A FREE MAN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3419, 25 February 1920, Page 7

A FREE MAN.

SIR .lOSI£PH ‘WARD AT INVERCARGILL. ..————.—- ,0’ li\'\'ERC.\RGILL, Feb. 23. 5 Sir Joseph and Lady Ward arri‘.'e,d by the through expre.<s to-ni:.;ht, and were met at the station by a M large gathering. Responding to the Mayor's‘ welcome, Sir Joseph remarked that it . was the first time for 33 years» that he i had come to Invercargill in a priva‘te capacity, but he came just as happily in that capacity and on the following; night he would speak -at Winton, i where he intended to deal with some ' incidents that led to his defeat at last election. It was due to‘“~hinlself not; to let any one believe that the acc_n.lsations put on ‘fact were other than: the work of those who considered: that. the end justified the means, He M was never a revengeful man. An-f ther feeling at that moment was that j of a young man breasting the winning 5 tape who did his best to finish first but was prepared towish the other fella-._'.rT the best of luck. He did not iviimli figlrting or I'e\Tl‘ses, but he did object to hitting below the belt. He would: pro.’babl,v have to leave the country for a short tiine, he continued, and later: he would have to absent himself ;for' a longer period, but he was! not going; to leave New Zenland. He was pleas-E ed at being a. free man. He would; assure them that he was going to lief much more influential out of Parlia-i ment than he was in it, even as Prime I Minister. » ‘-