The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1929. SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1929. SIR JOSEPH WARD.

The Prime Minister celebrated his 73rd. birthday last Friday week, and naturally lie received many congratulations, As a Held nil contemporary remarked the felicitations go lonvaivi as readily and as sincerely from those who do not see eye to eye with him in the methods of achieving New Lealand’s political ideals as from those who have been more intimately associated with him over his long career in public and private life. Jn himself, Sir .Joseph is a living example of tiic opportunities, Dr service offered by New Zealand to her sons. Sir Joseph ward was a very small boy when he was brought to Southland by his parents from Victoria, and it was when lie was still in comparative boyhood that ho displayed gifts that were to he crowned later by his return to oflice as Prime Minister, the highest gift in the minds of tlie people. One might-hook askance at tire person who nowadays pointed to a youthful telegraph messenger and said, “There goes the future Prime Minister.” But it was as a humble deliverer of telegrams, then rare enough to be a great novelty and to give prestige to the recipient, that Sir Joseph started his business life. His equipment for tlie struggle comprised a primary school education and a brain that could readily absorb

.nowlcdgc, analyse it and make goal use of all the best that came to him in that exacting college, the school of experience. From the telegram service, Sir Joseph went into a merchant’s office and then to the Railway Department, leaving this later to enter the grain trade, in which he built an extensive enterprise. His first public service was as a member of the Camp hell town Borough Council at the age of 2l . Then be became Mayor of the borough, ami he was also put at the bead of other local liodies in the district. There are those in Southland who still remember the young oounoi'lor. It was when lie entered the wider sphere of nationad politics that he quickly focussed the attention of New Zealand upon himself. Four years after lie was elected to the House of Representatives in 1887, Mr .Tulin Reliance appointed him Postmaster-Gen-eral, the first of many portfolios he was to hold during his political career I From a strong figure in the regime of Ballance, Sir Joseph became Mr Richard John Seddon’s first lieutenant, and lie look over the reins »f Government shortly after fho death of liis chief in 1000. He held office until 1012, when be banded over 1o °ir Tlmmas Me'-koirv’e. who. in ten "ave wa>' to M" Vr'O'v when l'*r. long |..chiral regime with R"'lance camp to on o>*-l. n '* ”"’s in ■n'Tbo n ,r ain as a **•«»»«•*/*»• «C llm Xnl*o»al GoverimmiH Onriiur f' e war v«nrs. ml at the dissolving of the paef. lie resumed bis status as Leader of I be Opposition. Tin* election of 3010 saw his exit from Parliament for a brief

period, and when lie returned it was as a private member Authority came ms way again when he assumed the .caderslnp or ihe LuitcU l-'ai\y prior to me last efoct.on, :uul tiien came nis ro-e.evalion to the office of Prime .iiinisicr on the resignation of the Reform Government in December. ’Jo tue many outstanding events m &ir Joseph s political lile .voiild i;e to give an liiaueipiaie and, ,n s.me respects, an inaccurate appreciation <>i wiiat lie lias achieved. ..mime it to say at tins juncture that .no career mis been imirKod oy that .iitenoc imperialism which is counted nuii-iiiiii'it in .sow Zealand politics. ..ns name is iissociated wuli muen of that bcneiicvnt social legislation winch ,n.t Aew /.t'liuihtl hi tno van of such .loveiopnients throughout the world, ihe penny post, the State Advances mice, tne o.a age pensions, tiio public service classmen mm ami supcrant.uaiini schemes are piomtiient among otlier legislative memorials oi Ins activities. rs.r Joseph nas knighted in 1901 during the visit of the present .ving and Queen, the honor being Jiieliy in ' recognition of his work in ••ringing about the penny postal service. jie wits made a baronet in 191 J. As Prime Minister to-day, .Sir Josepii ivard stands high in the estimation of the people. Although not at the head of a parly able to hold oT.ce n\.in its own numerical strength, neither Reform nor Labour may comoine to oust the Government at this stage. Sir Joseph holds office by the grace of the people and is a true leader in that respect. Party politics will come iess into the arena for the time oeing, and Sir Joseph will he out in reality to - achieve the greatest good for the greatest number.