PREMIER'S RETIREMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 10

PREMIER'S RETIREMENT

AN “IRREPARABLE” LOSS. MB T. WILFORD’S TRIBUTE LONDON, May 15. > “Thirty years of political association has taught me to regard him as la broad-minded Imperialist with a big heart, a generous hand, and a worldIwido view,’’ said Mr T. M. Wilford, in [paying a tribute to Sir Joseph Ward. '••His resignation is an irreparable loss to New Zealand.” The Daily News, in a leader, pays a tribute to the moving dignity of Sir Joseph Ward’s farewell address, which it states provides the best to those who are inclined to sneer at Parliamentary institutions as a mixture of babble and intrigue. It continues: “It is a noble-tempered expression of the finer side of Parliament.*

MINISTER’S TRIBUTE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS [ uoijßtDossy ssajj ] WELLINGTON, May 16. In connection with the Prime Minister’s resignation a tribute from his Ministerial colleagues was issued by the Hon. G. W. Forbes: “I am speaking on behalf of myself and my colleagues in the Ministry when I say how' deeply we regret that owing to the state of his health our leader has felt it imperative to follow the earnest suggestions of his medical advisers by relieving himself of the cares of office. Our close association with the Prime Minister has enabled us to see with what courage and mental resolution he has fought against the physical handicap which overtook him towards the end of last session. This attitude is typical of the man, and has been demonstrated time and again throughout his long career of pul lc service. Now that Sir Joseph has decided to relinquish the responsibilities of Administration, 1 am certain that I am voicing the feelings of all New Zealanders when I say that we earnestly hope that he will recover his health and strength, and that he will enjoy many happy years. We, as hi: colleagues, naturally feel keenly the official parting from our leader, and take th.- opportunity to express our appreciation of confidence which he showed in asking us to join his Ministry. Sir Joseph has been a consistent leader, and we have appreciated his sound judgment and wise counsel. In addition to our admiration of Sir Joseph’s capacity as a political leader, we recognise that he had a still wider conception of his public responsibilities. As an Imperialist he established for himself a reputation which he extended far beyond New Zealand. Inspired with an intense loyalty to the Crown, he brought to bear at many Imperial Conferences a constructive capacity which undoubtedly has helped in the evolution of our British Commonwealth of Na-

tions. The Prime Minister’s decisions to retire from the forefront of public life creates a gap which will be hard to fill, but his career is an inspiring example to all New Zealanders whose sense of public duty prompts them to serve their country.”

MR POLSON’S VIEWS

POLITICS IN MELTING POT [ Per Press Association ] BLENHEIM, May 16. In a statement to the Express in reference to the resignation of Sir Joseph Ward, Mr W J. Polson, Independent M.P., and president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, who was at Havelock when the news came to hand yesterday, stated that the country would regret the cause of the resignation. Sir Joseph had devoted his life to his country’s service, and even those who disagreed w’ith his politics would share in the regret that his health had forced him to lay down the reins of office. That he had done the right thing there was no doubt. Who was to succeed him was another question. That, the United Party would have to decide for themselves. The resignation would throw the w T hole political situation into the melting pot, and whoever aspired to lead the party would require to bring down a new and statesmanlike policy. Old alliances ’would be no longer binding, and unless ! the new leader was able to satisfy the |country his reign might bp short. | Mr Polson believed that everything

would depend upon the policy. The new policy to succeed must show an appreciation of the problems of the country, provide fundamental remedies for unemployment, reduce costs, create economies in keeping with the times instead of maintain a post-war expenditure with a pre-war income, and give the country sound taxation readjustments. A bold land settlement scheme w T as an absolute essential to success. Such a policy would bring support from many who were not entirely blinded by purely paryt considerations. At all events the opportunity existed for a leader to weld together interests now divergent. Whom the United Party would select for that task he had no idea.

LABOUR TRIBUTE MR HOLLAND’S SPEECH [ Per Press Association 1 TAUPO, May 16. s Mr H .E. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, addressed a meeting in Rickets Hall to-night, and in the course of his speech made reference to the resignation of Sir Joseph Ward. He said that as a political opponent of the Prime Minister he desired to join with every section of the Dominion in sincerely regretting that, as a result of his illness, Sir Joseph Ward should have found himself .npelled Ito resign his office of first citizen of |th( Dominion. He paid a high tribute jto Sir Joseph’s strong personality, and paid that his long association with the | political life of the country and many i items of legislation standing on the J Statute Book, left his name with a jlustre that no one would but wish him. |His hold on the allegiance of a large section of the people was responsible 'for a measure of the success achieved 'by the United Party at the last eleejtion, for it was fully recognised in bringing together in one camp the diversity of political interests which made up the United Party, and his (task as head of the Government must have been rendered all the more arduous by the fact that only of his

Ministers had had previous Cabinet experience, while some of them had not even had previous Parliamentary experience.

Whoever might be chosen to succeed Sir Joseph as Parliamentary leader would undertake a perplexing responsibility, and none would envy him his task. It was a tribute to the [popularity of Sir Joseph Ward that in the evening of his life he had bebn able to win his way back to the Premiership, and his strongest opponents, equally with his most ardent supporters, while deploring the circumstances which compelled him to stand aside, would join in wishing him the speediest possible recovery from his illness, and full enjoyment of the rest which he had now decided to take, and which he had fully earned.

Mr Holland indicated that at Wairoa on Monday night he would make reference to the possible effect of Sir Joseph Ward’s resignation on the political situation.