SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1925, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

(Lyttelton Times.) The return to the political arena of so impressive a figure as Sir Joseph Waul is an event of national importance. and an event tiltitl will he welcomed by oveiyono in New Zealand save the few extremists who, unfortunately. exercise a disproportionately large- influence on both the Reform and l.ahour Parties. The veteran Liberal statesman—veteran in experience if not in years—-brings to the services of tiie community gifts flint are eeriain to prove of inestimable value to this country in the trying years that, almost certainly lie in the l immediate future, and iiliere can he little doubt I hat I nvercargill will see to it that those gifts are accepted. Sir Joseph's record of public service is in many respects the most distinguished of any living resident of New Zealand. Under his Premiership the Liberal fabric-, of which the foundations were laid by 'Billlance and Mackenzie, and the superstructure erected by Seddon. u:is broadened, si rengthenc-d and perfected and made so much a part of Hi" life of the nation that the enemies of Liberalism, when their campaign ol calumny ami slander placed them in power, dared not openly attack il. Ii was Sir Joseph Ward who, in a crisis in the affairs of the Empire. took his political life in his hands and staked everything upon winning approval for his gift of a hatlle-cruiser to Britain, ft was a splendid gesture, and one that undoubtedly did more limn anything else to dispel the dangers that threatened the peace of the world at that time. It showed the spirit of loyalty and patriotism that animated the smallest and most remote of tlie dominions, and threw the lie in the teeth of those foreign foes who said the Empire" was ready to collapse like a house of cards.

Again, when the war storm finally hroke. ami New Zealand needed the best guidance her elder statesman could give her. Sir Joseph Ward took his place at the Ministry of Kina nee and administered a financial policy that brought t.h.o Dominion through the most c!iflic1111 years of its history with living colours. The late Mr Massey and Sir, James Allen share the credit for the efficient aid given to the Empire in the military sphere"--■our record was hotter than that of any other Dominion—hut in the realm of finance, where we also showed an example to all other units of Empire, the credit i> solely due to Sir Joseph Ward. The story of how lie came through the war period with seventeen millions al accumulated surpluses available at the end of the period to meet llie difficult post-war period which In- Inresaw is pari of our history. A less iJeas.-uil historical page* is made by the* story of how the Reformers, as soon as the National Cabinet was broken up, seized the surpluses and used t.* l .• money L> promote a mad boom in laud, having first sidy repealed all Hu- safeguards (lie Liberals had enac-led in order t > ensure" that the Slate should resume i c-i ujial ion of privately owned land a! a lair price".

Although New Zealand, as one shrewd observer remarked, was caught merely by tlie tail-end of th mie cyclone llial burst upon the world lu IP2O. the results of ilia! crisis were magnified and multiplied by tlie reckless financial and land policy ol the Reformers. Their ignorance ol |inanee is still abysmal. Willi U'e possible exception of Mr M'l.eod, who seems to have devoted a good deal of time to the siud.v oi the question lately, there is no member oT the Cabinet who is able to discuss tbe national finances with even passable accuracy and understanding. In filet, the I’arlinment thal has just elided has proved it set I' one of the poorest in men of linam-ial ability thal New Zealand has ever had to put up with. The return to | In- House of ftir Joseph Ward would (ill what can truthfully if tritely be described as a long-felt want. and would go fat" to redeem Parliament from iis present-day tendency to aimlessness.