HOME AGAIN.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17982, 28 January 1924, Page 8

HOME AGAIN.

MR MASSEY ARRIVES AT

WELLINGTON-

A WARM WELCOME. (.SPECIAi TO "THE PSESS.') WELLINGTON, January 2&. Looking the very picture of health, tho Prime !Minkier (Sir aio.-i.-'.-y.i. companied by his private secretary (Mr F. D. Thomson) assistant secretary (Mr C. A. Jeffery), and tho Ministerial party v-liu-h wool to >■> !■"■■■■■ him," arrived in Wellington by the Main Trunk train this afternoon. There was a large gathering; of friends on the platform to welcome Mr Massey, including the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Noswortby), Minister of Lands (the Hon. T>. H. Guthrie), the Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.), Mr 11. P. Hudson, M.P., the Hon. W. Earnshaw, M.L.C., tho Hon. E. H. Clark, M.L.C., Mr J. Hislop (Under-Secretarv for Internal Affairs), Mr H. D. Thomson (Under-Secretary for Immigration), Major-General Sir Edward Cihayior, iupermtendent; W. I*. Mcßveney, and members of the Reform League. Mr Massey was- warmly greeted, and in the course of a reply to a brief speech of welcome by the Mayor, expressed his pleasure at being homo again. Before the Prime Minister left tht> station for his motor-car, a, large gathering assembled and the Mayor extended a cordial welcome to him on behalf of the citizens of Wellington. The people, said Mr Wright, had read with interest of the very great work that Mr Massey—the "Father of the Conference"—had done at the Imperial Conference, and they were glad that he had returned strong and healthy in every way, and looking sr/ fit and well in contrast to what he did when ho left. "We are glad to see you back, said Mr Wright, <! and we trust that you will he long spared to guide the destinies of New Zealand.' ; (Applause.) Mr Massey thanked those present for coming down to meet him, and said he. need hardly tell them how _ glad he was to get back. "I am coming back fitter and stronger than when I went away," he said. "I am afraid that when I went away I was neither quit© fit nor very well. We had a very strenuous session, with long sittings, and that sort of thing, and I was glad when I got on the boat '{hat nigh? to think that I could sleep for a week if I were inclined to. (Laughter.) Britain's Difficulties. "However, I have done a lot of travelling since that time, and seen a good many interesting things, and I hope that I have been able to do some little .good for the country to which wo belong, and, perhaps, for the Empire itself. That remains to be seen. Nobody can tell what wijl happen to the work we did. ft i 3 unsafe to predict. The future is in the lap of the gods, but I hope that Great Britain will be able to get out of her difficulties. "I have said before, and I take the opportunity of saying again, that the people of New Zealand do not know how well off they are." A voice: What about Labour, Bill? Mr Massey: Well, I do not know that my friend there has authority to speak on behalf of Labour. The interrogators That' tickles you up. (Laughter.) Mr Massey: Are you speaking of the Labour Party in England? The questioner: I am speaking for myself. (Laughter.) • "Very well," retorted Mr Massey, "I am not quite euro that' you are competent to speak for yourself." (Loud laughter.) Xiabour Well Off Hera. Continuing, Mr Massey said thaE the Labour Government in England was quite entitled to fair play and he would say that anywhere, but there was no country in the world where Labour was so well off as in New Zealand. (Hear, bear.) He had seen what had happened in the United States and Canada, and had read of the condition cf affairs on the Continent, and he said that we in New Zealand were well off. "We to thank Providence for the position we are in now," added Mr Massey. "I do not know how long the prosperity is going to last,. but this country is very prosperous. It has never been so prosperous before. I remember when I came back three years ago the country was in the throes of a depression. That time made us,very sad and sorry, but we.threw it off and we have left that depression behind us, and we aro a prosperous people. I believe f?ie outlook is very good indeed, but we must remember that if there is depression in England the difficulty will affect ua here. That is what I am anxious about at the present." '|Our Credit is Good."

"Our credit is as good as ever it was, and I think it is even' better. I hhow that if I asked for a loan in England I would have to pay-more to get it than in tlie past two or three years, but we do not need to ask for a loan at present, and wo need not do it for ' a considerable time to conro. We have money to fall back upon to keep the country going. I hope that as time goes on money will be more plentiful in England, and that we shall be able to get what we want without any trouble." (Applause.) Mr Massey Again thanked the gathering for giving him such a cordial welcome, and, on the call of the Mayor, three cheer 3 were given for the Prime Minister as he proceeded to his car. Mr Massey was also cheered by the passengers of a suburban train as he passed along the platform. "OUR FINANCES A'RE BUOYANT." A SUBSTANTIAL SURPLUS. (PEESS ASSOCIAWOK TEL2OBAM.) WELLINGTON, January 27. "The present financial position of the Dominion is very good; our finances are buoyant, thanks to the better prices that are being realised for our produce; and we are bound to have, so far as I can see, at the end of the financial year a substantial surplus," stated the Prime Minister in the course of an interview to-day. I have not had an opportunity of consulting with my colleaguej the Acting-Prime Minister, nor with the Treasury Department, since I came back, and won't have for a day or two, but I understand that the position is very good, and that a further remission of taxation may be- hopod for."

Asked whether it was likely that Parliament would meet somewhat earlier than usual this year, Mr Massey said: "There, again, I mu3t consult with my colleagues, but just at present I see no reason why Parliament should meet earlier or much earlier than usual, "s