Joseph Ward
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The Right Honourable Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Bt GCMG PC MP |
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Official portrait taken for the 1928 election campaign
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| 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
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In office 6 August 1906 – 28 March 1912 |
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| Monarch |
Edward VII George V |
| Governor-General |
William Plunket Arthur Foljambe |
| Preceded by | William Hall-Jones |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Mackenzie |
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In office 10 December 1928 – 28 May 1930 |
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| Monarch | George V |
| Governor-General |
Charles Fergusson Charles Bathurst |
| Preceded by | Gordon Coates |
| Succeeded by | George Forbes |
| 17th Minister of Finance | |
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In office 1 May 1893 – 16 June 1896 |
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| Prime Minister | Richard Seddon |
| Preceded by | John Ballance |
| Succeeded by | Richard Seddon |
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In office 6 August 1906 – 28 March 1912 |
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| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | William Hall-Jones |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Myers |
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In office 12 August 1915 – 21 August 1919 |
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| Prime Minister | William Massey |
| Preceded by | James Allen |
| Succeeded by | James Allen |
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In office 10 December 1928 – 28 May 1930 |
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| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | William Downie Stewart, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | George Forbes |
| 6th Leader of the Opposition | |
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In office 11 September 1913 – 27 November 1919 |
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| Prime Minister | William Massey |
| Preceded by | William Massey |
| Succeeded by | William MacDonald |
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In office 4 December 1928 – 10 December 1928 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Coates |
| Preceded by | Harry Holland |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Coates |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 April 1856 Melbourne, Australia |
| Died | 8 July 1930 (aged 74) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party |
Liberal (1890-1928) United (1928-1930) |
| Spouse(s) | Theresa Dorothea (née de Smidt), Lady Ward (1866-1927; m. 1883-1927; her death) |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet GCMG PC MP (26 April 1856 – 8 July 1930) was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.
Ward was born in Melbourne on 26 April 1856 to a Roman Catholic family of Irish descent. His father, who is believed to have been an alcoholic, died in 1860, aged 31 – Ward was raised by his mother, Hannah. In 1863, the family moved to Bluff (then officially known as Campbelltown), in New Zealand's Southland region, seeking better financial security – Hannah Ward established a shop and a boarding house.
Ward received his formal education at primary schools in Melbourne and Bluff. He did not go to secondary school. He did, however, read extensively, and also picked up a good understanding of business from his mother. In 1869, Ward found a job at the Post Office, and later as a clerk. Later, with the help of a loan from his mother, Ward began to work as a freelance trader, selling supplies to the newly established Southland farming community.
Ward became involved in local politics very quickly. He was elected to the Campbelltown (Bluff) Borough Council in 1878, despite being only 21 years old – at age 25 he became Mayor, the youngest in New Zealand. He also served on the Bluff Harbour Board, eventually becoming its chairman. In 1887, Ward stood for Parliament, winning the seat of Awarua. Politically, Ward was a supporter of politicians such as Julius Vogel and Robert Stout, leaders of the liberal wing of Parliament – Ward's support was unusual in the far south.
Ward became known as a strong debater on economic matters. In 1891, when the newly founded Liberal Party came to power, the new Prime Minister, John Ballance, appointed Ward as Postmaster General. Later, when Richard Seddon became Prime Minister after Ballance's death, Ward became Treasurer (Minister of Finance). Ward's basic political outlook was that the state existed to support and promote private enterprise, and his conduct as Treasurer reflects this.
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