SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9611, 4 October 1909, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

WELCOME IN WELLINGTON

By Telegraph—Press Association, WELLINGTON, October a.

Several thousands of persons met the Prime Minister at the Railway Station yesterday to welcome him back from London. Councillor J. P. Luke represented Ihe Mayor (who is away from Wellington), and was supported by Councillors, many members of Parliament, heads of Civil Services and prominent representatives of the Maori race. Cr Luke welcomed Sir Joseph Ward on behalf of the city. Sir J. Ward's opening remarks were drowned in a wave of cheering —cheers for himself, Lady Ward, Miss Ward, Mrs Seddon and the Dreadnought. Sir Joseph thanked them for their welcome. He fully recognised that tne late Mr Seddon had laid the foundations of New Zealand's strong Imperial feeling. The unique and historic Defence Conference had to lay the base upon which the structure of the-future was to be erected of a kind to meet the varying conditions of different portions of the Empire. New Zealand was going to help the Motherland to keep the Navy superior to any other in the world. Our duty was to attach ourselves to the most powerful Navy the world had known. It was realised that the Pacfiic would be the. future threatre of conflict. Sir Joseph Ward waa warmly applauded. He and Lady Ward passed through the dense crowd to their carriage. The Prime Minister hai to respond to an appeal for another speech. While this was in progress a handful of individuals made some interruption and opposed a weak "boohing" to the great cheer which went up as Sir Joseph and Lady Ward drove olowly tnrough the assemblage into the city.