ROMANTIC RISE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1018, 8 July 1930, Page 14

ROMANTIC RISE

Messenger to Prime Minister CAREER OF ROMANCE Started Business at Age of 21 F' romance can be read from the pages of New Zealand’s political history it is surely to be found in the life story of Sir Joseph Ward. There is romance in his rapid rise from telegraph messenger to Postmaster-General; romance in his struggle against business adversities that forced him to retire from the Ministry only to win his way back not only to Cabinet rank, but also to the Premiership of the colony; and romance there surely was when the former messenger boy, at the age of 72, and only just recovered from a long and serious illness, swept the country at the head of a new party to occupy once again, until shortly before his death, the proud position of Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Spectacular and dramatic episodes colour the story. The sensational gift of a battle-cruiser to the Mother Coup try during the German scare of 1909. the saving of the Bank of New Zealand, and the famous Battle of Tauranga, are only a few of the high lights In the story of one of the most brilliant political careers in the history of New Zealand. . It is. perhaps, a matter for regret that New Zealand cannot claim Sir Joseph Ward as a native-born. He was a Victorian, being born at Emerald Hill. Melbourne, in 1856. At an early age. however, he came with his parents to reside in Southland, and, at the age of 13 years, young Joseph Ward, spick and span in his messenger’* uniform, was carrying telegrams about the streets of Invercargill and Bluff. POLITICAL APPRENTICESHIP During his first three years in the House, the young Southern Liberal quickly came into prominence, and Mr. Ballance marked him down as a coming man. He had obtained a reputation for marked ability as a speaker, debater and political thinker, and his experience of public affairs was well known. His handling of the

subject of ocean mails and the gen eral knowledge he exhibited In regard to postal and railway affairs had also attracted considerable attention. In tin first announcement of the Ballance Cabinet the name of Joseph Ward, extelegraph messenger, appeared as Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Electric Telegraphs. As Postmaster-General, Sir Joseph Ward made his name famous in many parts of the world, the greatness of his influence being recorded in the reports of many International postal conferences of the world. The cheapening of the telegraph service owes much to his initiative and the penny postage in New Zealand is another monument to a great Postmaster-Gen-eral. During the session of 1596 misfortune In his business affairs caused Sir J seph’s retirement from Parliament. The following year he placed his resignation in the hands of bis constituents, who, however, immediately reelecti him. Devoting his energies and resource;; to his own affairs, he was quickly r • of his troubles, and the General Election of 1599 saw him again in the House as representative for Awarua. Returning to the Cabinet Sir Joseph took office as Postmaster-General and

Commissioner of Telegraphs, and Minister of Electric Telegraphs. Also he took up again the portfolio of Industries and Commerce. On his return to public life he was welcomed on all sides, further testimony of the value of his services to the country being the knighthood conferred upon him among the New Year Honours of 1901. His investiture took place during the visit of King George—then the Duke of York—on June 18, 1901. at Government House, Wellington. In the meantime Sir Joseph had also become Minister of Railways. From this point onward until the death of Mr. Seddon in 1906 he was the acknowledged second-in-command of the Liberal Forces. In 1902, Mr. Seddon being in England to attend the Coronation of King Edward VII., Sir Joseph Ward became Acting-Premier, and as such again took over the burden of the treasurership and other responsibilities of the absent Premier. Upon the death of Mr. Seddon Sir Joseph Ward became Premier, and his six years of office from 1906 were marked by several very notable events in the field of Imperial affairs. While at the' Imperial Conference of 1907 lie received a confidential assurance that, as soon as the New Zealand Parliament expressed a wish to that effect, the King would issue a proclamation changing the title of New Zealand from “Colony” to “Dominion.” THE BATTLESHIP GIFT. Probably one of the most dramatic episodes in his career and one that again emphasises the strong imperialistic note always stressed in life by the dead statesman was his gift to the Mother Country of a battlecruiser. With the Grand Fleet during the war H.M.S. New Zealand did excellent service and this largely compensated for the fact that the vessel had to be scrapped before the scheme arranged for paying for her had worked clear. Following the gift of the battlecruiser came the bestowal of a baronetcy by the King on Sir Joseph Ward. The honour was offered at the King’s own suggestion and it came to Sir Joseph Ward in London in 1911, the year of the Imperial Conference. BITTERNESS OF DEFEAT Not possessing a workable majority, he resigned March 12, 1912, in favour of his colleague, Sir Thomas Mackenzie. A little over three months later Sir Thomas was obliged to follow suit, and the Reform Party, under the leadership of Mr. Massey, came into office, a tenure that was to last for the next 16 years. August 1915 saw Sir Joseph back in

the Cabinet. The war had already been in progress for a year when it was decided, for the better prosecution of war activities, that a coalition Min istry was desirable. With Mr. Massey as Prime Minister the Liberal leader took the portfolios of Finance and Poßt-master-General. This Ministry held office until August 21, 1919, when it was broken up by the withdrawal cf Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues of the Liberal Party. During the war period Sir Joseph had visited Britain more than once for war conferences

and attended tlie Peace Conference in Paris. The sequel to Sir Joseph Ward’s retirement from the Coalition came in his defeat at Awarua in December 1919. when he was defeated by Mr. J. Hamilton by 3.146 votes to 2,407.

After having represented the constituency continously since 1887 the defeat came as a bitter blow to Sir Joseph who then retired into private life until 1923 when he emerged to contest the now famous Tauranga by election, which he lost.

In the next two years Sir Joseph suffered much ill-health but made a good recovery. At the election of 1925 he staged his come-back into politics by winning the Invercargill seat against a strong Reform candidate in Mr. J. Hargest, the voting

The most impressive proof of Sir Joseph’s extraordinary strength of will was demonstrated during the past year. Although harried and handicapped by severe illness, he secured the greatest personal triumph of any statesman in New Zealand’s history. He came back.

In the midst of his severe illness he was stimulated by the King’s conferment of another honour at the beginning of the year, when he was made a Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George. Everybody

being 4,957 to 4,798. He chose not to rejoin the ranks of his old party, which, under the leadership of Mr Forbes, now assumed the name of the "National Party.” Instead, Sir Joseph formed himself into what he termed a Liberal Party of one, about which he was wont to make pleasantries, reminding the House that he was his own whip and could, hold a caucus anywhere at a moment's notice. It was during this period that Sir Joseph suffered a great loss in the death of his wife who had shared with him the joys and sorrows of a long and arduous life. THE LAST CHAPTER

The remainder of the story Is quickly told. On September 17, 1928, the United Party met at Wellington and chose Sir Joseph Ward as its leader. Although then in his 72nd year the veteran statesman entered upon a strenuous campaign with an energy that belied his years. From young manhood and almost to the day of his death, Sir Joseph Ward had not spared himself in the execution of his public duties. From an immense store of energy, mental and physical, he gave freely in the service of his country, and it was indeed characteristic of the man that even in his 73rd year he should have assumed burdens that, near the journey’s end, many much younger men would gladly have laid aside. LAST MESSAGE TO COUNTRY

The strain of office during the reign of the United Government was too much, eventually, for even Sir Joseph’s tenacious spirit. He retired to Rotorua for treatment, and persistent rumours that ho was about to resign were denied. Finally, however, it became plain that the aged leader could retain office no longer. His colleagues of the Cabinet were called to Rotorua on May 15 last, and that day the word went out that, acting on the advice of his medical advisers. Sir Joseph had decided to resign.

has regretted that his indisposition compelled his resignation from the Prime Ministership and left him bereft of that triumph which every man desires—the victory of dying in the flush of activity. Although he resigned the Prime Ministership the very influence of the

man and his ability as a financier were such as to have him retained in the Forbes Ministry, so that, al though not holding a portfolio, his mature and sage advice might be available for an immature administration.

Sir Joseph is survived by a family of four sons and one daughter—Mr Cyril Ward, of Merivale Lane. Christchurch. who succeeds to the title; Mr Vincent Ward, of Wellington: Mr Gladstone Ward, of Christchurch: Mr. Patrick Ward, of Wellington: and Mrs. Bernard Wood, of Christchurch.