SIR JOSEPH WARD

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1930, Page 3

SIR JOSEPH WARD

RESIGNING the premiership

b I'eldgfaph—Pl'Cas Assn ; U»p^rigbt

AUC-fvLAND, May 15

.Sir Joseph HVai-d 'announced iii 'Roto; ua to-day his intention t to resign the Premiership owing to the state ol his health. It-is Understood' no"(leciSiou has been made re the future leadership.

MERSAGE .TO, PEOPLE

A FA BE WELL ADDRESS

ROTORUA, May 15

It will be remembered that towards .the end of last session of parliament I suffered a breakdown of - health necessitating my temporAfy rbtiremenu from Active ' participAtibn in official duties.'. !

Early in the present year I came to Rotorua, where I am still undergoing a- course of treatment. While I have experienced considerable benefit during my sojourn at Rotorua, my medical advisors have intimated to me that' in ths interests, of health it. is essential I should have ; freedom from work and official Worry. After v full consideration with my colleagues and being inspiredby. a keen rlesire th at, my indisposition shod Id hot, in any. way hafffpe'r the efficient hdwiin't&bhit-ion -iof (public' ’affairs, of-the-Dofhinions, I have decided bn mat-; ure consideration, to yield to the ad- ' vice ,which ; has been tendered me ‘by Hi)* doctors. 1 ' i ~ v: “ Accordingly I ,am r takihg steps to . place, iffy, resignation As 'Prime Mindsfer in the diands af . his Excellency The Governor’GenefAly . : ')l heed hardly say 1 Take: -this eotirse with the •'greatest' because T hoped th'At 'the- .etate,'of my . health •voiild have permitted ’me 'to my services to the progress and Welfare of New Zealand fob a . still’ longer (iori'od. HbivbVeiV"iih’e ‘fates ’lnlve ordained otherwise, ’’ ailcl the time has’ now arrived ' for liie to lay down the -rbins of office. v

‘ln doing so. 'I look back ’to practically A lifetime spe'fit.. iii 'the country’s service.' -I entered Parliament a yoilng man and Almost bontiiidbusly through the intervening yeilrs I ’have devoted what ' abilities T “possessed 'to the' service of * Nio country, in the capacity as bidinafy member Of the House, as a Minister of' the (ji o\Vii and Prime Minister.' ; ■ r

'-During his long tieriod I have at various times encountered ’ strong opposition.' What' maiiv in- pfflilic |ife does not. L'btlt I*'-have macie lasting friendships../:• To me' ‘the inspiring

motive 'of 6etviee ;, ha.s‘ljben an earnest, desire to ’advance tiie progress And prosperity Of tliftl- fair'land.. I have sfeen the ; development of tlje “dominion pro-

cee'(l">in "the truly’'wondefi ul manner ‘it is to-dciy.' "'.IY ih ,( a! logitilhately ' proud claim fOr One to call‘himself a New Zea'iahdfer, ’and it will he lor the futh to see that; they guard ’jealously the heritage which will be ;H theif'si' Though the ‘times through ■ wliiMi we are how passitigArre hot without" difficulties' and pressing problem's, anu”thbugH"the' honzhiT iiiay appear ■■ darkened’ 1 by! clouds, there is always a ' silver'' lihiiig,.' "and the" characteristic tenacity of dtir people will .enable them lb'■sufmduht' ! the obstacles in face of national progress and to win through. '’ ! ±'6 Any ' Ministerial colleagues I desire to expf6ssdeep gratitude for tliea iii the'task of'GoyeVhmeii.tr'. i.' know fu£l' well my ill-, health has rendered the way not easy 'for iheiri. .T 'cannot speak tho highly 'of their devotion and assistance. ..

To the leaciers of the other two political I ,patties as Well as to all other, 'members of 'Parliament, I 'desire■ to. teiidej’ my sincere 'acknowledgement; of their Uhiioi-m cqjurtesy, more especially during. the time of my illness. I should also like to take this opporpbftUnity of paying, ~a to the the zeal and efficiency pf the. hetjds of* tl;e: sta|e bers of tiie. Public', I speakwith’ years ,of experience . yrkeii I say New. Zealand has bee.n indeed well and faithfully,.served . by .cijffihers. To" my fallow'' citizens Syhp «x----teitcled so' much con.Hdefatipii 'to nie . parti'ciiiarly ;dfiring the; rheen t I " sfioiid a like, to ’ ypice by deep .appieeiation of their kindness and sympathy, and now that, (the ’ evening ,of my official jlife is drawing to a close, I have nothing but : feelings of the friendliest goodwill to each and everyone, and may he. love so well and prosiper exceedingly in the coming years, secure in the freedom and liberties under the Gross, which I fervently trust Will a ways stand as a symbol of the unity of the great British Commonwealth.

JOSEPH GEORGE. WARD.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. 1 ■; V '' .f ,<

STATEMENT by sir, j. g. ‘WARD

The Prime -Minister (,Rts • Hon. Sir Joseph' made a statement to-day r ega rd ing the lih per i a 1. Coi i fere nee : ■ — It 'is,;'generally 'known,’’' said 'Sir Joseph, “that the elate for the meeting, tit London of the next. Imperial Conference has been fixed, after consultatior with the Dominions, for 30th; September .next. ~Hp->u)i niinicytions ltavg been and still are passing-between His, Jilajesty’s. Governpiegt in .the. United 'Kingdom and the (Dominion, Governments respecting jAhe agenda ,-for the, Conference, ; as wpll; as connecting with the subjects which more rtppfo-' priptely heioiig to .the, economic side' pf the Conference. It is the intention of ’Government to submit to . Parliament at the beginning of the coming

ession, a’statement regarding tlie Coni' 7 ° Q •; '.I erence, and also as to representation jf New Zealan I. In tlie meantihiej he Departipents particularly con- erni Id are engaged in the preparation of “.lie, necessary data in .connection with I he subjects which will come up for .•oivsjderation; at the Conference:”

• . SPECULATION HTFE.

ROTORUA, May 15

: Jn view of. the statement made torday by Sir Joseph Ward of his in ten* ti,on to., resign, ..the Prime~ Mitiistera’nipj Speculation js] rife as to who will btj; his successor. ,• f " Until his-resignation has, been re| ceived by His Excellency,the ‘ Clover-;': nor-General, nothing can be dmmiclf ed. '■ i I

After the receipt of the resignation| the Governor-General will have thiji matter in his hands, and the person; chosen to form ( a now' Miiiistrv will call his ’.Party 'together, and; a ‘decisioi| 'will be made. . • !• Until the resignation is 'received> nothing 'definite can be stated as i(| who the successor will ho. |

.The,’Cabinet ’ .Ministers, left RotorUaf by "this afternoon’s ' train, amid an aiif of silence. ' ■ [;

MR COATES , INTERVIEWED, j;

WELLINGTON, May 15. | “I prefer not' to discuss .the politi-j; cal aspect of the matter .at all,’’ ssidji the leader of the Opposition (HoiiJ, J. G. Coates), when a,sked to-uighk bail he any observations to make oi{ ‘the situation that had arisen as ‘a; result! of the .Prime Minister’s resign nation.-.:

, ‘‘On .personal,./grounds,. I am , vei;y sorry to learn that Sir' Joseph Ward’s, health has 1 not-.made the; improvement; that had been, hoped for.” • • jj . “Do you think it necessary to cqlj; Parliament together?” was a further'., question asked of Mr Coates. / : “That is a - matter for the newPrime Minister.*’ ho replied. “Per-r spnally; I think it would be only cricket to- give fa new team a (•banco’; sind allow them to (settle in their reu|' position ’and find their feet befpH' asking them to face the House.” !j Mr Coates, who arrived in. Welling-': ton this moftlihg, 'returned to Auckii land iby the , limited to-c night: ;

GOVERNOR’S TRIBUTE

AUCKLAND, May 15

Reference to the retirement of Sir Joseph Ward, was made by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, in> liis address at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. His Excellency’s tribute to the manner in which Sir Joseph has served the Dominion was greeted with' applause. ’ ; <£ T have just' received a message wjii'dli has caused me great regret arid wbioh I‘ am sure, will cause you re-' grot als'o.'” His -Excellency said' that .the Prime. Minister, Sir Josenh Ward; has" decided, on' medical advice, : to vrtpate' tKe position of .'Prime. Minister . ,t).nd,fd retire from' public life, a sphere' ,of; duty wdiicli he has adorned foi maiiv, years. ''‘Whatever '.Vdur ' political; opinions rnav he, T. feel sure that ypu< will.'join with me in' expressing the hope that Sir'Joseph 'may live . for many years to enjoy better health,, coupled with the respect and confidence''of the people of the Dominion, for which he has done so much. Whatever may result from this decision, which so early in my duties ;as Governor-General, throws a measure of responsibility on my shoulders, T feel ’confident that no political predilections will stand in the way of the best interests of the Dominion being the predominant consideration of fill those, win? sway public opinion in this country.” ' „ ~

A LABOUR. VIEW

WELLINGTON. May 15

“I .doidt/thiuk v the resignation ,is going to, bring us any nearer, to an, election, ’’* said a' prpniieiit Parliaipontiiry Mentber pf the Labour ..Party, “it does not filter : tlrfi Apolitical s.itua-s tion as much as .some may think. Sir, Joseph has been off the stage for. more than ; a year, and the balance: is' not likely to tie distributed. I think this ’iParliame'nt is likely to continue,,until the end of next year.” j-

A SPLENETIC REFORMER. • ■ |

WELLINGTON. May 15

“Personally I can’t see that ,it , . is going to alter things verv much,” said a Reform Member of.'Parliament,