SIR JOSEPH WARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 286, 30 May 1912, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD

AND AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward, in an interview with a Post representative, said that the 1 question of his entering politics in Australia had been under discussion between the leaders of the parties, but it was necessary for him to say that no suggestion had been made of his taking part in Commonwealth politics. It was correct that representations had been made by men who were anxious that he should enter the public life 'of Australia, but he liad not given a definite reply, and did not propose to do so at present, owing to his connection -with the Imperial Trade Commission. Sir Joseph said that he was not prepared to make a statement just now, but he hoped to be in a position to do so in the course of a few days. Regarding the situation in New Zealand, he said .that he had previously stated that he was not anxious to take an active part in the Parliament of this country. His personal friends knew that he was not going to act the part of a dog in the manger under any conditions. So far as the country's politics are concerned, he had always been associated with the Liberal Party, and he had no intention of doing anything other than helping it along, conditionally upon its policy being sound and progressive.