SIR JOSEPH WARD DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1930, Page 11

SIR JOSEPH WARD DEAD

FORTY . YEARS IN PARLIAMENT TWICE DOMINION PRIME MINISTER IMPERIALIST AND FINANCIER The death of Sir Joseph Ward occurred at 3 o’clock yesterday >orning, He became ill during the session of Parliament 12 months ago, and though the results of treatment at Rotorua gave some hope of his recovery he gradually weakened until he died. His age was 74. years. Thus closes one of the most outstanding political careers in New Zealand’s history. Starting life as a messenger boy in the post office Sir Joseph rose to,the highest position to which his countrymen could elevate him. During his 40 years in Parliament he had been Prime Minister on two occasions, and much notable legislation stands to his credit. As an Imperialist Sir Joseph’s fame was .widespread. All Government offices in the Dominion were closed yesterday and the schools were closed in the afternoon. Parliament, after paying tribute to Sir Joseph, who was Premier until six weeks ago, adjourned for a week. "* ' The funeral will take place at Bluff on Sunday.

PREMIER’S WARM TRIBUTE LOSS FELT BY UNITED CABINET. SYMPATHY OF PARTY LEADERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■:-v. Wellington, July 8; The Prime Minister, Mr. G. W. Forbes, jpaid- .a feeling.'tribute to Sir . Joseph Ward, “I came into the House,” said Mr. Forbes, “when Sir Joseph was Prime Minister, and before that I had followed his career very closely with admiration for his boldness and initiative. He was. one of the outstanding men of a •very progressive Seddonian Ministry, and when I entered the House ho had succeeded Mr. Seddon as Prime Minister. “I was struck then by his very capable .grasp of all public affairs and the statesmanlike manner in which he handled the difficult problems the Government had to face, notably the question of Imperial affairs, leading ultimately to the gift of a dreadnought to Britain, and the inauguration of widows’ pensions and generally carried forward the .policy of his former leader. Then a time came in 1912 when he stepped down in the interests of his party to make room for Sir Thomas Mackenzie. “Throughout Sir Joseph’s term of opposition 1 was his Whip and Continued ' in that position for over 19 years. •1j came to know him very intimately during those years and I came to know how public-spirited he was and how his sole desire was to do the best he could in the service of the country for which he had so great an affection. He would never countenance in any way. methods which might be considered clever but which were not straight. He was the soul of honour and very scrupulous in , the observance of any promise he made, i “Then when the United Party was > '.' formed- and he was asked to take the leadership I was one of those appointed :■ to urgo his acceptance of that position, ■ and the result of the election showed . that this choice was a very wise one, 'because it was acclaimed by people throughout New Zealand. When Sir ~ Joseph Ward asked me to accept a posi- . tion in his Ministry 1 was pleased to range myself alongside my old leader. “Throughout the time I have been ia *' the Cabinet I was very closely associated with him and gained his complete confidence.’ When owing 'to his failing health Sir Joseph resigned the x position of Primo Minister and I was asked to assume that responsibility ! felt that in doing so it was with his full concurrence and goodwill. “There was no doubt about Ills unifailing courtesy. Often in the stress i and strain of political life he was tested ■to the utmost, but there was never a t (weak link. Ho had always courtesy for Jiis greatest friend or his bitterest opponent. ■ ■ t “In his long illness he remained cheerful, and there is no doubt that it was ' jhis intense desire to carry out his public duties faithfully and efficiently in ,'line with his high sense of obligation •to his country ’hat contributed a good ■deal towards his breakdown in health. ((Sir Joseph’s relations with bis Cabinet ; were cordial throughout and. we feel ‘keenly the loss of the chief for whom we had the greatest respect and affection.” A warm tribute was paid by the Lead- . er of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. : Coates, who said Sir Joseph’s personal qualities made him liked and respected . 'by all. At all times he was an adrair- . able host and there was no more pleasant travelling companion. He was particularly thoughtful and considerate and on no occasion did he reveal party bitterness, even in the most heated political moments. Mr. Coates said throughout his poliijtical career Sir Joseph had always ii placed his country first, and his 37 j; years of political life had produced ■.some notable legislative achievements. J Outstanding events of his period as •; (Prime Minister included his gift of the Dominion batticehip to the naval de- •• fence of the Empire. This was a subjietantial contribution towards Sir Joseph's Imperialistic policy and an earnest ■ ;of his desire to see the whole of the i: 'Empire’s trade routes properly proRtected. j: Sir Joseph saw New Zealand rise from il'the status of a colony to that of a ! | Dominion, and accomplishment by I ['which ho would bo remembered included ■ I'tho enactment of legislation introducing ’ penny postage and initiating the present •education scheme. Sir Joseph’s death ' -would be an undoubted loss to the’ Dominion. Mr. H. E, Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “I personally, and . ’the Labour Party as a whole, will join -with all other sections of the people of the Dominion in mourning the death of .•'Sir Joseph Ward, in offering sincere i‘condolences 'to':-the bereaved, relatives p ' .

and in sympathising with the Prime Minister and his colleagues in the great loss they have sustained. “Sir Joseph Ward’s presence and his leadership of the Government, until his illness laid him aside, linked the present period with the strenuous past of from 30 to 40 years ago, and his death is like the breaking of a link of historical significance.” GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S TRIBUTE “NEW ZEALAND’S GREATEST SON.” Wellington, Last Night. “New Zealand has to-day lost one of its greatest sons and the Empire its senior outstanding statesman,” said the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in referring at the opening of the winter show to the death of Sir Joseph Ward. “It is early yet to assess at its true value his ‘public work for the country he loved so well and served so faithfully,” said His Excellency, “bfit on this day of his passing wo may acknowledge his untiring and unselfish devotion to duty, his staunch Imperialism and his brilliant and creative statesmanship.” “At this industrial exhibition it may appropriately be added that his experience as an industrialist . enhanced his value as a statesman during the period of this young country’s industrial development. At the close of a life of strenuous work for the public good we may all join with his co-religionists in saying, ‘May ho rest in peace.’ ” THE BODY TO LIE IN STATE.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUNERAL Wellington, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward’s body will lie in state at the Basilica all day to-morrow and at Parliament Buildings from 10 a.m. on Thursday to 4 p.m. that day, when the funeral will leave for the ferry steamer. ’ . CEASELESS WORK TUP. EMPIRE. ENGLAND RECEIVES THE NEWS, Rec. 8.30 p.m. London, July 7. News of Sir Joseph Ward’s death was received in England with general regret. All the newspapers publish long and appreciative notices of an “outstanding Imperialist,” with emphasis on his advocacy of Imperial penny postage, the gift of the dreadnought New Zealand, and the. offer of his services to the Imperial War Cabinet of 1918. “Sir Joseph Ward was a ceaseless worker for New Zealand and the Empire,” says tho Times. “He possessed unbounded faith in both and carried through what others might have failed in because ho inspired public confidence.” TARANAKI MOURNS LOSS. MEETINGS EXPRESS SYMPATHY. News of the death of Sir Joseph Ward was not. received by members of the Egmont County Council until the luncheon adjournment yesterday, but on the meeting resuming a resolution of sympathy was passed. The council immediately adjourned for a quarter cf au hour ss a mark of respect. Mr. J. S. Tosland referred to the loss sustained by tho death of such a distinguished statesman and on his motion it was resolved that tho council forward a wreath and that the chairman and Mr. Young represent the council at the funeral. At the Returned Soldiers’ ro-union at Okato last night feeling reference was made by the chairman (Mr. C. Eustace) to the death of Sir Joseph Ward. No matter what political creed, he said, all would agree that Sir Joseph had given wonderful service to New Zealand. '’The gathering stood in silence for a minute. All Government departments were closed all day yesterday after the receipt of the news'of the death of Sir Joseph Ward. Flags were flown at half-mast. The schools were closed at tho request of the Minister of Education. The higher classes in the primary school reassembled' for a short time in the afternoon to listen to short addresses on the life said work of Sir Joseph, On behalf of the New Plymouth Labour Parly Mr. L. C. Richards sent the following telegram to Mr. Vincent Ward yesterday: “Please accept for yourself and yours' the; deepest sympathy of the;New Plymouth Labour Parte in your loss.” ; j j