MINISTERS AT HOME.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15773, 14 December 1916, Page 6

MINISTERS AT HOME.

THE CHEESE SEIZURE. NEGOTIATIONS RESUMED. (Bj- Oab>.—Prtes A6sooi»tion.—Copj-right.) lAnstralian and X.Z. Oabl« Association.) LONDON, December 12. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph AVard will resume their negotiations with Mr "Walter Lous. Secretary for the Colonies, to-morrow, with reference to the readjusting of the additional payment f9r cheese. There also remains the question of sheepsliins to be settled. Mr Massev hopes to leave by way of Vancouver in January. Sir Joseph Ward, in a letter to Mr Lloyd George, congratulating him upon attaining the position bf Prime Minister, expresses the hope that he will have complete success in carrying the war to victory. He was confident that the outlying parts of the Empire would loyally and heartily continue their cooperation until tho bitter struggle was successfullv ended HIGHLAND THANKS. (Received December 13th. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, December 12. A deputation from the Highland Land League asked Mr Massey to thank the New Zealanders for contributing to tho relief funds for the distressed people in the Highlands and Islands of Scothind. IMPERIAL UNITY. MR MASSEY'S SUGGESTION. (United Service.) (Received December 13th, 8. 5 p.m.) LONDON, December 12. At a meeting to advocate improved Imperial unity, at the Queen's Hall, Mr Massey said that it was regrettable that the Dominions had had no voice in Imperial affairs since the beginning of the war. He. believed that an infusion of new blood was always productive of good. The situation demanded more patriotism ana less politics. Tho British Parliament was obviously overburdened, and should relegate local affairs to Provincial Legislatures.

Referring to Dr. von BethmannIlollweg's peace statement, Mr Massey said that it was most important, as it showed that Germany thought that this was tho proper time to negotiate, but that was not our point of view. Wc would discuss peace when we thought the time was proper for such a discussion, and wc would leave it at that in the meantime.