SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 77, 5 August 1913, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

WARM WELCOME HOME. [Per Press -Association.] Wellington, August 4. Sir Joseph Ward' was heartily welcomed on his arrival by train from Auckland to-day, accompanied by a number of Parliamentarians and a-iends who had gone up to meet him at Pidmerston. There was a largo crowd of people at the railway station, comprising several hundred men and nomep, alsfo a number, of representative Maori". »,;After a haka and cheering, Mr J. Reid chairman of the-Reception Com,-. hurte. welcomed Sir • Joseph on behalf ofj thv citizen:,, : sayinp that they iveic all Waa to see tho'Libtral le.td'-;'. jack, j ijir' sty,tesu;anhk' ujUaJicies-weiC'.never inor.' needed than now. I i> : * y™ ; -;< W ■ ; c,i .*' : ,/''/,■; Sir Wardj in-reply,''thank--3d the gatr^ing'heartily for' come given to him. He had enjoyed a fine holiday, and had returned in the best.of health to lake up his part in Parliament, where he would give his best services in the interest jf New Zealand. Further cheers were givui and;.the crowd sang 'Tcr lift's, a. Jolly Good fellow." - J After 1 much handshaking with friends and admire: 3, Sir Joseph Ward drove to the Royal Oak Hotel, tie tovnd a party awaiting him there, and several complimentary speeches ivere made.

, 4 SPEECH IN. THE T< > vVN HALL. In the evening tho waterside workers' band escorted-Sir Joseph Ward to the Town Hall,-where the citizens' reception took place. There was a vast crowd outside, and the people streamed into the hall till it was packed. There was a scene of great enthusiasm when Sir Joseph Ward walked upon the platform, the audience cheering for several-minutes. Mr J. P. Luke, the Mayor, welcomed Sir Joseph Ward home on be--half of the city. They were there to sink all differences and welcome Sir Joseph Ward because of himself, his family and his great work for the Dominion, because they felt that he had been a factor in the prosperity of the country. Everyone knew of his career as a statesman and that his Imperialism had made New Zealand take a foremost position among the Dominions of the Empire. They had had that demonstrated in the Dreadnought gift, which was an unbreakable bond between the Dominion and the Motherland.

Sir Joseph was received with prolonged cheering on rising to speak, After returning thanks for the splendij reception, he said that at present there was great prosperity in Britain, and trade was more prosperous than during recent years. They wui* looking at Home for a more perfect system for the interchange of trade and closer union with the Dominions. He found that the conditions of life in New Zealand were very much better than those at Home. It was essential for men of every shade of politics here to make up their minds that in the future in New Zealand they would have a national pride in preventing tiie existence or a continuance of anything in the shape oy slums or anything detrimental to. the lull rights of the people. He found that many men Sieved, and ho believed himself, that the future destiny of the Empin would be dependent on some re-adjnstmont of the Imperial Parliamentary machinery, so that matters of liniiorial concern might be ho-

parnhed from those bearing on tho daily requirements of the peoplo in the British fslus. He hnrl come bac l : with the fii'Tiv^belief thai there were two or three things they should all agree upon. In the iirst place there was the important question of naval defence, which should be removed from party conflict. They ought to be able to rise above party and agree u.t>" T ? i

coraruonsenso and effective system. It would be a great mistake to mako the question a political football, to b« kicked about on every occasion. It would be just as great a mistake to snake the nuance of tho country a party question. There might hare been stringency in the money market, but there was every indication that th.' market would be easier- It trai a mistake to think that there was not a, surplus of money at Home available for investment. He did noi, however, mean that legislators should taka advantage of this surplus once or twice in a year, but always remember that it was there, and with that confidence in tho resources of ihe country that was necessary, it could ho made use of to help on the further progress of this Dominion. He though* they could soon rely on getting orer what had been temporary inconvenience. -