POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1069, 10 December 1903, Page 2

POLITICAL.

MINISTERS IN AUCKLAND.

Per Press Association. s ,, Auckland, last night. Sir Joseph Ward arrived in Auckland to-day. He spent the day attending to some local requests, and in the evening he was entertained at dinner by Mr Withoford, M.H.R., who invited a few friends to meet the Minister. Mr Witheford complimented Sir Joseph Ward specially on his advocacy of the San Franoiseo mail service, and Sir Josepn Ward, in reply, expressed surprise that a cheap mail service of so muoh national importance should be made a burning question at election time, or looked at from a narrow point of view. He believed the time would come when reciprocal arrangements would be made between British and American people, so that there oould be a full interchange in regard to coastwise trude. The Preferential Trade Bill gave Government power to arrange for reciprocal trade, and he believed Amerioan statesmen would bye-and bye see the importance of negotiating for reciprocal trade with New Zealand. He looked forward with great hope to a development of trade between New Zealand and Canada. .

Sir Joseph Ward attends the opening of the Veterans’ Homo to-morrow, and goes to Cambridge on Friday to open the Consumptive Sanatorium.

The Premier arrives to morrow to attend the opening of the Veterans' Home. Sir Wm. Russell and Major General Babington have arrived to attend the same oeremony.