SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16751, 14 October 1916, Page 7

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD

Sir Joseph Ward said he had full confidence in our determination to win. The overseas, by their enormous sacrifices, and willingness to give the last man and last'shilling, had a right to look forward in the future to a piace at the council table. They would require that the outlying units be merged into a position of advantage. They were ready to take their part^ and should have a say before the Empire became involved in war. New Xeala.id strongly approved of the decision of the Imperial Government to take the Dominions into consultation when peace was declared and when terms were being discussed- There were many questions affecting the Dominions! and it was only right that the countries contiguous to the possessions captured from Germany should have a voice in their disposition. He congratulated Britain or. what she had done to develop a trade pohcy. New Zealand, after the war, would irnposa .1 50 per cent duty on enemy importations, and was prepared to increase i* to 100 per cent if necessary. H« oai>l ji tribute to the .Navy's work in protecting the trade routes. Ho said that the Navy had saved us. The resources of the Empire bad been strained to the utmost, but the great sacrifices demanded had been made without a murmur. The war had steadied pub|He life in New Zealand, and strengthj ened the national character. N^w Zealand's raising of a ten million loan was testimony to the confidence of the country and its faitn in the ultimate issue of the war, which bad brought the ideal of a consolidated Empire much nearer. He believed that ab soon as practicable it would be inaugurated.