PREMIER BANQUETED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 67, 14 March 1912, Page 5

PREMIER BANQUETED.

STRIKING DEMONSTRATION OF / ENTHUSIASM. PRESENTATION OF JEWELLERY. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, March 13. The Premier and Lady Ward were the guests of the Auckland branch of the Liberal and Labour League tonight. There was a very large gathering, including Messrs. Beehan and Jones and Sir Maurice O’Rorke, M.L.O.’s, Messrs. Myers and Glover, M.P.’s, Hon Fowlds and Beddoe (Canadian Trade Commissioner). Sir Joseph Ward was presented with a gold modal, and Lady and Miss "Ward each received gold brooches. Lady Ward was also presented, on behalf of Mr. Neilson, with a greenstone and gold sword. A great demonstration of followed. Sir Joseph Ward delivered' a long and vigorous ■speech in defence of tne Administratipn and himself. He referred to th» coming meeting in Wellington, and said he hoped the rank and file of the party would be unanimous in selecting a new leader and colleagues for him. The proceedings continued till a very late hour. A TRIUMVARAL TRIBUTE. Auckland, March 14. Speaking at the opening of the new Kingsland Post Office, Messrs. Bradney and Harris, Oppositionist and Independent M.P.’s., paid glowing tributes to Sir Joseph Ward's ability and administration as Postmaster-General. They declared that Sir Joseph was the ablest Postmaster-General in Australasia and one of the ablest in the whole world. He had given New Zealand the best postal service extant. Mr Payne, the latest Government convert, expressed similar sentiments.