LADY WARD.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 November 1918, Page 5

LADY WARD.

| HER NATIONALITY QUESTIONED. ( WELLINGTON, Nov 28. | In the House of Representatives this evening, when speaking on the War Legislation Bill, Mr John Payne proceeded to correct certain rumours concerning the nationality of Lady j Ward, but was immediately stopped ! by the Speaker, j At the close of his speech, Sir Jo- | seph Ward rose, and, speaking with j evident feeling, said he never ques- | tioned the nationality of anyone during the course of the war, but since j reference had been made to one near and dear to him, he felt bound to make the position clear. Ho was well aware of of rumours going round about his wife’s nationality, b'ut neither he nor his wife troubled about them, because they had In their possession clear proof of Lady Ward’s father’s nationality. He was not a German, and no member of his family was a German. This, he (Sir Joseph Ward) had known all his life. Lady i Ward’s father was a Belgian, and all his family had been Belgians, born at Bruges, and anyone who cared to do so could come to his office, where he had certified proof of his wife’s father’s nationality. Lady Ward had never mixed up in politics, but she had been a good wife and mother, and if his family affairs conflicted with his official position, then he would do what any ether bonoura.bJne man would do—give up his official position and stand by his wife and family. (Applause.)