WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Gorreapoadomt). ) SIR JOSEPH WARD. A MESSAGE OF GOODWILL. WELLINGTON, May 19. During the past week it has been, no easy matter to get a word with ' Sir Joseph Ward. Packing, business engagements, correspondence intimate and formal farewells and the hundred and , ono preparations for a. trip I'ound the world and an indefinite absence have kept him busy the whole day long and far into the night. He has no pausings places in his crowded hours lor the entertainment of the superlious journalist. This afternon, however, in’ the space of scarcely more than, a hearty handshake and a very cordial “au revoir,” he ran off answers to a dozen only hall framed questions. ■ . Politics and situation he declined firmly to discuss. “Of course. I take as much interest in them as ever I did,” he said, and then added smilingly, “bfit the electors have given me aXholiday and I am not going to be so ungracious as to hang about the schoolroom.” He had made some allusions to the general election when addressing Ins old friends in Southland, and they were in print for everyone to see, but he hoped his political opponents would believe liiiii when he said he was carrying no personal bitterness away with him. fie had received hard knocks apd had returned them, but he liked to think there had been no- personal ill-will on either side. Public life womd he intolerable were it otherwise. _ “No. I cannot say how long I will be away. Everything will depend on circum stances—the progress of .the business I have in hand, the demands of my friends’, perhaps my health, yes, and to an extent my inclinations.” To the rumour . that he is contemplating an excursion into Imperial politics, S*r Joseph gave an emphatic denial, qualified at once by a recognition of the duty that lies upon every citizen of the Empire. “A man might find himself at any moment,” he explained, “confronted by a set of circumstances that would alter the whole course of fiis life and coll him to some unexpected sphere of' activity. That anything of this'sort is going to happen to mo, I have no idea at present, hut I c.anXsee no further than other people can into the future. Sir Joseph Ward could not -give an ] opinion concerning the financial position of the Dominion without appearing to introduce party politics, but lie would say, without imagining liis views were different from those of his; polity cal opponents, that the great requirement of the country in the years to collie would be courageous aiid vigorous, as well as careful and economical administration. Xv ew Zealand had had greatness thrust upon her, so to speak by the * war. She had a great public debt a great burden of taxation, and V great social and industrial problems to solve; tut she also bad great resources, great

virility and great traditions. The opportunities of. the Government, by what_ ever name it might bo called, would be as big as would be its responsibilities. Me hoped it would remain a strictly non-party question, but Sir Joseph s urgent appeal to the electors .on the eve of his departure would be to sec, that they obtained some measure of electoral reform during the life of the present Parliament. There was no need to reiterate the figures lie had quoted to his southern friends. They simply show

ed that the Dominion, with all its boasted universal suffrage, was retain ing one of the most ineffective and uncertain systems of election known within tlie Empire. He did not stress the matter because the system had operat-

cd against himself and his friends—this merely personal aspect was of small consequence—but because Parliament would never be truly representative of the people till they had an equitable system of election. “But with all this and with all the other handicaps from which we are suffering,” Sir Joseph Ward said as he cast a politely suggestive glance towards the door. “I have no fear for the future of this splendid little country. There may be many a. hard task before us, many a stiff hill to climb, but we have only to brace ourselves up to the effort to pull through all right and the goal, always in sight, is well worth winning. My personal interest in the country will never flag, whatever the future may hold for me, and X trust the people of New Zealand who have treated me so well in the past, and are treating me so well now will remember me with tho same kindly feeling as I have towards them.”