SIR JOSEPH WARD

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1921, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD

ADDRESS AT ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

LONDON, Nov. 18

At a men’s meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute last- week Colonel L. S. Amery, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, read a paper on “The Reconstruction of the Empire.” Sir Joseph Ward was also invited to .speak, and although the meeting was not open to the Press, Sir Joseph was good enough to give me an outline of that part of his speech .dealing with the question of the Imperial Conference. He commented on the tact .that there was not nearly enough representation at the Imperial Conferences of the past. A great deal of the time had been taken up with discussions of recent policy as affecting the representatives locally. Empire matters were too big, too important, he said, to have the p oeecdin.gs of the Conference subordinated to the political requirements of any one part of the Empire, whether the. Motherland or any other portion. They had enough difficulties ahead of them in the matter of the general reconsti lift-ion— industrial and commerci.rl — without adding to them the very baneful one of allowing the people to remain in doubt as to what the expressed views of their representatives were.

Sir Joseph also expressed a very decided opinion that it was entirely wrong to confine the Empire Conferences to any one side in politics. The leader of the Government of the day from every part of t e Empire necessarily must be there, but, in hi;s opinion, the Leader of the Opposition should also Ire invited to the Conference, and in these times of development in politics, the subordinate parties, where they had their own labour leaders, should, in bis opinion, also be present. It might present difficulties to have this brought about, .but one great desideratum would be the avoidance ot matters of ImperiaLconcern drifting into any political channel belonging for the time being to the party in office. It would he a great factor in bringing about a full consideration and discussion of many matters of importance to the p:ople, both of the .Moth -rlar.d and the overseas countries. No d.ubt a great deal of valuable work had been done up till now, but there was much A et to.be accomplished. He pointed out that in the House of Commons every party, upon any matter great or small that arose for discussion, lnd an opportunity in the light of day through publicity, to suggest, support, or oppose any proposals, and the tame principles should be followed in tlm Imperial Conference.

Sir Joseph and Lady Ward are still in London, though they intend to pay a long-deferred visit to Hull in about a fortnight’s time. After that fey will go on to Bath, where their son, Hr Pat Ward, is living, for the time being. Mr Vincent Ward, who at present is in America, will shortly join the family party. Mr Gladstone Ward, who was recently married in Egypt, is about to return with his wife to New Zealand.