SIR JOSEPH WARD RESIGNS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 473, 12 June 1912, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD RESIGNS.

FROM IMPERIAL TRADE COMMISSION. [ 11Y 'l' !••.!, K(; R AVI r. I '1! KS.S ASSOCIATION'. J Wellington, Monday. Sir Joseph Ward has given notice to his Excellency the Governor of his withdrawal from the position of New Zealand representative on the Imperial Trade Commission.

In an interview, Sir Joseph said he had come to this determination owing to the fact that the alteration in the itinerary of the commission had rendered it difficult for him to carry out his Parliamentary duties and attend to the work of the commission. Before agreeing to accept the position, he was informed that the commission would sit in Australia and New Zealand first. It had since been decided to take evidence in England first, and then in Canada. Though on the whole he thought that best, the alteration would, if he attended the commission, involve his absence from Parliament for the whole of the next session. He believed in discharging the duties of any position he took up whole-heart-edly, and he preferred to remain a representative of the people and had decided to remain here.

Sir Joseph stated that he had fully considered whether he should resign his seat in the House of Representatives and attend the commission, and let the elector of Awarua choose another representative, and had arrived at his decision quite voluntarily and without the slightest hesitation or pressure from anyone either in or out of New Zealand.