SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 79, 29 March 1912, Page 4

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

■ll i • . BIDS. FAREWELL TO PUBLIC SERVICE. COMPLIMENTARY REFERENCES. (Per Pr“>s« Assoclnt'oo >'ir Wellington, March 29. Sir Joseph Ward, the retiring Premier, met the heads of departments in the public service yesterday with a view to ‘bidding them farewell. The gathering was held in the Cabinet room, the apartment being crowded. Sir Joseph said it was painful to have to ( ',‘takc leave of the heads of departments with whom he had been, associated for so many years. With some 119 ■ had been associated very intimately. He felt the impending separation keenly. Ho wished to thank them’ for their valuable service rendered to,p-the country during the long term hov-had been a Minister of the Crown.- : ’ ■ Mr ,\V. C. Kensington, Under-Sec-retary Jfqr Lands, replied on behalf of the whole service. Brief "speeches were also delivered by the,- heads of those departments with, which Sir Joseph. Ward had been directly) associated. > The speakers, included Colonel Collins, Messrs ,T. Ronayne, D. Robertson,';A. Smith, G. Hogbeu, J. Salmond, and Dr Fitchett, all of whom testified’ l to the unfailing courtesy which marked Sir Joseph Ward’s relations ’with the officials of the public service.)(They expressed regret at his departure from' office. A number of speakers referred in commendatory terms to the Superannuation Act which the Government had givfen tiro public service and the important part played by Sir Joseph Ward in promoting the measure. In a speech Sir Joseph Ward spoke at some length, about tile different departments he had been connected with. He claimed a record of service as Postmaster-General, having held the portfolio since 1891. In an appreciative reference to the manner in ".which the postal officers carried out their duties he particularly mentioned Mr Robertson. After instancing the reforms that had been introduced, among them penny postage, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the Ministers’ b private secretaries, paying ried out their duties he particularly commending those who had been associated '.with himself. He complimented Colpnel Collins, Auditor-General, and the officers of the Treasury Department on the way the finances of the, u 9onntry had been controlled. Laudatory reference was also made to Mr Poynton, who had carried on with distinguished success the duties at.taclued''to .his position.' . The .hefids, of, various ether, departments wenF referred! to in a complimentary strain, : Sir Jbh&plT Ward informing those pre-' sent! that, ' naturally, parting from I the heads of departments whom he had known for many years was a mat--1 ter’of Aery' great regret:, 1 He tried in his jVJinister-ial capacity to help the. service, by providing better opportunities of advancement for the younger- members; and for the present he would say “Au Revoir” ,as,lie would, he present as a private member in the/House.

Cheers were given for Sir Joseph,. Ward ,'jiHd Lady Ward. He then left for the Vice-Regal re-sidence,--where he handed his resignation to The Governor, and recommended him; to send for Mr Mackenzie, who, later submitted for approval the names of his new colleagues and they were fotmally sworn in at Government House. 11 "' i r. . _ !vj