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Death of Sir Joseph Ward
Statesman and Imperialist

The passing of the veteran statesman, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, whose death, after many months of failing health, occurred in Wellington on 8th July, closes a career remarkable in duration, in variety, and in constructive achievement in the public life of New Zealand and of the Empire. Sir Joseph Ward's rise from the position of telegraph messenger to that of Prime Minister is a story of inspiring romance. Along with other sections of the community, railwaymen will mourn the death of Sir Joseph Ward, who, for some years, held the portfolio of Minister of Railways. To him they were indebted for the Railways Classification Act and the Railways Superannuation Act—two measures which conferred upon them, at the time, certain outstanding benefits. Gratitude for this humane legislation was expressed in a resolution passed recently by the Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and conveyed to Sir Joseph Ward before his death. The resolution, which may be taken to voice the sentiments of the whole Railway service, is worded as follows:—“We feel sure it will be a source of pleasure and comfort to Sir Joseph to know that the members of our Society are not unmindful, nor are they ungrateful for the humane and wise legislation which he was responsible for placing on the Statute Book. This not only relieved our members of a great deal of mental anxiety, but enabled them to make provision for their old age. Many of our members are to-day reaping in their old age the harvest of the humane seeds sown by Sir Joseph in the years gone by.”

Following are some of the many fine tributes paid by representative public men in New Zealand on the occasion of Sir Joseph Ward's death:—

“New Zealand has to-day lost one of her greatest sons and the Empire its senior outstanding statesman. It is early yet to assess at its true value his public work for the country he loved so well and served so faithfully, but on this, the day of his passing from our midst, we may acknowledge without dissentient voice his untiring and unselfish devotion to duty, his staunch Imperialism, and his brilliant and creative statesmanship.”—Lord Bledisloe, Governor General.

“There is no doubt that when the news of his passing was flashed from one end of New Zealand to the other, there was a feeling of personal loss. There was a feeling that a man who had given a life of service to the people of this country had gone from our midst, and the feeling was that in his going he left behind him a record of which we may all be proud.”—The Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes.

“In the passing of Sir Joseph they felt that they had lost a personal friend. Sir Joseph's personal qualities made him liked and respected by all. Throughout his political career Sir Joseph had always placed his country first, and his 37 years of political life had produced some notable achievements.”—The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition.

“Half a century of public service including 40 years of active political life, stood to the credit of Sir Joseph Ward. There were measures on the Statute Book which would serve to keep alive his memory so far as New Zealand was concerned. The conflicts of the past are forgotten in his death, and he is remembered for the great deeds he has done.”—Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party.