SIR JOSEPH WARD’S TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1917, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S TOUR.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION AT THAMES. o THAMES, December 3. 'Sir Joseph Ward received a warm welcome at Thames. He arrived by motor-car- about seven o’clock, and was met some miles from the town by the .Mayor, Chairman of the County Council, and 31 .F. for the district. Sir Joseph was entertained at dinner by local authorities the proceedings being exceedingly cordial. The Mayor (-Mr. H. Lowe who presided, (said Sir Joseph Ward wa s a Minister of the Crown, a statesman, and an Imperialist. He could say without contradiction that no man was more beloved hv the people of. New Zealand generally than Sir Joseph Ward. (Applause.) He paid a tribute to the work done recently by Sir Joseph in England, both financially and otherwise, also to the good work he had done for New Zen land generally and Thames particularly, during his long political career. In the course of his reply, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the inflexible determination of every class of the community “to do their little hit. (Ap-

plause.) Nulw Zealand soldiers ,had proved themselves second to none in the world. Hefei-ring to Lord LansdownCs letter, Sir Joseph, said they had to look to the wise statesmen oi the Homeland not to allow premature peace propsals to sway them at this juncture. The enemy would have to b 0 made to. realise that we were, the masters. Only the British Empire through her representatives, could decide what terms and conditions were to be formulated for the preservation of civilisation and the freedom and liberty of the world. (Applause).