SIR JOSEPH WARD’S BANQUET.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 July 1901, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S BANQUET.

Prosperity all Along the Line

[Pee Peess Association,]

Wellington, July 29.

The banquet tendered to Sir J. G. Ward, Minister for Railways and Postmaster General, by the Liberal and Labour party of Wellington, upon the conferment of bis Knighthood took place at the Drill Shed to-night.

The attendance which numbered ove r 300 was thoroughly representative of all classes of the community. Mr Allen occupied the chair, on his right being the guest of the evening and on his left Speaker o‘Rourke, Hong. Walker, Hall-Jones, M'Gowan, Carroll, Duncan, Mills and a large number of members of both branches of the Legislature were also present.

Apologies for absence were read, among the number being one from the lit Hon R. J. Saddon, who regretted that a very severe cold prevented his being present. Replying to the toast of his health Sir Joseph, who was enthusiastically received, quoted figures to remove the impression that seemed to exist in some quarters that the colony had reached the height of its prosperity and was on the wane. They should not allow themselves to be controlled by any spasm of pessimism which might be calculated to send the colony backward instead of forward. There was an abundance of money in the banking institutions at the present time and there was no justification whatever for a pessimistic cry. He scouted the idea of any reversal of our prosperity. All classes of the community were in a much better position than when the present administration took office and with a vigorous, though prudent, Public Works Policy nothing could deter the colony in its march of progress. He heartily thanked the gathering for the great honor that had that evening been tendered to him

During the evening Mr Ward was presented with a handsomely illuminated congratulatory address from prominent Wellington Trade Unionists,