AIR SERVICES FOR NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 116, 2 February 1918, Page 10

AIR SERVICES FOR NEW ZEALAND

PREDICTIONS OF .SIR JOSEPH .WARD. By Telegraph—Press Association. KawJiia, February 1.. Sir Joseph Ward, who has not been at Kawhia for 6ome ten years, visited tho district to-day at the invitation of the County Council and the Chamber of Commerce. ■ The weather was showery, and the fifty-five milo motor journey from Hamilton was a little unpleasant owing to the car skidding on unmetallod portions of the road's. Sir Joseph Ward received deputations at To Rauamoa and Oparau en route. He-had. a splendid reception at Kawhia, the whole township turning out to honour him. The Minister was entertained at a luncheon by tho local public bodies on his arrival. Mr. A. W. Babbage, chairman of tho County Council, presided. The proceedings were most enthusiastic. Responding to the toast of the National Government', Sir Joseph Ward'said that he did not believo the people realised the necessity for the establishment of a Government that would .be strong, enough to do everything;.required to win tho war as far as tho Dominion was concerned. The time had come for the sinking of all political differences with .a view to everybody concentrating on the one object of seeing the war through. (Applause.) The financial operations alone were of such a character that no single party could have carried them through. When the National Government was formed, tho needs of the British Empire required little New Zealand to join hands across the sea for maintaining the highest and best traditions of the British race. (Applause.) Great problems had to bo solved after the war. We had to have increased land settlement, and proper provision would have to be made for the main arterial roads. (Applause.)

During the afternoon the 'Minister received a number of deputations. Replying to representations concerning Postal services, Sir Joseph AVard saitl that he. hoped lie would not- give them a) shock when he predicted that noon after the termination of the war the development of air machines would be such that mails ivould be carried between the principal cities of New Zealand by aeroplanes and into the back country districts as well. The development taking place in air services was marvellous. He also spoke of what he had seen iu France of the development of motor lorries, where fortv-live thousand lorries were used for transport, etc., at one time. He predicted that this form of transport would be largely developed iu New Zealand after the war. tic suggested a national service, controlled b.v the Government, thus linking up villages and towns . with the main railways of the Dominion. (Applause.) In tho evening a roial f u:r:tion was held in the. Town Hall, Sir Joseph . Ward giving an. interesting address on the "war and what he saw on his visit to England and France. Ho leaves by motor at five in tho morning i;or Hamilton and AucklanS.