THE PRIME MINISTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10303, 7 November 1911, Page 1

THE PRIME MINISTER.

HIS SOUTHERN VISIT. HEARTY RECEPTIONS. [From Oik Correspondent.] INVERCARGILL, November 6. Sir Joseph Ward, accompanied by Lady Ward and his private secretaries (Messrs J. Hisiop and F. G. Matthews) arrived in Invercargill to-day by the first express from the north. RECEPTION AT BALCLUTHA. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE AND OTHER MATTERS. On the arrival of the train at 13alclutha a large gathering of townspeople and residents from districts round about welcomed Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. Members of the County and Borough. Councils were present, and the Mayor of the town (Mr E.- J. Boyd; expressed the pleasure of the people at once more seeing the Prime Minister and Lady Ward amongst them. A beautiful bouquet was prcsctned to Lady Yvard by Mrs Boyd. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, thanked the Mayor and the gathering for the very cordial reception they had given him. The Maj'or had referred to the important work of the Imperial Conference. In connection with that matter, he wished to say that after his return to New Zealand, owing to the onerous and-continuous duties devolving upon him in Parliament, it had not been possible for him to refer at length to a number of the matters dealt with at the Conference, a conference that he might justly claim was history-making, marking an epoch in the life of the great British Empire. Future years would show that the foundations that were suggested were of momentous importance to all parts of the Empire. None of the present generation could possibly realise what the future of the scattered portions of the Empire would be, rior could anyone fully realise the necessity that existed for making plain the solidity of that Empire, the maintenance of which was of the greatest moment to the humblest in tins country r.s well as to the highest. (Applause.) He had noticed with extreme regret that there had been an effort on the part of some men in public lifo in this country, men who ought to knew better, to discount what was done at the Conference. One gentleman, speaking in the north since he had left that part, was endeavouring to make party capital out of the Conference. It was regrettable in connection wit'll public lifo that there were men who could not rise above party politics in matters that were of material concern to all classes in the country. In the Homeland it was recognised by tlio great metropolitan Press on both sides and by public men on both sides that the efforts made by him in regard to soma motions of importance submitted to the Conference were entitled to the most respectful and fullest consideration, and he had received from many persons whom he did not know, in the United Kingdom, the strongest expressions of approval of his efforts at that most important gathering, and now, coming back to his own country, where the men and women wero as loyal as, if not more loyal than, the people anywhere else, he found men in public who utilised the proceedings of that Conference for party ; gain, and who tried to elevate themselves into political life and to push somebody else out. This conduct was unworthy of aspirants to political honours and was not in the best interests of the. country. (Applause.) He appreciated the remarks of the Mayor with regard to the distinctions his Majesty the King had conferred on him and others. In liis own case be regarded his honours as a compliment to the people of New Zealand more than to himself. He happened to be for the time being tho head of the Administration that was carrying on the work of the country. They all knew that one of the great radical and progressive leaders in the Old Country held very high honours. Ho referred to the late Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man-—(applause), and at Homo neither Radical nor Conservative would say a word in derogation of that gentleman's position when he was leader of his party. There were people in this country who were very anxious indeed to receive even minor honours. tie knew a number who were eager, almost dying, to be appointed J.P.'s. Ho had also noticed with some amusement the experience of one man, a man who had tried to get a few votes by criticising him in his absence;, who had added the title of "Honourable'' to liis name, though he did not possess the distinction, and who travelled in certain parts with the "Honourable'' upon his luggage and upon his cards. (Laughter.) Yet this man was a man who tried to score off him (Sir Joseph Ward) because he accepted an honour which he did not solicit and which any man in his position would have done right in accepting as a compliment to the country iie was representing. After a few references to hTs journeying in the United Kingdom aud to the desire of the people in this dominion to unite for the benefit of the Empire, Sir Joseph Ward went on to say that a reception such as that accorded to him that evening was a compensation for the pin-pricks aud petty criticisms to which all public men were subjected. He was now entering the political contest to light a fair light, and he believed that in the end the people would show their appreciation of the Government which was now in control of their affairs, aud which was only live, years old. Some people had been straining their intellects to make out that the Government was as old as Methusnleh. Ho was not responsible for any former Government, he was responsible for the Government of which he was the head, and that was a, Government that was now five years old. (Applause). The people in this country, knew when they had a good article, and they would not be put aside by misrepresentation, nor would they bo deterred from doing their duty by a system of slander which permeated' the country, emanating from some of the opponents of tho Government. Tho sense of British justico and fair play was as much alive to-day as ever it was. The good work done by tho Government would be recognised by the community at large, and lie had yet to learn that the people of New Zealand were ungrateful. _ (Applause.) Cheers were given for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, aud, the Mayor and Mayoress of Balelutha.

Sill JOSEPH WARD'S MOVEMENTS Tho Prime Minister will remain in his electorate for a week, and will, deliver an address to his constituents at Winton to-morrow night. ft is probable he will speak at Palmorston South next week. Requests from different parts of the dominion to Sir Joseph for speeches before the election are exceedingly numerous, so numerous that it is quite impossible for him to comi>ly with them.