SIR JOSEPH WARD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 60, 4 December 1917, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH WARD

ENTERTAINED AT THAMES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Thames, Decemßer 3. Sir Joseph Ward received a warm welcome at Thames. He arrived by motor-car about seven o'clock, and was met some miles out from town by the Mayor and the chairman of the County Council, and Hie member for the district. On arrival lie was entertained at dinner by the local authorities, the proceedings being exceedingly cordial. Tile Mayor (Mr. H. Lowe) presided, and said Sir Joseph Ward was a Minister of the Crown, a statesman, and an Imperialist. He could say without contradiction that no man was more beloved by the people of New Zealand generally than Sir Joseph Ward. (Applause.) He paid a tribute,to the work dono recently by Sir Joseph in England, both financially and otherwise, also to the good work the Minister had done for New Zealand generally and the Thames particularly during his long political career. In the course of his reply, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the inflexible determination of cverv class of the community to do their "little bit." (Applause.) The New Zealand soldiers had proved themselves second to none in the world. Referring to Lord Lansdowne's letter, Sir Joseph Ward said they had to look to the wise statesmen of the Homeland not to allow premature peace proposals to sway them at this juncture. The enemy would have to be made to realise that we were the masters. Then and then only could the British Empire through her representatives decide what terms and conditions were to < be formulated for the preservation 'of civilisation and the freedom and liberty of the world.. (Applause.)