SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1403, 1 April 1912, Page 6

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

PROPOSED ILLUMINATED ADDRESS. A public meeting was hold in the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday evening of persons in sympathy with tho proposal to present an illuminated address to Sir Josepli Ward. Tho attendance was small. Sir. IT. C. Tewsley, who had convened tho meeting, acted as chairman. Opening tho proceedings, Mr. Tpiroley Btatetl that the meeting.had been, called- at very short notice by himself for the pi'wpesa of arranging a presentation iu tin , form of an illuminated address to Sir , . Joseph Ward, on the occasion of his retirement from the active position that ho had held in the community of New Zealand for so many years past. The short notice was unfortunate- in that the attendance that evening was not what might have been hoped. However, ho had received apologies for absence from a very large number, of gentlemen who were in sympathy with tho movement and worn willing to go'upon any committee that might bo formed. Mr. Tewsley read tho

following list of names from whom apolopies had been received:—The Hon. A..M.

Myers, Sir .Tames Carroll, Sir John Findlay, Mr. W. Woods (Falmerstou North), Messrs. R, Fletcher, Jas. Dykes, H. Gilmer, T. Dwan, Nicholas Reid, Jas. Coatos, D. J. Nathan, \V. M'Lean, E. Hill, C. T\ Skcrrett, Chas. Tzard, Dr. Izard, Dr. Martin, and Dr. Collins.

, From this list it might be seen, said Mr. Tewsley,-that a considerable number of men in leading positions in the community were, ready and willing to givo them, assistance and to go on any committee that might be formed. What the-y ■wished to do'was to hold a. meeting of inch a , nature that the whole community' would have an opportunity of expressing its sentiments towards Sir Joseph; Ward. Tho original.idea -was that, in-addition to presenting np. illuminated address, some port of evening entertainment should 1:p held in tho"VJ'own Hall, with musical items and speeches by gentlemen holding leading positions-.who-could speak..as..to Sir Joseph Ward's merits as n'statesman, politician, and a gentleman of wide commercial experience, especially , in'the "liail-." •way and Post and Telegraph Departments. Ho was sure , t.liat all present thoroughly sympathised 'With the objects in'view", and ho suggested' that a preliminary committee should bel set up. He thought',' ,that the function could be made one that would fliow that at any rate- a very large section of tho community entertained feeliiigs ,to•wards .Sir Joseph ■ Ward, very -different from what were indicated some little'tiroe ago. When-any man nassed through a political crisis as Sir Joseph Ward had done, lijrgo numbers of'people were poseibly influenced for tho time being by a passing wave: of adverse sentiment. In ■calmer moments people ivould come to Tcalise that ai cruel wrong had been done to Sir Joseph' Ward at a time when lie might have met -with very different treatment. (Heat, , hear.) A 'very larw number of people; regarded Sir Joseph Ward ■with esteemj and recognised that there were ■> great qualities 'in tho man. They ■ recognised also that it ■wag only propel' that'lie sliould.be &t----tiugly farewelled from his official position by the people of -Wellington. . ... Mr. I?.. E. 'Baiinister , said'"that'he had 1 very little to add to what the chairman had said about what Sir. Joseph Ward Jiacl donn fer the Dominion and for the I'ost and Telegraph and Railway Departments in particular. It would hove been much better, had.f-time allowed; to make this a Dominion greeting to"-'Sir'-Joseph Ward on his retirement. Ho/hoped that the other centres;-and towns ivonld folJow iu Wellington's footsteps* in '/this matter. Mr. Baiinister suggested that those present, with those whoso names ■had been read by, the chairman; : should form themselves into β-^mmittes;''that' Bir Joseph Ward«'sh6uld. : ."l}3 " 'presented , frith an illuminated; acldr.ess;'-'ami. that the function take place iii,tlie;Town--:Edll'| on Wednesday next." •Np.'.charge should , bo made for admission,'-/ which'- 'ishould -be by ticket. Ho merely 'suggested Uhis' to 1 ensure against overcrowding; ,as ; 'multitudes would desire.- to .-attend. ..'The committee :should liavo,;'nower;to' ..add fa its Uiumb'.-r. ,' ■' - i i---, ■•: - ■-•■■-. .-.. . ■

Mr. Martin Kennedy,....seconded Mr.. Bannister's proposal/ pi/o forma,; but con- : jwlsral that it would bcya -mistake' for the few who were there, to dsfiri'c'exactly what ought to be done;' Those-pre-F3nt should form themselves into a comlnittee, with power to ndd to their number. It would, bo quite time enough at a later meeting to define the exact nature of the function, and decide where it (mould take place. The notice- given of the meeting that evening had been far too" short. He had himself learned of it from ii "local," and had assumed that the ■meeting, iras to he at the Town Hall. No doubt something similar had happened in' the case of hundreds who would l-avc liked to be there.

Mr. 'J'ewslcy urged that it would ba wise to proceed with the matter while ftc-Hng was warm. There was at the-', time a certain amount of symaatlrv v/iih' Sir Joseph Ward in thn fact of his'retireiiient. ilio proposed function should bo held before; the Easter holidays. Sir. llnrtiii .Kennedy suggested Hint the natter could- be best dealt with at a round (able conference. It would bo tv mistake to court disaster by being hasty. Jio was quite sure that everything had been done for the best in convening the meeting, but they might surely, have expected a better audience , if a few days' notice had been given. .At this sta.ee.it was agreed, on the motion of Br. Ualull, Mr. Martin ■Kennedy seconding, that the meeting should yo into committee. At'the cud of a brief si! tin" tho. chairman stated that it had been decided to hold a further committee, lreeti]'° °rl T y csdn >\ i"sM, at 8 o'clock! 'iia: wo Chamber of Commerce.;. .'.",:.

mi TeleeraDh.-Prosa ABSoclatlon.r lnvcrcargill,.March ; 31. .- .t meeting on .Saturday afternoon cbnirmed tho resolution passed at a previous meeting to tender a banquet to Sir Joseph Ward in recognition of"his''services to Southland in particular and the Dominion in general. Strong committees were appointed to organise and make tho function a success. .... .... :'......-'. .. .