RETIREMENT FROM OFFICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18614, 9 July 1930, Page 2

RETIREMENT FROM OFFICE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S MESSAGE. The following statement was issued by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, on his retirement from office: — “It will be remembered that toward the end of last session of Parliament, I suffered a breakdown in health, necessitating my temporary retirement from active participation in my official duties. Early in the present year I came to Rotorua, where I am still undergoing a course of treatment. While I have experienced considerable benefit during my sojourn at Rotorua, my medical advisers have intimated to me that in the interests of my health it is essential that I should have freedom from work and official worry. “After full consultation with my colleagues, and being inspired by a keen desire that my indisposition should not in any way hamper the efficient administration of the public affairs of the Dominion, I have decided, on mature consideration, to yield to the advice which has been tendered to me by my doctors. “Accordingly I am taking steps to place my resignation as Prime Minister in the hands of His Excellency the Governor-General. “I need hardly say that I take this course with the greatest regret. I had hoped that the state of my health would have permitted me to devote my services to the progress and welfare of New Zealand for a still longer period. However, the fates have ordained it otherwise, and the time has now arrived for me to lay down the reins of office. Lasting Friendships. “In doing so I look back to practically a lifetime spent in the country’s service. entered Parliament a . Jung man. and almost continuously through the intervening years I have devoted what abilities I possessed to the service of my country in the capacity of an ordinary member of the House, as Minister of the Crown and Prime Minister. During this long period I have at various times encountered strong opposition—what man in public does not?—but I have made lasting friendships. “To me the inspiring motive of service has been the earnest desire to advance the progress and prosperity of this fair land. I have seen the development of the Dominion proceed in a truly wonderful manner. It is to-day a legitimately proud claim for one to call himself a New Zealander, and it will be for future generations to see that they guard jealously the heritage which Will be theirs. “Though the times through which we are now passing are not without their difficulties and pressing problems, and though the horizon may appear darkened by clouds, there is always a silver lining, and the characteristic tenacity of our people will enable them to surmount the obstacles in the path of national progress and win through. Co-operation of Colleagues. “To my Ministerial colleagues I desire to my deep gratitude for their loyal co-operation in the task of ( government. I know full well that my ill-health has rendered the way not easy for them. I cannot speak too highly of their devotion and assistance. “To the leaders of the other two political parties, as well as to all other members of Parliament, I desire to tender my sincere acknowledgement of their uniform courtesy, more especially during the time of my illness. I should also like to take the opportunity of paying a tribute to the zeal and ; efficacy of the heads of the State De- | partments and the members of the j Public Service. I speak with years of experience when I say that New Zealand has been indeed well and faithfully served by its Government officers. “To my fellow citizens who have extended so much consideration to me, particularly during recently months, I should like to voice my deep appreciation of their kindness and sympathy, and now that the evening of my official life is drawing to a close, I have nothing but feelings of friendliest goodwill to each and everyone. May the land we love so well prosper ex-» ceedingly in the coming years, secure in its freedom and liberties under the Crown which I fervently trust will always stand as a symbol of the unity of our great British Commonwealth.” NEW ZEALAND PRESS TRIBUTE. “Sympathy will be widely felt for Sir Joseph Ward in that continued illhealth has been the cause of his decision to resign the office of Prime Minister. Nevertheless, both in his personal interests and in those of the nation resignation is the right step, and congratulations are due to Sir Joseph for taking what could not have been an easy decision. There are those who have said that on every count the Prime Minister should have retired months ago when it become apparent that his illness was not yielding to treatment. However that may be the optimism that mercifully buoys up all invalids to hope for a return of vigour may be given as one reason for Sir Joseph’s reluctance to take the final step. Everyone will join in the wish that he may benefit in health by being relieved of the heavy cares of office. No doubt it was the prestige conferred by his long political carrzr which accounted in a measure for the support given his party at the last general election. It was a ‘Ward’ victory and not a United Party victory, and naturally when the party came to office it proved to be a ‘Ward’ Government and not a United Government. Sir Joseph was not content to play the empty role of elder statesman, but drew the whole Government to himself. As it began, so it went on. Even illness could not divorce Sir Joseph from his duties and indeed with so raw a Cabinet, almost totally lacking in administrative experience, he had to assume heavy responsibilities. That is what makes the present situation so difficult; the Cabinet is left without a head and without a mandate. The position now is that the United Party is preparing to carry on deprived of a popular leader and his administrative experience. Its Government has been perilously weakened and it is a good thing that not much time can elapse before it will be submitted to the judgment of Parliament. Unless Sir Joseph should retain the portfolio of finance —which apparently he does not propose to do —it is difficult to see how the essential financial and administrative experience can be found in the personnel of the United Party, a minority dependent on the goodwill of their political opponents. Nevertheless, the Government of the country must be carried on. It is for the House to exhaust its own resources first and that inevitably raises the suggestion of fusion. Sir Joseph Ward's resignation leaves no insuperable obstacles to a coming together of Reformeds and Uniteds between whom there is no fundamental cleavage on policy. Fusion would give the country the stable and directing Government it needs. The other choices are the continuance of the present precarious Government or the uncertainties, up--1 set, and expense of a general election.”—“The Dominion”

Acceptance of Inevitable. “In the acceptance of the inevitable, Sir Joseph Ward, it is not too much to say, has relieved the mind of the whole community of a sense of uncertainty and tension. He made a gallant fight, and he retires from the contest with full honours. The message in which he announces his resignation is couched in terms which are worthy of his record as a political leader and a statesman, with whom the well-being of his own country and of the Empire have been considerations of paramount influence.

“The effect of Sir Joseph’s resignation upon the political situation must, of course, be the subject of considerable conjecture to the United Party, to which it has meant so much. The loss of his leadership cannot but he a serious blow. It was Sir Joseph Ward who, with his great personal prestige, led the party into the promised land of office. Within the party he has been the factor contributing most largely to its stability, and he has been at once its helmsman and driving force. With his retirement, the United Party’s political edifice may well be severely shaken Immediate interest must, of course, attach to the choice of the new leader to whom the United Party will offer the mantle which Sir Joseph Ward not gracefully resigns.” —“The Otago Daily Times.” The Whole Government. “The resignation of the Prime Minister is first of all a personal misfortune, for which he will have the sympathy of the whole community. It can be said at once also that it is a national misfortune if it leads to no , more than the selection of a new Prime Minister from the memhers of the United Party at present in the House. Sir Joseph’s return to office after the last election was a good thing for the country. It was, however, the return of a man of outstanding ability and of almost unparalleled experience, and there is no one else in the party of whom that could be said without absurdity. Even as a sick man. Sir Joseph has been a force to be reckoned with, and if he had not all the time been very much worse in health than the party propagandists kept pretending, he would have continued to be the whole Government. Now there is no Government and no material in the party out of which a real Government can be made. If the United Party is willing to do everything that Labour wants it will be able to risk a general election, and in continuing to hold office on those terms it will be doing no worse than it has already done. As long as Sir Joseph Ward led it, the party had one man whose name was known abroad and whose past performances were impressive enough to screen its actual futility.”—“The Press.” Blow to United Party. “Only a few people can have attached more than ordinary importance to this week’s Cabinet meeting at Rotorua and the announcement comes in a way as a surprise, but it has been increasingly evident that in difficult times such as the present vigour as well as experience is a necessary qualifications for the man who is to direct affairs aright. The resignation cannot but constitute a severe blow to the United Party, but continuance of the conditions under which the Cabinet has been working lately has evidently been found impracticable. Naturally speculation will be let loose as to the new leader under whom the Government wifi meet Parliament next month. The names of Mr George Forbes and Mr Ransom will be mentioned, but whoever it may be there can be no contesting the fact that there is likely to be a relaxation of the quasi party truce and that the political outlook is liable to undergo considerable alteration.”—“The Dunedin Star.”