NAVY LEAGUE LUNCHEON.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 34, 8 February 1913, Page 5

NAVY LEAGUE LUNCHEON.

SIR JOSEPH WARD EUILOGISEB.

"ON THE ROLL OF HONOR."

;(Reoeived Feb. 7, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7. The Duke and Duchess of Somerset, -Lord Charles Reresford, Mr Walter Long, M.P., Lady Ward, the Hon. Thos. and Mrs Mackenzie, Sir T. and Lady Robinson, Sir -Newton anil Lady Moore, besides the others before mentioned were present at nfche Navy League luncheon. Mr R. Yerburgh, president of the Navy League, in proposing Sir Joseph Ward's health, said that when the time came for the Dominions'answer to the question whether they would side with the Motherland on the sea, New 'Zealand's response was prompt, firm, and magnificent. No:name stood than Sir Joseph Ward's on the Empire's roll of honor. v

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that lie was anxious to see Empire ■defence removed, from the realm )of party politics. The Hon. James Allen, responding to the toast of "Imperial Defencej'" said that Great Britain had so long been safe that she perhaps did not Joel the danger. .-■ New Zealanders sometimes wondered whether Great Britain was quite awake. The ship was a visible evidence of what New .Zealand was prepared to do. ;He ventured to say that New Zealand was more patriotic than the Motherland. 'The Dominion was prepared ;to make still greater sacrifices, but they must be permanent and not spasmodic sacrifices. The effort Australia was making was very great, and it was not that she miglit separate, from the Empire, but that she might help to -consolidate it. Neither could it be supposed that Canada had yet reached the stage at which she wolild he satisfied.