DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 15

DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL.

LATE RT. HON. W. F. MASSEY. . IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. [THE PRESS Special Serrice.J WELLINGTON, September 19. Its marble colonnades gleaming in the sun like piled up snow, recalling the stately' architecture " of Greece, the memorial at Point Halswell to the late Et. Hon. W. F. Massey, a former >Prime Minister of New Zealand, was the object of a large pilgrimage this afternoon, when the- official unveiling was performed by the Governor-General Lord Rled.isloe. The setting with its wide sweep of blue harbour intensified in colour by the bright sun, the long encircling -hills, • and distant whitecrested peaks appearing to take their point of radiation'from the elevated memorial site, impressed both the speakers: and the silent listeners with its fitness. Wheeling seagulls and vessels gliding. pa?t were witnesses to the impressive ceremony that was performed high on the jutting cliff at. the threshold of Wellington. Unstinted tribute to the National and Empire work of the late Mr Massey was-paid by. all shades of political opinion, and his endeavours and achievements on behalf of: >the people, as a- whole w«re fully recognised.'.;,-..' ■ •>. ~ < A Xife : of Service. . The Acting-Prime Minister,vthe Hon. E. A. Ransom, said it was regretted that the Prime Minister, who was abroad, could not be present, also Dame Christina Massey,- who-was Indisposed. The fact that the Prime Minister was on his way to the Imperial Conference recalled the debt of gratitude that the country, owed to Mr Massey, who had rendered -valuable services not only to Ne^v-Zealand but t° the Empire 1 on-those occasions when he attended similar conferences. His utterances. ; at those conferences and the part he ,took in them were regarded as.being of great value to New Zealand and the Empire. Those who knew" him'and came-into contact with him, whether they were on the same side of the House- or not, knew him as a man. who once he gave a promise saw he kept it intact. During the war Mr Massey rendered valuable service to New Zealand, and during- the. post-war periods-be; was to set. aside anything in the nature of Party politics, being prepared to .associate himself with the "other-Parties of the House in the restoration of this country to prosperity. It was realised' that "his devotion to duty was probably one of.the causes of his more or less early death, but if his life, were lo'oked' upon from the point of view of service rather than years, then his had been a life of ripeness. United sympathy went.;Qut tp-;Dame Christina Maasev and the irelatives. The,.speaker paid a tribute, to those who had been concerned in the -construction of the memorial.' . An Empire, Builder. ...- "Beneath our feet* on' this... Iqvely in sight., of ships arriving from the Homeland us well as of the capital of -this Dominion, which he served with unswerving fidelity -and unflagging zeal;- .- rest ths: -human , re-mains-of a great practical Imperialist, William Ferguson said „the ; 6oveiier-et«her : al.- f *lt"i6 not perhaps -inabpropriiW ""«&«" a;%pac«-wtoeir»-ence "stood. fc flef.e»3 WelHflgtpn s .body of- a statesman- w bo with a Hew to world. Üb"erty,.atfd the; honour of the Empire 1 tookproinrwiit a part in"thiß-efficient .prosecution.of the 2wkr arid the attainment - of the - blessines of - peace. The surface has in part. .been . .laid out as an attractive public garden and on -the spot -where we' : - are •' assembled there >has -^en erected, this memorial structure, bola in outline, original and artistic m con«eption, and skilfrilly. .executed m svew ■Zealand marble, which ! am "now <»llod 'upon -formally to' "ofcen--to. the public. .".Mr Massey, a son AJteter, was like the Rt. Hon. R.and Sir Joseph Ward, m th© truest sense an Empire builder.. The _eventful twelve years of his. administration included th© period of th© Great Wax. JCKiriiig that strenuous time or anxiety, military activity and preparation., domestic bereavement, and -ultimate victory, practical Imperialism was put to the acid-test and emerged victorious. Side *? side ; with, th© achievements of the New Zealand _ DivirTou of', the' 'British Expeditionary Faroe wp stand everitf historysturdy' and indomitable _ 'but. always sympathetic - figure L.of him to _whom this, .memorial;, has been, .raised, and whose" counsel" as a member of the Imperial Ww- C^Binei'- was. acclainied. as prudent and statesmanlike J and whose wisdom as-ana of-the negotiators of the Treaty of .Versailles won ,the admiration of all his "feblleagues. Subordination of Self. "WilliarriMassey, like so.many men, .sprang from the soil, and employed in winning a living froon-it in all conditions Of weather and nuctuat•ing fortuiie, was. a man of simplicity- of lifo and. faith, of robust courage ana unquenchable hopefiilness. ? H© was a shrewd and formidable fighter,, but his fore© of character coupled with his sincerity and- honesty -of purpose impelled .a measure of , and respect such: as surely few Parliamentary protagonists Kav© ; enjoyed. From a life such as his we. learn the value of the subordination of. self to service, the sinking of personal ambitions .and interests in zeal for the public * weal. These are attributes of all statesmen who have left their mark on history, and without them no man-can live permanently in the memory of his fellow countrymen. "It is my pleasure and pride now to declare this memorial open;-and at th© same lithe to express a 'sincere hope that many will arise in all classes and .parties ; in this Dominion and help in fee shaping of its destinies, who will seek to emulate therobust simplicity, raety, and .honesty of him. whom -it so fitly ■ commemorates." ... . .. .. .' Colleague's Tribute. "We' can ; truly say that'-the' passing away- of Mr Massey marked the loss of a. statesman and. a true son of the British Empire," said the Rt. Hon. J. : G. Cp&tes, Leader of the' Opposition. "We -can speak -of him. is a friend; as a colleague, and a man in -whom each and- every One of us had implicit faith and confidence, a man who carried the mistakes of others, who never whimpered, nor did- -he ever complain. He was a rock and an anchor, -and it is these characteristics that his colleagues .to-day call: to mind. We-remember him, r.nd I think , the country -will remember Mm, a straightforward'and' unselfish man. He saw-'his did it. "He .bad an"abiding faiffc "in - the '-AngloSaxon race. He had faith, and' confidencer in the Empire,, arid .he was wrapped up "in •the well-being of-.the .people o.f New. ~ i His faith*.ahd".. couragO b'(Jre v him'throujgh those terrible years of affliction., -It -was ; that faith which,VJ think," tadiated out; to.: Jbhe -people; ;pf .tfcis :floun&y;-an the very; hpurs Lpf our .trial. \ ... ;.. .. | "We ropember him. as • k»6n waMßtteg

«Tery point-and every,ineas«^/*'"*iud ; ' Mr Coates. "We- remember;w&e£ ing'was hard to control, and dividual f hand, but) X think bear""- • came through with the respect member of He was-an honoured'opponent.• >« memorial "was not too beautiful n»a®- .It was, possibly His example sw<mld ?t guide _ ( lesson to men and women future." ~ -' '; ; • J I The speaker said;he beKevpd the hearts of the-'people that,;. particular form of politic* was no oiie lieldi in deepOT-rsspect te/Vj the late Mr Massew.' Mr Ooates said 1 lie the. Government for the arTflngranMjtt£ -ir, it had made in eonnezion with ceremony and for the opp.qrtiwi|r V\'£ had given people from every part of New Zealand to be present that'dayr ;VV^ A Fitting'EestingPlace. • ;<<; "Iwould'like to the-s«>#®- ;^. meats expressed Tjy each/tS the pwnosa speakers," said Mr .S.' 38. Holland,:, 'i Leader of the liabonrParty. "Am know;-Parliament is «r.ba#&gipnn&£2, ideas, and on the- Parli*ment building, especially in the Cham-, ber of. the House, xnen conflict with Tone and, I those of us who figured as oppongntsnf i, Mr Massey knew one sidp;®f J^pjsbi ! ■,%£* ably better even than those his elose colleagues and were in line .. with the policy he advocated. "-WeKgjjjt to know the human aide qfbim. Oqo* t» his word, was given it was. honoured. ■/ That was -a' constant and", unvarying experience with Mr Massey, It is fitting ,r that he who gaVe tSe bettet his - life -to the turbulent' figftting Jut realm of polities- should sleep' Im 'tet,'.v long deep here 'surrounded 1 by the mag-' nificence of the hills, in view of the harbour where the sea mux its lullabies, and- whore all wildest storms will xeachv This splendid memorial which has-been offl(iitlly j.- r unveiled by his ExcellMiqr.ii a tribute on the part of * the ■ people,-tfßt •' only of Wellington, but the whole" o£4f&* New Zealand, to- a statesman, by whose tomb .we are standing. to I day,- v a" states* l i man whose jiame is written veiyp largely , , not onjy "in- the iareeordi of these Uttte islands,; thejw of the southern, seas, bat wzittint largtfy< -y*into the records of the British 'Common-, >~ r r wealth of Nations." ;.oV.-V The Bt. Bev. J)r. Eprott, BUhopr.of, ' Wellington, led.the at the opening' of the 1 gave the Benediction. * - ' " - The Bev. George Budd, Moderator of-.V., the Genral Assembly,of terian Church, epnduetwl.tSie de&eatioaL * * * " ' " "-Cir.,