SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2569, 2 August 1909, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

ENTERTAINED AT HOUSE OF COMMONS.

AN ILLUSTRIOUS GATHERING.

United Pukes Association— Copyright. (Received August 1, '5.5 p.m.})

LONDON, July 31

Sir Joseph Ward was entertained at luncheon at the House of Commons today by Mr. J. Cathcart Wason, M.P. for Orkney and Shetland, and ex-mem-ber of the New Zealand Parliament, who presided, on the occasion of the presentation of the original signatures of 400 members of the House appended to. the cablegram despatched to the New Zealand Government expressing appreciation, of the offer of a Dreadnought. The gathering included many Ministers, ex-Ministers, and leading members, including Anglo-Colonials. Among those present were: Lady Ward, Mr. Asquith, Mr. Balfour, Mr. R. McKenna, Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Sydney Buxton, Mr. H. L. Samuel, Dr. McNamara, Mr. Walter Long, Mr xilfred Lyttelton, Mr. R. K. Couston, Mr. C. E. Hobbhouse, Dr. Torrance, Mr. Joseph Vincent Ward, Sir Charles Dilke, Mr. A. Bonar Law, Sir J. Poynder, Mr. Henniker Heaton, Dr. Fitchett, Mr. J. A. Pearse, Sir W. J. Bull, Sir T. Whittaker, and the Hon. W. P. Reeves.

Mr. Cathcart Wason, in proposing the toast of New Zealand, said that the Dominion was proud of her Native races. They possessed great wealth, and were undiminislied in numbers. Though ten thousand British soldiers had failed to subdue them they were now as loyal as any of the King's subjects. When Sir Joseph Ward sent his famous telegram offering Dreadnoughts, there must have been hovering over him the great departed spirit of the Native races, to whom war was sport and snort war.

MR. ASQUITH’S SPEECH

A GRACEFUL TRIBUTE

Mr. Asquith presented a framed copy of the House of Commons' telegram to Sir Joseph Ward, and said: “In a time of some anxiety, New Zealand spontaneously, through you, sent Britain the most welcome assurance of her willingness to share our common burdens, and provide for the common Imperial interest. The people of Great Britain and Ireland will never forget that splendid voluntary manifestation of cordiality, loyalty, and affection. I trust you will take this recognition back to Wellington as a permanent "memento of that ■ most interesting and historic occasion.” SPEECH BY MR- BALFOUR. AN ELOQUENT UTTERANCE. Mr. Balfour presented to Sir Joseph Ward an album containing the original signatures to the telegram, which, he .said, “I hope will be kept as a perpetual’ memorial of this great occurrence. It relates to an epoch-marking event. It was an incident which will be looked back upon by future generations whenever our great Imperial interests may he endangered, showing how by spontaneous action, the great .self-governing Dominions, came forward on their own initiative, without discussion, —(hear, hear) —by inspiration, as it were, to what was required by the public necessities of the Empire, and gave a gift generous, great almost beyond contemplation in relation to their means, to the common object of Imperial defence.” (Cheers.) Mr. Balfour continued, “I may congratulate not merely New Zealand, but yourself, upon having been connected with this incident, which has not merely re-echoed within the relatively narrow bounds of this island, but produced an effect in .every part of the Empire.” (Cheers.) SIR JOSEPH WARD’S REPLY. A PATRIOTIC SPEECH. Sir Joseph Wrad, who sat between Mr. Asquith and Mr. Balfour, received rounds of cheering. He said: “The people of New Zealand will prize as much as I do this expression of gooduvill from, so many gentlemen occupying prominent positions on both sides of the ■ Imperial Parliament'. It shows what we all know to bo true, that there are occasions when political differences can be sunk in a common desire to promote Imperial interests. In offering a Dreadnought, all concerned with myself in submitting the proposal to the Cabinet were unanimous in confirming it. Parliament subsequently, in ratifying . it, did merely what all conceived to be our duty to the Empire, without a thought of personal local advantage or self-interest. We had the news that there was a crisis, that tho naval supremacy of Britain was being challenged and that, in the opinion of Imperial statesmen on both sides the situation was grave, if not critical. Now, we have always recognised in New Zealand, as fully as you here, that the absolute supremacy of Great Britain on the seas is essential to tho safety of England and, consequently, of the Empire, and, therefore, imports, no nete of aggression against other countries. ■ The colonics ar6 so scattered, distant in many cases thousands of miles from the heart of the Empire and one another, that ocean routes have become practically something in the nature of internal or domestic highways. The safeguarding of them is the first, if not also the host, line of defence. In these circumstances, I felt, and my colleagues agreed with me, that, though New /Zealand, as a small community, could -do but little, what she could do, that

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I ■ i' sho should—and at once. (Applauso.) Hence the mode in which the offer was made and the responsibility we took in making it without first consulting Parliament, which was not in session.” Sir Joseph Ward continued: “We claim no special credit. We did it as a matter of duty, and I fully believe that tho overseas Dominions in adopting proposals of support, though different as regards details, were moved by the same .spirit. (Cheers.) lam proud to say that in the New Zealand Parliament the Government and the Opposition, by unanimously ratifying the offer of Dreadnoughts to the Imperial Government, showed, in the most emphatic and unmistakeable way, their determination to help the Motherland in maintaining the strength of the navy for the protection of the widespread interests of the British Empire. (Applause.) As regards the Defence Conference, which is now sitting, I feel assured that the outcome of its deliberations will be both practical and valuable. The oversea representatives are of one mind in their desire to co-operate in any scheme of defence which does justice to the Empire as a whole and the communities they represent. (Applause.) In that result, the necessity for isolated efforts 6uch as that referred to in tho case of New Zealand will not be likely to recur. It may he presumption on my part, but I venture to conjecture that, in some quarters, the attitude of the overseas Dominions upon Imperial matters was not always understood as clearly as it might bo. In my own case we have, of necessity} to look upon things from oar standpoint, our own prospective, which is 13,000 miles or thereabouts from Westminster. Our interest in many political problems that occupy you must be different from the interest you yourselves feel. Wo have our local concerns which, though immeasurably less important that yours, are to us what yours are to 3 r ou. (Applause.) Tho result is that many political questions that, excite the liveliest interest her© are regarded by us, I will not say 'with indifference, but certainly with detachment. For example, your Budget, which falls, like the rain, on the just and tho unjust, v and is tho centre of controversy conducted with such conspicuous vivacity,—(Laughter and applause)—we watch with interest, but it is the impersonal interest with which a spectator would contemplate a dental operation. (Laughter and applause.) To change the figure, in our long perspective your local or internal differences are blurred, what sta'nds out clearest is tho relation of the Empire to the outside world. This explains and justifies the strong Imperialistic spirit which undoubtedly runs through New Zealand and tho overseas Dominions. In my judgment, this spirit was, if not created, at all events stirred into strong and vigorous life by the disasters in. the earlier stages of the South African war. Till then, the domestic relations of Britain and the colonies were more those of step-mother and step-children than anything else. Aforetime it was settled by a tradition, of British statesmanship that the colonies were so many troublesome excrescences on the body politic, nuisances in time of peace and an expense in time of war. This view reflected itself in public opinion, and in matters of administration. Hence, irritation and 1 friction on both sides. The colonies were pigeon-holed by Downing Street as far as possible and, failing that, were snubbed, while as for Downing Street, well, it was not a name to conjure with in the colonies. Traditions die hard, and the one mentioned is no exception. That tradition suffered severely in the South African 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 offer would scarcely have aroused such astonishment and gratification throughout tho 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 Homebred Briton rub his eyes and ask if he is dreaming. Nay, will you think me rude if I say it, in. the fact of your presence and mine to-day, a microscopic examination might possibly disclose some traces of that same unhallowed tradition. Be this as may, lam hopeful it will not survive the Defence Conference, if, as I firmly believe will be the result of that Conference, tho oversea Dominions show by thejr acts that they are ready and willing to hear some share in the great and growing harden of Imperial defence. (Applause.) This will involve other adjustments,, hut these will come in time, and by degrees. Given wise and prudent statesmanship, and on all hands the Empire will develop on broad and safe lines, giving a base on which it will stand four square to all winds that blow. I read, with much pleasure, Mr. Asquith’s announcement that it is contemplated to have colonial representation on the Imperial Defence Committee, and Mr. Balfour’s concurrence augurs well for unanimity in this important direction. I cannot hut feel that if the scattered' Dominions are to join in the practical working of tho Empire’s naval defence system, the natural corollary must be representation, in some suitable form, and wll’at shape that should finally take is a subject worthy of the attention of your statesmen.”

REMARKS BY SIR EDWARD GREY. A TRIBUTE TO MR. WASON. Sir Edward Grey said that, after such a speech, Sir Joseph Ward’s presence brought the colonies and the Motherland into tho true Imperial prospective. Therefore, they doubly owed thanks to Mr. Wason for provicl-

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ing the opportunity of meeting Sir Joseph and Lady Ward. He suggested that Mr. Wasom be presented with a replica of what - had been) presented to Sir Joseph Ward.