TWO YEARS PREMIER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 197, 10 August 1908, Page 4

TWO YEARS PREMIER.

SIR JOSKPII WAIID'S AXXJVKIiSAUY. SOJIK PKKSOXAL SIDKUCiiITS. Sir Joseph Ward celebrated the second anniversary of his premiership last Jhursday. ami received many eougratJila lory reminders of the occasion. ''J'wo years' work in the most responsible ollice the country has to give have not Icli a mark upon the Premier. He is in the best of health, he informed a "-New Zealand Times'' reporter, who took advantage of the occasion to put. some ipiestions about the ell'ect of a Premiership upon the hcallh of the holder of that position. EKi'HTKKX IIOfHS A DAY.

"A lot oI water has run-under the bridge during the two years,'' said Sir Joseph, reininisccntly. "1 suppose I have worked, on ail average, about eighteen hours a day regularly." Do you confess to a seven-day week? "No. I take it easy on Sunday," answered the Premier. "Only in eases of grave urgency would | work on Sunday. It is my 'day oil',' my day of rest; >io business, ami no secretaries. 1 believe ill recognising Ihe good old institution

the Sabbath, and 1 carry this out both for myself and for others wherever it is possible to do so." One of the remarkable things about the Premier's ollice, possibly the busiest ollice in Ihe Dominion, is tile absolute lack nf anything to suggest the enormous volume of -business transacted there daily, exc«|»t, perhaps, when letters for signature are piled on the table l>y When deputation intei'views the Premier, he puts a- clean piece of paper ou a. clear blotting-pad, and applies unreservedly to the business ''l believe in method; it helps us to get through the work," answered Sir Joseph, when he wns asked how he managed to keep the rush of deputations, correspondence, and administrative business Iroiu overwhelming liini. "X o doubt the position Joes spell 'hard work and responsibility' all the t.iirtc, hut one gels a great deal of valuable assistance which makes the burden easier, and there are many eiimurai.'ing signs from tlie country of the people's appreciation j of the Ooreriiincut's ell'orls."