SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8171, 2 August 1906, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

INTERVIEWED AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Sir_ Joseph Ward, ll lC "Premierelect," arrived m l\ew Plymouth I'rom Auckland by the Rarawa on Wednesday mormim. He has just returned from a visit to Europe and America, during wkieli he represented this colony at the Postal Congress in Home, and had audiences with His Majesty the King and President .Roosevelt oil matters pertaining to Ike interests of the colony. He was accompanied by Lady Ward, Miss Ward, Mr Vincent Ward, Mr W. Gray (Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Dept, and who also attended the' Postal Congress), and Mr 13. M. Wilson (private secretary).

Despite the work he lias had to perform during his travels, and his hur. ried return, with the attendant close application to business in connection with the framing of the Financial Statement and a policy to be submitted to Parliament, Sir Joseph looks exceedingly well.

As soon as Sir Joseph emerged from his cabin, ho was met by a Daii.v News representative in search of "copy." Sir Joseph begged a brief respite in order that he mkdit start the day in good fettle, and hurried through a light repast before making his way to the wharf. The, harbourmaster anil several other ollicials joined in the welcome to Taranaki's shore?, and tiien the Ministerial car was brought alongside. Soon the travellers' baggage was safely stowed, the party took'their seals, and a start was made for town. The work of the day commenced, Sir Joseph consenting pleasantly to the request for in interview. TJIE POLITICAL SITUATIOX. "Now, then, where are wc?" he'exclaimed, us we settled down. Naturally enough, he expressed his pleasure at being back home once moro, and at the warmth of the reception accorded him at Auckland. Passing on almost immediately to speak of tho political situation, Sir Joseph remarked that he had nothing to add to what ho had stated up North, a report of which has already been published. The pqsition, he remarked, was somewhat unique, as the people of the colony, of course, knew. "Mr Seddon's sudden death, and my absence from the colony threw a very grave responsibility on the Hon. HallJones and my other colleagues, and I can only reaffirm my personal gratification at the way in which Mr HallJones and the other members of the Ministry have acted in the very dillicult and painful position. I was fully aware of the whole situation, and of everything that was done, right from the first, and I concurred in the 1 course followed. lam quite satisfied that the House was right in adjourning, qmto irrespective of the peculiar position that existed. The death of the Premier, and the necessity of a nav Government being formed would, under any circumstances, even had I been in the colony, justified a reasonable adjournment; and, on constitutional lines, it would have been unusual if such a course had received opposition from any quarter, and I think that in the situation that existed, the leader ot the Opposition and the members of his party followed the right course, and I personally appreciate what was done by Mr Massey and his party at tins grave juncture in the history of the public affairs of the colony." Sir Joseph added that he 1 was just as appreciative of the action of the members of the Government side ot the House.

"Cm you tell us anything of your plans for reconstructionr" asked the reporter,

Sir Joseph answered that of course a new Government must be formed, but as to the constitution of it he could say nothing just yet. He knew that there was considerable interest and anxiety m the minds of the people as to the composition of the new Administration, but the matter must of necessity stand over for a, few days. He could not, he said, be expected to give out details at the present moment', or at least until lie had had an opportunity of consulting his colleagues in Wellington. He quite realised that the position was n dillicult one, " but," he added, "I hope, with the recognition of the situatiou that .Mr Seddon's lamentable death has caused, that there will be that consideration extended to me by my colleagues as well as by the members of the House that will enable a strong Government to be formed " Sir Joseph absolutely declined to mention anything concerning the personnel ot the present Cabinet or as to his reconstruction scheme Aslied if he could hint at his intended policy, he said that would also have to be withheld for a few days until a new Government had been formed. "I can say. However, that there will bo no wild schemes, financial or otherwise, the large interests of the colony as a whole, and the integral portions ol the community, are too important to be trilled with. I must confess I was somewhat surprised to learn a suggestion of a huge borrowing scheme, and many other things that have been hinted at as the policy of the new Government. I take this opportunity of saying that these rumours are entirely groundless. I hope T shall bo iiblo to show a progressive policy, one adapted lo the requirements of (he colony without auy large borrowing policy at all." He added that though lie would be very glad lo give us the details, he must withhold them in the meantime for obvious reasons.

He was equally reticent when asked if the policy of the late Mr Seddon would be continued. " I'd rather keep ,011' that just yet," he said, "I don't want to say as much in set words," but his manner indicated that broadly he would follo.v in the steps of his'bile chief. The salient portions of the Financial Statement, he said, were already prepared, and he would have no dillicully in meeting the House and enunciating a policy on August 2Lsf next.

The coming session of .Parliament will, in Sir Joseph Ward's opinion, be •i l<ricf one. for tho reason that fie International inhibition opens at ('hi"s!ch>iivh on .Xovciubcr Ist. In this mailer Hie ivholc eclony is eoneerneil. Several members were interested more closely in making the E.vhiliition a success, and he thought the gocd sense of the members would enable Parliament to be prorogued so Hint these members could be present at Hie opening of the Exhibition, xo I'l.u'i; luck .vr.iy zisimsu. Turning from mailers of colonial polities, air .Joseph again expressed his pleasure at reluming to New Zealand. He had, in his travels, been in a great many countries, and met many of Ihe leading people and moulders of public opinion in all purls of the world, and and found on nil sides the keenest inlerest was evinced in Xow Zealand and lis legislation. "In America, i think I am right in saying that every leader of public opinion in the Press and Congress is enquiring closely inlo wlial has been going on here for the past 1.3 years. To give some idea, a writer to Ihe Auckland "Herald," reporting on ■Sir .Joseph's visit io Xew York, slated I hat Ihe reports ol'bis speeches would be read by over lil'ly millions of people. Sir Joseph is an ardent lover of ,\ew Zealand. During the whole of his travels, he says, he has seen no country that can equal our own colony for attractiveness, both in climale anil surroundings, .lie emphasised the fad I that he was not saying I his for (he

sake of saying it or lor the mere purpose of making complimentary allusions to New Zealand, but this wis the expressed opinion of most Now Zen landers who have travelled Jle had not met a single New Zeahmdir abroad who had not expressed the desire to return to this favored colony if circumstances would permit. There was a eharaderistic charm about our island home that compensated largely for our hict of that side of the Did World thai age had given t) it-a ■veahh of historic piles, monuments and records; nor could we expect in the miutor of arts anil sciences to be iu the same rank as the Old 'World, Zo and

substitutes (lint made up lor what, was admittedly a great advantage to the peoples of older lands. I.UI'KKSSIO.WS Of AMEHTCA. " Aad eau you give our readers your impressions of America?" was the next request. "America," replied Sir Joseph, "is wonderfully prosperous. But out of its prosperity a most undesirable sytlem of combines his arisen, that is practically eating the heart out of the country and doing an immense amount of harm." The United States' President had been grappling with this huge octopus for some time, and from statements made there seemed to be a general movement tonur.'s breaking down the system ruining many individuals in that great country'. This also applied with especial force lo the agitation concerning the great carrying concerns, railways, parcels post, and other services which are termed in this country the public utility services. There was now being exerted a strong outward pressure in the direction of preventing abuses in the shape of special concessions and rebates now given to large users of the railways Quite recently one of the controllers of the railways was sent to gaol by one of the judges for allowing these practices to be secretly carried out. Sir Joseph said he had made special enquiries into the Chicago meat scandals. The representatives of packing houses de- . clnred that . tho reports had been greatly exaggerated, but it was , beyond question amongst the Americans themselves that abuses to an. inordinate extent have arisen, and , they are battling to try and improve ', the position. The fear "of the people as to what thoy were eating from tins . had spread to England, and affected . IS'cw Zealand goods. These, however stood so well with the British consumer that m a few months the prejudice would have been overcome.

| "To give you some idea of Chicago, I may mention that we motored over 115 miles of its streets, travelling fur six hours without covering the same ground twice." This said Sir Joseph, included the parks, which were nugninificently laid out. Though Chicago streets were reported to be dirty, ho had not found them so—it was a wonderful place. On the Twentieth Cen, tury railway tho parly had travelled '!)C0 miles, between Harnsburg and Chicago, in lfl hours, the extraordinary speed of <J3 miles an hour being reached at some stages of the journey. TH"? POSTAL C'OXOItESS, The Minister considered the Postal Congress at Rome had done splendid work. One of the principal . objects gained was the increase of letter weight from a half-ounce lo an ounce, this applying to all countries that had adopted the universal penny postage. Several of the improvements arranged would come into force in various countries right away.' He mentioned the extreme dillieulty he had expern need iu obtaining a separate vote for New Zealand at the Congress. "I had to do a tremendous amount of personal representation, or 'lobbying,' as we cab it here," said Sir Joseph, with a smile. At this stage, the train drew up at the New Plymouth railway station, and having "finished us off," as he termed it, Sir Joseph was greeted by many ot his personal and political friends. Amongst those on the platform were Mr E. M. Smith, M.HR. for Taranaki and Mrs Smith ; Mr w' T. Jennings, M.11.R. for Egmont • Mr E. Dockrill, Mayor of New' Plymouth; Mr F. D. Holdsworth, Chief Post! master, New Plymouth ; Mr F. Simpson, Commissioner of Crown Lands • Messrs 0. Samuel, J. C. George, V A. Collis. It. Rowan, S. Hill, and several others.

A cordial welcome was extended to he returned voyageurs, a„d i ] lc ]larty lett by the express (rain for Wellin"ton.