SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9557, 2 August 1909, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

ENTERTAINED AT LUNCHEON.

THE DREADNOUGHT . OFFER.

Uni..id Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyrigut, Received August 1, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, July 31. Mr J. C. Wason, entertained Sir J. G. Wsrd at luncheon in the House of Commons. Mr Wason, in proposing the toast of "New Zealand," said the Dominion was proud of her native race. They possessed great wealth, and had not diminished in numbers. Though ten thousand British soldiers had failed to subject them to British rule, they were now as loyal as any of the King's subjects. When Sir J. G. Ward sent his famous telegram offering the Imperial Government a Dreadnought there must have been hovering over him the great departed spirit of the native graces to whom war was sport and sport war.

MrJH. H. Asquith (British Prime Minister) presented the guest with a framed copy of the telegram from members of the House ! of Commons which had been forwarded to Sii Joseph Ward. "In a time of some anxiety," said Mr Asquith in making the presentation, "New Zealand had spontaneously through you sent Britain the most welcome assurance of her willingness to share in our common burdens and provide for common interests. The people of Great Britain and Ireland will never forget that, splendid voluntary manifestation of corditlity loyalty and affection. I trust that yon will take this recognition back to Wellington as a permanent memento of that most interesting historic occasion."'

Mr A. J. Balfour (Leader of th< Unionist Party) presented Sir Josepl with an Album containing th( original signatures to the telegram "I hope," said Mr Balfour, "tha the album will be kept as a perpetua memorial of this great occurrence. I relates to an epoch-making event. I was an incident which will be lookec back upon by future generations whenever our great Imperial inter ests may be endangered, showing how by spontaneous action the ereai self-governing Dominions came for ward on their own initiative, anc Save a gift—generous, great, almosl beyond contemplation, in relation tc their means—to the common objeci jf Imperial defence." (Cheers). Mr Balfour continuing, said: "1 nay congratulate not merely New sealand but yourself upon Laving aeen connected with this incident, which has not merely re-echoec 1 frithin the relatively narrow bounds >f this island, but produced an effect n every part of J the Empire." (Cheers). Sir J. G. Ward, who sat between Messrs Asauith and Balfour, wa« •eceived with rounds of cheering, said: "The people of New Zealand vill prize as much as I this exjression of good-will from so many gentlemen occupying prominent pnsi;ions on both sides of the Imperial farliament. It showed that we all enow how to be true and that there re occasions when political differmces can be sunk in a common desire to promote Imperial interests. ;n offering a Dreadnought we did nereiy what we all conceived was )ur duty to the Empire without shought of personal advantage or self interest. We had news that ;here was a crisis, that the naval supremacy of Britain was being and that in the opinion >t Imperial statesmen on both sides ;he situation was grave if not criti :al. Now we r.cognued in New Z.aand as fully as you here that the ibsjlute supremacy of Britain on he seas is essential to the safety if England, and consequently the Smpire. We claim no special credit. We aid it as a matter of duty, and I 'ully brieve that the overseas Doninions in adopting proposals of iiipport, though indifferent as regards deta ; K were moved by the lame spirit. (Cheers). I am proud :o say that in the New Zealand Pariament, the Government and the Opposition by unanimously ratifying he offers of Dreadnoughts to the :mperial Governmnent showed in a nost emphatic and unmistakable vay their determination to help the notherland in maintaining the strength of the Navy for the prosection of the widespread interests of he British Empire. (Applause). What stands out clearest is the reation of the Empire to the outside vorld This explains and justifies the strong Imperialistic spirit which indoubtedly runs through New Zeaand and the overseas Dominions, [n my judgment this spirit was, if lot created, at all events stirred in;o strong vigorous life by the disisters in the earlier stages of the South African War. Then the domestic relations between Britain and ;ne colonies were more of a stepmother and stepchildren than any,hing else. Aforetime it was u settled tradition of British statesnanship that the colonies were so nany troublesome excrescences on he body politics—nuisances in time >f peace and expense in time of war. This view reflected itself in public jpiniuh, and matters of administraion. Hence there was irritation and "riction on both bides. The colonies were pigeon-holed by Downing street

and snubbed, while as for Downing street, well it was not a name to conjure with the colonies. Traditions die hard, and the one mentioned is no exception. Tradi.ions suffered severely in the South Africa War, when to the bewilderment and delight of the military authorities the colonies volunteered their help, but it did not die then, or the recent New Zealand Dreadnought ofter would scarcely have aroused such astonishment and gratification throughout the United Kingdom, as it appears to have done. That any oversea Dominion should volunteer any assistance to the Home Government seems something to make the home-bred British rub his eyes and ask if he is dreaming. '.The oversea Dominions show by their actions that they are ready and willing to bear some share of the great growing burden of ■ Imperial defence. (Applause). This will involve other adjustments, but these will come in time, and by degree 3. Given wise, prudsnt statesmanship on all hands the Empire will develop on broad, safe lines. I read with much pleasure Mr Asquith's announcement that it is contemplated to have colonial representation on the Imperial Defence Committtee, and Mr Balfour's concurrence in connection therewith, it augurs well for unanimity in this important direction."