PASSING OF GREAT LIBERAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1018, 8 July 1930, Page 1

PASSING OF GREAT LIBERAL

Statesman and Brilliant Leader death early this morning To Be Buried at Bluff

Special to THE SUN

WELLINGTON, Today. rE death occurred at 3 a.m. today of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Bt., P.C., K.C.M.G., LL.D., ex-Prime Minister of New Zealand, at the age of 74 years, bringing' to a close a political career in the service of New Zealand extending over 43 years. Because of ill-health, he resigned the Prime Ministership on May 15 last, while at Rotorua, and came to ‘W ellington. There were varying reports about his condition; but it was plain that he was becoming weaker, and his long and courageous battle against illness is ended at last.

Flags drooping at half-mast in the mists of a beautiful winter morning notified Wellington today that the late Prime Minister had died. At 3 o'clock this morning about Parliament Buildings there was a hush, and tributes to a faithful public servant of the Dominion for the past 50 years were general. Sir Joseph’s end was tranquil, for during the night there were no untoward signs that the close of his distinguished life was near. Those of the family who were in Wellington at the time were Mrs. B. B. Wood, his daughter, and Mr. Wood, Mr. Vincent Ward and Mrs. Ward, and Mr, Pat Ward. Sir Cyril Ward and Mr. Gladstone Ward are expected to arrive from Christchurch tomorrow morning. Throughout the morning messages at sympathy from all parts of New Zealand arrived, both at 47 Molesworth Street, the Ministerial residence where Sir Joseph died, and at Parliament Buildings. The House will meet at 2.30 p.m. today, and after paying tribute to the memory of the late leader will adjourn probably till Tuesday next. BURIAL ON SUNDAY

in its editorial columns, writes a glowing tribute to Sir Joseph Ward. “What he meant to Southland can be written only in one word —everything/* says v he writer. Extracts from the Southland “Daily News” leading article are reprinted below:

What Sir Joseph Ward meant to New Zealand and the Empire was demonstrated by the glowing tributes from the Press of both countries when he resigned the Prime Ministership; what he meant to Southland can b« written only in one word—everything. His solicitude is stamped on every acre in the district, and affection for him is cherished in every heart, for he preserved a becoming humility in his greatness Awarua gave him his opportunity at the age of just pver thirty and for nearly forty years his sapience and his vision were exercised in the cause of his country. He conferred on the people imperishable legislative blessings and wrote his way to fame in our Statute Book. Work was to him a religion, and his energy was remarkable. He was generally regarded as the greatest statesman New Zealand ever possessed, and was freely conceded a place among the Imperial statesmen of the century. In the most distinguished company he was a conspicuous figure, and always the gentieman predominated. . . . He first of all in the Empire was impressed with the value of superannuation, and tens of thousands in the Dominion today have reason to express a sense of gratitude for the different outlook on life they enjoy when they reach a retiring age. . . . The late statesman was big in every way—he was largeminded, large-hearted and ventured into enterprises that would have appalled most prominent men of business. . . . Men like Sir Joseph Ward are men of a century, not of a generation, and the loss New Zealand suffers by his death is incalculable, however every class may have benefited from his forty years of unremitting endeavour.

The burial will take place on Sunday, and Sir Joseph Ward will be laid to rest beside the late Lady Ward in the Bluff Cemetery. Although the family of the late Sir Joaeph would have preferred a quiet funeral, with the casket leaving Wellington for the South tomorrow evening, the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, informed the Press today that the Government, realising that the public would desire to have a fuller opportunity of paying respect to the dead statesman, had expressed a wish to have the arrangements made - the Government, and Sir Joseph’s datives had agreed. First of all. at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, there will be Requiem Mass at the Wellington Basilica, and the nody will lie in state there until 4 om. on Thursday, when there will a funeral procession from the uurch by a route to be arranged through the city. The casket will be taken to the southern ferry steamer at the wharf. he body -will be borne to Christ|murch, and will be taken on the 8.35 express direct to Invercargill, w here it will arrive at 9 p.m. The tusket will be borne from the train o the Invercargill Basilica and will He there until the service at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The funeral procession will leave 'he Basilica and go by road to the ulufl Cemetery.

MINISTERS as pallbearers The Prime Minister and colleagues of the Cabinet will be the pallhWrers, both from the Invercargill “Ssllica and to the graveside at oluff.

Wellington was a sad city today, hespite the fact that the Treutham jecea were starting, and flags were “f‘hg on the staffs all over the city. ■J* Public offices were closed today * 6l>t railways and telegraph offlces, because of Sir Joseph Ward’s heath. There was no Ministerial Party present at the Trentham races, th raaßements * or t** e funeral are in he hands of the Prime Minister’s and the Department of hternal Affairs. The funeral armade will give members 1 the House and the Legislative uuncil an opportunity of attending : 6 burial and arriving back in Well*l° n °n Tuesday morning. , r “ e official party, which will be »ud representative, will leave h Friday evening and go straight “rough to Invercargill on Saturday. k w ' 1 able to return to Christ- . urc “ on Sunday, and leave LyttelUun Monday evening. Details of the funeral procession arrangements for Thursday in Well“gton are expected to be announced tomorrow.

tom° eMn Pon tifieal Mass will be sung ,i n bJ TOW morning at the Basilica by archbishop O'Shea. The deacon will "o bather Dowling, S.M., and the subac 0U Father Kelly. Archbishop Redthrn assist in the mass from his F»o. ne ’ aa< * be will also he assisted by atuar McCarthy. S.M.. and Father Connolly, s.M