. New Z'jilani desired to see the good name of Australia raised to the highest plane. He thanked Sir J. See for his allusions to the way in which he had ove coma I.is financial troubles. He was treated unjus ly, acd there was no (uuse for the action taken at the time. Dealing with the recent financial attacks, he said he was pained that at the time when the States were passing through sever l tria's, that anyone should have raised the cry of repudiation. It was a gros-i and monstrous libel. In the last year or two every stock you could name had been subj.ct to vicissitudes. Even Consols, which were regarded as the soundest of all s v ocks, stood at the present time something like 14 or 15' per cent below what they did a year or two back

Speaking for New Zaaland, hesiid that never had there been an occasion when its financial stability was better able to stand against financial upheaval than now. Mr Seddon, in his recent statement-, was anxious to convey that there was sufficient money waiting investment at present in the colony to meet all financial requirements. During Mr Sedd'm's term of office, £1,450,000 had been handed back by reduction of taxation, chit fly in railways, post office aud Customs. No one was more anxious thm himself fo sea Mr Seddon spared that he might long reiain his present office. New Zealand would continue Co support Australia in maintaining the strength of the Empire.