SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11948, 6 March 1917, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

AT BHURNEMOUTH.

[FjIOM OCR CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, January 18.

Under the auspices of the Royal Co« lonial Institute Sir Joseph Ware? addressed a meeting at Bournemouth on Saturday on New Zealand and her Resources and what the Dominion has done- for the war.

Sir Joseph Ward said that in responding to the invitation to come to Bournemouth to speak to the people who were assembled there that after. •:-x>n. about New Zealand and the war, he did so as one of themselves, while ihcy. m turn, were part and paicel of the-*'overseas dominions- The old idea; that, had existed m the minds of son™ people tor so many generations m the Old Country, that the outlying portions of the Empire were but offshoo-s of the parent stu'k. and worth little coii&idernKxi, and that the cutting of the painter would not be a had thing, had p?*.-ed and gone for ever. What the Motherland was doing, and what ti!o overFoas dominions were doing was mutual. They must fight on until victory ws assured.

In speaking to them concerning w!:ftt New Z-r. land had done in connection ritl; the tor lie wanted it clearly up. dersiood that he was not attempting in any way to lilt that far off Dominion into a special <-.phere,.or to say one word ■ n derrogatior. of what this country had done. In recounting New Zealand'? role since the outbreak of hostilities he merely wisiied to point out what youi'ig and virile country—the furtiiesS outpost of the Empire—had done 10 help the British Empire.

Prior to the war New Zealand -v.t, living at peace with the world, and hmight say that it is one of the most beautiful countries *"n the world. It:., eiimate somewhat approached that of England but was perhaps not so austere in the winter. In size New Zealand was as large as England. Ireland. Scotland and half of Wales, its soil was the, most prolific in the v.orid, and lastyear the exports of New Zealand reached the huge sum of £34,000.000 sterling fiom the products of the soil, this being apart al:o£other from what the country needed lor her own requirements. Per heart' of the population Nev Zcalunder> were the richest people in tho world. ■ Ho drear a graphic picture of "be trials in connection with early colrwvition There were no steamers in 'hose e-atiy days. a:-i it was a common thing for a voyage e-u by (-ailing ve->e-! tr» take up to ,-..x ninths. (Vuuras: ihac with the pnsbii :i to-day. whe:i be personally for IV trace considered b'^-.M'if treared badly i! !:< conk' v.r. gr* -u m Nov,- Zeal md to England undv.; fe:<y da vs. New Zea!a!'. r ! htd Icokrd r.ner her soldier-', tle-ir v> :ves .i»i <]<-}>■. ud.wils. ?,r.n bad provided for those v. ho ■►tight, become v. iciows and feri-,--'rio-> eliildreii. 'ii-e most libera! sr-heiue ••? pensions in the worbt bad been piocie-e-b When the War Pcu<d.-i;i : A". -•.►.< passed ju I- I ]-" the maximum p'm-.imi per wi-.-n paid f-:> the wife -n Tno eav> of the tie ath of a yoi'. : \T wu£3. A voi' % e : '• T i\ a mr-re pittance ',n this country."' Sir Jos eh "Ward said ?\Vv Z—dai.d had had ur.:ver-al military iraini'.ig hi operation tor about six years, a7id in order 10 sf- that tl>-- willing horse did tot got the whole of the burden, a measure of c< mpubo-y service had been placed on t.'e Statute Book. -Jt had recn found practically in every portiret, of r(;e Empire that hero and tiierc a section of t'-'e peo])ie were shirkirg their pi..in duty, and New Zealand had devised a sy 7 eie to ma'ic them realise tttiir 1 rsponsihi! it y. threat Uritai;: bad to win the war. The. peace that bad been heard so much of lately "bowed dist-ujc-!,v that tic; n.ary u;;.i keen on having apremature pe.vo. This would «>~ unsatisfactory 10 tiie British Empire, and mighty satisiaci-i.-ry to <" j, rnmny. Sir .jr. soph Waru paid a tribute to the work done- by wcnien. When the war was over he. r-i--.! .women wore bound t<> have a isr-. • position o- the world. <>r at leas.- ■'■'. every <v.ii-t:!y wbioit had sufficient intelligence to see thai tvomen h.id tru ir ii-. ; ]it'ful plaec New Zealand had made a free git. or :i battleship io the Rriti.sh Government some, time be (ire the war conur.en-.id He bad been, on board the Nov. >'oa!:-i d r. week or "two ago. and he ws-- gb.d ;<> •,\y that, the only piece tha' had hoe a knocked out of the ship duvirg •• battle; ban been poscrved. and lie would like to have it taken out to New Zeeland and r-!: we preserved as a ;e.:«meu:-■ and' object ic:.:<on in regard t-o what t:.e New Ze.u':rid bad done in « oenecr.';.;! with this greatest of ai' war*. He recouniicd tne various concessions made .0 New Zealand soldiers in connect: ,;i with the N'nuonal Provident i-'uv-.'-, Frie-idly Societies, Superannuattoa Fund, ami it- connection with railway and steamer and coach travelling, and insurance premiums r jhcy had the traditions of intrepidity, re«oincofulncss and de.terminaticn. and these were flie factor* which wou:l count in bringing virtorv to our arms. and end' for ever the hateful regime that- Piir-sino militarism bad intiodueed. ami endeavoured to perpetuate not cr.ly over the Continent of Et rope bu? in reality o\er the whole world.