RETURN OF THE PREMIER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 58, 28 August 1911, Page 3

RETURN OF THE PREMIER.

-, SIR JOSEPH VERY ANGRY WITH OR IT ITS. t SOME ('AXAUDS CONTRADICTED. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, and his colleague, Sir John Findlay, and Lady Findlay, returned to New Zealand on Friday "night on the New Zealand Shipping Company's Ruapehu, which reached Wellington at 10 o'clock. They received a very hearty and enthusiastic welcome from friends who travelled out on the Government steamer Hinemoa to meet them, and the event was made all the more interesting, says the New Zealand Times, by the fighting speeches made by the Dominion's returning Imperial delegates. ' A FIGHTING SPEECH.

i Sir Joseph Ward said lie and his party were proud to receive so warm a welcome on their return. It was a source of great satisfaction to he once more in touch with New Zealand. He had noticed what had gone on in his absence. Sonic people had declared that he was not coming back again. Apparently there were people in New Zealand who did not want him hack, and he noted that there had been a flutter in the dovecote over which Sir James Carroll presided concerning some things which had happened in London. He would have an opportunity of saying what he had to say in that place, and he would only Temark at that point that if some people tried to put their foot on his throat, he was going to use that throat to justify everything he had done. It lad all been in the interests of the people of this beautiful land to which he had returned, and without egotism he could claim that the people of the Old Land were of that opinion also. "We are not the judges of our own actions," said Sir Joseph. "Tliat must be for the people of New Zealand, who are keen in their judgment, and quite capable of i"'lging the actions of their public men. V'e are prepared to trust the people— V -iiid appliiuse)— and I am not in the slightest desree perturbed by some of the small tilings I have noticed done that are not particularly creditable, done as they have been done in our absence." THE "ESTATE" RUMOR. The thing which troubled him "Was that these people were manufacturing what he could only term by a small word of four letters, manufacturing false statements, one of which was that he had purchased an "estate in Essex. He would reply that he was never in Essex on this journey, that he had not purchased an estate there, and that he had never negotiated for an estate outside New Zealand since he had been in the Ministry. (Applause.) It seemed that some of them must wish him out of the Ministry, but if they found it necessary to manufacture such tittletattle to secure the position they coveted, there would not be much to glory in it if they got it. (Hear, hear.) These extraordinary, malicious, and vicious stories which were circulated, reflected violently on the people who circulated them. It was extraordinary that when men went away officially to do their best in the interests of their country, icople should manufacture such falsehoods with the idea of helping themselves to office. Personally he would sooner never be in office than take such a course. (Hear, hear.) AN UNSOLICITED HONOR.

He wished to mention another extraordinary statement, which was that he had to set aside £30,000 for his eldest son upon taking the title. This -title was conferred upon him without asking, and without any recommendation through the ordinary channels. It ought to be regarded not merely as a personal honor, but as an honor co»ferred upon the country. The audience interrupted for several minutes with a big burst of applause, followed by the singing of "For lie's a jolly good fellow." When Sir Joseph proceeded, with an encouraging remark from an auditor: "That's what we think." he thanked his hearers for the enthusiastic way in which they had greeted those sentiments. He felt it necessary to say that he was very proud of the honor, that he did not seek it. and that it came unsolicited. He eared not a snap of the fingers for what his opponents would say, but for the information of his friends he would mention that instead of £30.000, the honor had cost him I less than £IOO.

THE HIGH COMMT'SSIONERSHTP. It -had been stated that lie intended to take the High Oommissionership, and he had denied it In-fore leaving for Kngknd. Xcither before the general election would lit- make any arrangement that, would l-'-qniri- him to accept the position nor after the election. (Applause.) If he had wanted the position he could have had it long ago. Xot only did he not want it. hut he would not take it. and later on he and his colleagues would decide who was to fill the post. It would not he himself. Evidently his opponents had a strong desire to see him happily placed twelve or thirteen, thousand miles away from Xew Zealand. He had accepted no position which would take him out of New Zealand. (Applause.) He desired to say one word on behalf of Sir John Findlay and the criticism concerning the honor'which had been conferred upon him. The people who made those statements appeared to have forgotten the persons with whom they had been associated for the best part of a lifetime—Sir Frederick Whita-1 ker, Sir William Russell and Sir Henry Miller, who were closely associated with them in the Legislative' Council, and who had bad distinctions conferred upon them for the work they had done in that capacity. Did they realise that in attempting to asperse Sir John Findlay they were aspersing the men they j had been following as leaders not so I long ago? THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

The same critics linil connected the name oE tlie Chief Justice with the High Commissionership, lint Sir Kohcrt Stout had never given any hint that lie was desirous of filling the position, and his name had never been nientioiied in connection with it. The rnniov had lieen circulated so that it could he said Sir John Findlay was to succeed to the Chief Justiceship. Nothing of the kind was thought of. Neither gentleman would be High Commissioner. He noticed that his opponents had been twitting the Minister who had been the leader of the Legislative Council that he was not a representative of the people. "The people will have their opportunity at this general election," declared Sir Joseph, amid great applause. "Sir John Findlay will contest a seat for the House of Representatives at the forthcoming election, and T believe he will win. (Ixnul applause.) Then he will he on the same plane as some of the men whs are criticising him, and will be able to hold his own with any of them. (Hear, hear.) So I clear the atmosphere in the presence of this large gathering, and let our critics realise thwt some of the castles in the air they have built and put me in are coming to earth with them." (Hear, hear.) "His colleagues and himself would carry on the affairs of the country honorably, and to the utmost of their ability. They would fight the general elections fairly, and he believed the bulk of the people would recognise

the good work that had been done by his party in the past in the teeth of many hard things which had been said against them. The majority of the people recognised that the Government had had a sincere desire to promote the well-being of everyone." (Applause.)

/ Sir Joseph concluded with an acknowledgment of the good work of his colleagues during his absence, and said lie was glad and proud to be back in dear old New Zealand.

"Home, Sweet Home," sang the welcoming party when the applause died away after Sir Joseph's speech.

A COMPLIMENTARY BAXQCET,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.

Sir Joseph, Ward, Bart., and Sir John Findlay were tendered a complimentary 'banquet last night by the citizens of Wellington to welcome them back home. The members of the Ministry were present, also Sir Arthur Guinness and .Ma-jor-General Godlev. The Mayor, Mr. T. M.Wilford, presided.

I In responding to the toast of "The Returning Guests," Sir Joseph Ward, who was enthusiastically received, said their first duty at Home had been to carry out.the duties imposed upon them, and no greater work had ever been accom-. plished than that at the Imperial Conference. He could not go as fully into what hud been done as he would like, but next week resolutions would be submitted to the representatives of the people, and he would deal fully with the whole of them. Everything that was proposed at the Conference was subject to ratification by the people of the country before being finally passed. The Imperial Council resolution ! moved by him was opposed by all the other Premiers. But for the discussion on that resolution they would not have been taken into partnership. Twothirds of the resolutions submitted by New Zealand had been carried. They would And, in due course, that very valuable work had been done. A system of defence was necessary in order toi make the Empire so impregnable that others would find that we were masters, and the peace of the world would be assured. Who was to say what would, be the outcome of a great combination against England? Could we be handed over to a foreign Power without having a say in the matter? The development which had taken place in the past ten years had quite altered ,the whole aspect of the affairs of the Empire. There had' been enormous changes in the east and west in the navies and armies, and England could not iffford to take any chances. He had urged upon the people of the Old Country the absolute ne-" cessity for representation in the Eng' lish Parliament, This had been recognised by men of all parties. That each: of the outside countries should be remesented in the English Parliament had been recognised by Irish Welsh and Scotch. Then why should a free country like New Zealand not have representation? He did not think his proposal would be carried, but he wanted it put on record. With regard to the defence of the Empire, he said if England went to war New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the others must go too. It was useless to say one part of the Empire could be at war without the, pth 2r parts joining in. -.. -.—, ...

We wanted a navy in New Zealand, with dockyards. He was sure that this generation and future generations would want to do a fair thing for the Empire, and this could not be done without fair representation at Home. Dr. Findlay had been recognised as being right in the forefront. In connection with the Declaration of London, members of fchs Conference were unanimously of opinion that the Declaration should be confirmed. He noticed a great gulf between rich and poor at Home. He was setting his heart on closing the gulf between the two classes. He had left the Old Country feeling that we were more closely related now than ever before.

Sir John Pindlay said that one of the things at Home' that impressed him more than any others' was the general exodus of the people. Mr. John Burns !ind stated that 54,000 people had either left or would be leaving during this year and the next two years, Scotland was Weeding to death.' Twenty thousand would leave this year. There were I!\e thousand more people leaving annually than were born. He mentioned Hie great increase in German population of recent years, and laid stress on the (act that they had to go somewhere, and must eventually come into contact with England. Germany had eighteen millions engaged on the'land. England had 080,000. The solution of England's internal difficulties lay in the land question, and nothing could be done until local autonomy was granted to Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Then the time would come for the true Imperial spirit.

SIR JOHN .FINDLAY. WILL APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE. Sir John Findlay, who was very warmly received, began by remarking that the smile of welcome which had wreathed Kir James Carroll's face was in itself sufficient to dissolve any feeling he might have had respecting the criticism which had been referred to. A more welcome, genial, kindly face had never beamed upon him. "\fy leader has intimated to you," lie went on to say, "that I intend to make an important departure in my public life, and I take this first opportunity to say that the position I now hold I obtained without solicitation, but for such merit as I possessed. I have been told that I do not possess the confidence of the people of this country. I do not wish to be in public life one hour longer than the people desire me to be. We who are in public life have motives just as high and pure as those claimed for themselves by our critics. We are told that we get a great deal out of office, but my reply to that is that we get less than our critics would get. We Lave the good of the country at heart, and we do not desire to remain in public life an hour longer than the people want us to be there. (Applause.) So, at the next election. I shall go back to private life, or I shall take my place alongside my leader in the Lower House. (Applause.) If lam wanted there I shall go; if not, I shall cheerfully return to the profession I left live year ago. (Renewed applause.) ft is" very good of you to come out here to meet us tonight. I feel that in the reception you have given us we have the best answer to much of the carping, mean, contemptible criticism that has decorated some of the journals of this country. It is easy to be offensive to people who are not present. Perhaps now we are back here we shall have less of that kind of criticism." Sir John added that he and Lady Findlay were very glad to get back to their own country (for they were both New Zealanders born), and were hoping to do their very best for the land they loved. (Applause.)