SIR JOSEPH WARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 227, 23 March 1912, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHEON. REFORM OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The members of the Liberal Party entertained Sir Joseph Ward at luncheon t<H-day. Mr, Hanan, in proposing the toast of his hetflth, said lie hud always been a worker in the course of social and democratic reform and had\ achieved world-wide reputation as a PostmasterGeneral. Though he might retire for a year or two Mr. Hanan thought they would ultimately find him occupying the position which his ability and talents merited. I

Mr. Myers said Sir Joseph Ward was a man the Dominion could ill afford to spare. There was a revulsion of feeling throughout the country in his favor, and if an election was held to-morrow those who voted against the Liberal candidates at last election would reverse their votes.

Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of his reply, said he felt deeply the compliment .him. Naturally he left the severance from the party, whose assistance and co-operation he gratefully acknowledged. He added that it was marvellous to look back and see the way in which the country had been developed during the past 20 years, and he said that the present gathering would always be to him a happy memory. The members of the party were all animated by a desire to bring about a fortunate /issue to the difficult position, and he felt sure they would select a leader who would be capable of carrying on the work of the party and facing any difficulties that •*ht arise. The abuse of the motor- ■ ■ system at elections was an abuse t ought to be reckoned with, and he f-ii'igeeted that the use of vehicles on pulling day should be prohibited, hut that in country electorates the State should employ motor-cars carrying the returning officer and scrutineers to go round among the people (women and sick persons and so on), and thus go still further towards ensuring the recording of votes. If in addition they prohibited canvassing they would get as near to a perfect electoral system as possible and ensure the return of the best men to Parliament. (Applause.) He had been a hardworking man all his life since he began work at 12 years of age, and he should not be sorry to be clear of the heavy responsibilities of office. Whatever he miglit be doing he would always feel it a pleasurable duty to assist the Liberal Party, with which he had been connected for so many years. He also voiced his pleasure at the way in which the members of the Maori race had expressed their kindly feeling towards him at-the present juncture, and finally he thanked the gather-' ing for the honor they had done him. i (Applause.) RESOLUTION FROM POSTAL OFFICERS. _ Wellington, Last Night. The following resolution was passed by! the Wellington branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, and will be forwarded to Sir Joseph Ward: "This branch of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association views with sincere regret your resignation of the portfoilio of Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraph, and desires to place on record its deep appreciation of the many' services rendered to the officers of the department during the long term you have been its Ministerial chief. The branch recognises the goodwill which pervaded your sentiments towards the staff, and desires that vou in turn should know that this feeling will ever remain a happy remembrance of the staff."

AN ELTHAM RESOLUTION. ■ Eltham, Friday. A meeting of Liberals last night passed a resolution: "That this meeting desires to express appreciation of the long and distinguished services of Sir Joseph Ward as leader of the Lib'*ral Party, and of the many Liberal and progressive measures that have, owing largely to his instrumentality, been passed into Jaw. It . also views with satisfaction fhe complete refutation of the charges recently made against him, and feels assured that he, will, in the future, be found in the van still fighting the battles of the people." Preliminary steps were also taken to form a branch in the Egmont electorate of the Liberal and Labor Federation.