MESSAGE BY THE PREMIER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 8

MESSAGE BY THE PREMIER.

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE DOMINION. "A STUNNING BLOW." Tha following message was sent'out to the people of New Zealand by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) yestorday:— ' _ "Tile news of the death of our illustrious Sovereign came as a stunning blow to his subjects in I\ew Zealand. His too-short reign showed him to bo a far-sighted * monarch, and, apart from the fealty that his British subjects owe to the Throne, a feeling of proud reverence and deep attachmetft to the King himself very quickly evinced' itself in the breasts of his people after he ascended the Throne. During his reign he has shown himself ,to bo the greatest factor in tho promotion of peace between the nations of the world that has ever ruled. When the historian comes to record the many-sided qualities of King Edward VII, the work ho did. in the prevention of war. and the promotion, of peace and goodwill among his fellow-men will stand out as one of the greatest examples ' of true humanitarian effort which a great King of England can achieve by the exercise of extraordinary common sense, marvellous tact, and ripo judgment. With such attributes, and with such a. wonderful personality, he was able at the right time to • influence for good somo of the most powerful rulers and most contentious nations of tho world. It is a unique circumstance that the reign of tho King of pcaco was marked throughout its full period by an absence of war between any portion of the British Empire and any other country."