The Country's Finances.

In many another department of State enterprise Sir Joseph Ward took a vigorous hand. Pensions, trade tariffs, the public health, the country's defences, financial reforms, all were dealt with successfully. The Premier's consummately skilful handling of the nation's finance is a matter of history which is discussed with knowledge and approbation in Mr. Loughnan's biography. Indeed, Ward's complete command of all the mazes and intricacies of high finance has never been equalled in the story of the colony, not even by Sir Julius Vogel. Both men were described as “financial wizards,” both were execrated by critics and worshipped by those who admired bold and courageous tactics.

Ward, the War Finance Minister, had an infinitely more trying and responsible part than Vogel, the pioneer of development. To quote Mr. Loughnan again, in describing the financial operations in the great national emergency of war, the country pays tribute to the sagacity and courage of the Finance Minister who got the enormous sum of 55 millions from the New Zealand money markets. “As Finance Minister, Sir Joseph got his money and saved the honour of New Zealand as a dependable unit of the Empire.”