SIR JOSEPH WARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

ENTERTAINED BY ROYAL NAVi' LEAGUE. NEW ZEALAND’S RESPONSE MAGNIFICENT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received February 7, 3.25 p.m.) LONDON, February 7. The Royal Navy League entertained Sir Joseph Ward at luncheon. Among those present were: The Duke and Duchess of Somerset; Lord Charles Beresford: Mr Waiter Long, M.P.; Lady Ward; the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, New Zealand High Commissioner; Major Sir Thomas Bribe, Agent-General for ’ Queensland; and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Sir Newton Moore, Agent-General for West Mr Robert Armstrong Terburgh, M.P., President of the Royal Navy League, in proposing the health of Sir Joseph Ward, declared that when the time came for the Dominions to answer the question whether or not they would side with the Motherland on the sea, New Zealand’s response would be prompt, firm, and magnificent. He said that no name stood higher on the Empire’s roll of honour to-day than that of Sir Joseph Ward. Sir Joseph Ward, in responding, said ho looked forward to the time when the Imperial fleet would be so effective that other nations would hesitate to try conclusions with it. He added that ho was anxious to see the question of Empire defence removed from the region of party politics. The Hon. James Allen, New Zealand Minister of Defence, in responding to the toast of “Imperial Defence,” said that Great Britain had been so long in a position of safety that perhaps her people felt no apprehension that she was now threatened with danger. “We sometimes wondered,” he added, “whether Great Britain was quite aivake.” * " Continuing, Mr Allen declared that the battleship New Zealand was 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 which must be permanent and not spasmodic sacrifices. Australia was making a very great sacrifice; she had spent £4,500,000 to protect her people. She was making that sacrifice, not that she might separate from the Empire, but that she might consolidate it. Neither could it be supposed that Canada had reached a stage where she could be : satisfied in regard to her share in the defence of the Empire. DEFENCE COMMITTEE ATTENDED BY MR ALLEN. LONDON, February 6. The Hon. James Allen, New Zealand Minister for Defence, attended a meeting of the Imperial Defence Committee.