TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 537, 18 June 1909, Page 8

TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND

MESSACE BY THE PRIME MINISTER: .... .1.. "HOPES AND REGRETS." for England, the Pnme ; Mimster (Sir Joseph Ward) handed to the., press last night a message, the text or WTOch 'was as; follows. ■,-"Tlitf Motherland, in the great cause ot Imperial defence, has called to council ■" with ijor tho free young nations of the tTu' with the full oonsent ot both Houses, of our Legislature, I loavo New Zealand, to represent you at the great Naval. Conference in England. hopes and regrets—regrets , thatj Save just now to leave for afow months : this country; and my part in the • government' of: its affairs—hopes ■ that in the.;. part. I fake in tho impending ' - conference 1. may justify any inconvenience, this country will incur bv mv absence; hopes also, that the oourageons Zealand ,has lately declared' wiorselr willing to assume in strengthening tho British Navy, and] the loyal unanimity .with .which that part has been approved thy^you ; ; will bind us closer stULbj'all tho .ties of quickened kinship 1 I? Kingdom; hdpes, above all, • that through this conference and the ; combined assistance of all the oversea dominions., the, naval defences of the ;|nipiro will. be so strengthened and orgamsed_as to place, that supremacy of' the seas for which our forefathers spent, so much m blood and treasure beyond question by, our foes. And all this for . I the benefits/of a permanent peace, tho : wffi-tb !? pir , c > 111(1 a otoscr union With , the , people, of'-.our Motberland. I , . : fool, that; ; my mission'is a great one. I ' I responsibilities, ' ii? • blossing or Heaven and wiLh the best of -my obilitips I shall endeavour : • ■ . m y®eW as -your representative , m a. manner,worthy',of your country and mine, and of the confidence you have reposed m me. In these hopes I bid you a short farewell." -