SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 51

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND. (From Oub Owk Cobrespondent.) LONDON, July 30. Dover had scarcely recovered from the sensation of Sunday morning, and the little group of New Zealandors waiting on the pier discussed with interest the break in the cliffs just opposite where M. Bleriot had made his landing after the crossChannel flight. It was a black, stormy day, with occasional heavy showers, and the steamere from Ostend and Deal and elsewheie came in dripping fi-om the spray of the Channel. Amongst the little party wero the- Hon. T. Kennedy and Mrs Macdonald. Miss Rubi Seddon, Major Whitney, Mr Vincent Ward, Mr T. E Donne, and Mr C. Wray Palliser. Before the paddleboat had been tied up more than a few minutes the Prime Minister, with Lady Ward and Miss Eileen, all looking as if they had rather enjoyed the fatiguing trip from Marseilles, made their appearance, and walked up the gangway on to the pier, where they were greeted by their compatriots. Mr J. Hislop, Dr F. Fitchett, and Mrs Fitchett were also of the party. As soon ac the firet greetings were over the Mayer of Dover, on behalf of the council, who were also present, welcomed Sir Joseph to England, and expressed the best wishes for his own enjoyment and the results of the conference. Sir Joseph, in a neat reply, acknowledged the welcome ac the representative of an oversea dominion, which was very proud to be part of the British Empire. — ("Hoar, hear.") He felt that he was coming "Home," and he would approach the-con-ference with a perfectly open mind. He considered himself as representing not a child of the Empire, but a co-partner — (applause),— and they were determined te try to make &tiH stronger that defence which was co much to those in England and those in the oversea dominions alike. As the party passed from the pier to the train there were loud cheers, and thos:> wero repeated as the train pa-sod out of the station. When Charing Cross was reached about 5.45 the platform was crowded wirh New Zoalanders and others interested in fie Dominion. Mr Hall-Jones was pre\ented by his injury from attending, but Mi 5 HallJones was there. The Hon. W. P Reeves was almost tae first to greet his old colleague. Admiral Sir Wilmot Fawkes was present. Mr Sydney Buxton (Postmastergeneral) was there as a personal friend and there were also visible Mr J. Henniker Heaton (the leader of the penny-postage movement), the Hon. Dr Collins/ M.L.C Mr J Ca-thcart Waeon, M.P.. Dr arxl Mrs ™ VU % J i r G ' Fdnwick ' Mr Gresley Lukin, Mr H. Brett, Mr T H. H,ni€r, Mr c! Hokhworthj and a host of others. Dr Hanson brought a party of 'Lord Koberts Boys" from Natal and Transvaal wno had been shooting at Bislcy, to prosent a bouquet to Lady Ward Tuentv minutes wore ab-orbsd m grating friends, and then Sir Joseph and Lady Ward and Miss \\and left in a motor, aVnidi-t clkc-is to take up their quarters at the Hot-i Cecil. SIR JOSEPH INTERVIEWED. When Sir Joseph Ward lan-Ced at Dover he was basiegc<l by pre's ie;»re vc-> anxious to have the opinion of the Prime Minister of that Dominion which rouse 1 such enthusiasm at Home by the splendid offer of tha Dreadnought. To the Standard correspondent Sir Joseph said:— "l should like to sa\ our offer was made because our people 'ware panicky ; not mode in a }in£roi=*:e spirit; if was nor , but it was mad 3 tosjuse we saw th.it alterations were going en in wmc cojn:rie, and we wero anxious to \ol tho conies.. tors of the Old Land see that the young coun \ tries wtM-e prepared to pla\ then- par.". '• New _ Ze-alar-d ri-ali^s fully that solidautv ' in thi.« qu'Siion oi o\er.«eas <!of"ncc 15 mot important, and it i- our opinion that prornptitu'!;- is desirable. A time a. ' psychological moment arri\o, in tlie . affairs of nations, as in rhe aftairs of men. when it is necessary that wr> «hould fhow ' va are prepared to act. and that was wnar governed our action. We table I our off-r at a time when Parliament wa^ not fitting - between two sessions, in fact. We din not consult the member?, an I it \\,i, fnv.l that they woukl pariiaj.s rofus 10 er.dor o our action, but a* s oon as Parliament mot our cou.'luct was approved and our oH'imconfirmed. Personally. I am \ery hopeful ' of good results from this <? -inference , an-,-1 I am quite convinced thai all oth r Briti-h States arc- a'lima-red by rh-~ fa'i,c spirit aNew Zealand in this ii>-ut?r "' I To ar.oth-oi eoi reapon-i-Mit Sir Joseph remarked that ho rogaidfd Hie ctiJp. - nco it.-?if a<; of sr au-r Imnor4or.ee fr >m tho '"■t-tidixMnt <_.f Knniiiie thaT eiilic*. of th-» two Irniier-al Confrrerces uiiich tli^ Pr2miors of tf"> o\f>rsea dominion^ li;i\e |ik'\iousiy attcn<! <1. "1 do not \\,-h to undervalue <?r to unvlerrar • the wo k of the Premiers' Conference. Tlieio \\ero :i . numbsi- of subjets dpalt uithy/at tie Id-t ( conference especially, but nol muoh of a practical nature t. as acln^v, .1. T'lls coi'fersnee, however, n or? to d?al with one , important subject only, and that one, in my opinion, itfunds out. so far a- the Empire is ccr.cerne-d, far beyond anvrhing t that can be treated academically. I con- • 6equen<tly both hope a.nd look for practical j results from th« conference." j