Speeches by New Zealand Ministers.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 7010, 17 July 1918, Page 3

Speeches by New Zealand Ministers.

Kec July 16, 7.20 p.m

London, July 15

The British Empire League gave a luncheon to Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward at Claridge's Hotel.

Mr Massey said though the problems of war were not yet solved it

was not too soon to be^iii dealing with the problems of peace. Empire citizens hud upheld their dignity and prestige in war and would do so in peace. He feared German intrigue more than the German force of arms There most bean increasein Empire production in order to bear the financial burdens, also considerable emigration should be encouraged. It wouhl be the duty of legislators to encourage the working up of raw materials and to prevent unfair competition by their enemies. Much would have to be done to improve communication between the different parts of the Empire. Labour and capital must work more harmoniously, lie favoured profitsharing, and it was possible. In war we were stronger than the enemy in every department. The Allies would not be influenced by enemy threats over Belgium. They had made up their minds to win, however long the war lasted.

Sir Joseph Ward disagreed with those who thought it was premature to discuss possible peace terms. If the nation knew why we went to war then it logically must be able to decide what its peace terms would be. An uneasy suspicion had been aroused that the German PacificIslands might be the subject of negotiation at the peace conference. The Ne>y Zealand delegates came to England with a positive mandate that the public would never tolerate the handing back of Somoa. Under no circumstances must any such thing occur. It was unthinkable that Germany would ever again get a foothold in the Pacific, where she was an interloper from the iirst. If such a calamity Averc to befall us the bonds of Empire would be brought to straining point. The people of the Motherland should understand the Dominion viewpoint and should realise this was *' no stand and deliver freak, but the expression of deep-seated conviction upon a definite ideal cultivated for half-a-century, often in the teeth of scant sympathy or encouragement from the Imperial ..authorities. He hoped this sublime indifference to the importance ot" the ownership of a few small islands in the Pacific would disappear for ever. How would Britishers view the occupation by Germans of the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, the Hebrides, or the Orkneys? In 1890 England failed to realise the value of Heligoland. Was there anyone to-day who approved of the cession of Heligoland? Hie answer to that question justified part of our case in regard to German possessions in the Pacific. She would never have been there but for the masterly negligence of British statesmen. Those overseas disliked the German method of colonisation and the treatment of the native races, also, the instincts of German, ambition were a standing menace to security.