PRIME MINISTER’S RETURN

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 104, 28 January 1924, Page 6

PRIME MINISTER’S RETURN

ARRIVAL AT THE CAPITAL CITY AN INSPIRING WELCOME INCIDENTS DURING THE JOURNEY The Primo Alinister returned to Wellington on Saturday by the Alain Trunk express, and received an inspiring welcome on his arrival at Thorndon railway station. Air. Alassey’s journey from Auckland was punctuated by a series of little welcome scenes. From dawn on Saturday, people were assembling at stations en route. At Ohakune. at halfpast four, a number of townsmen and settlers, many of them in farm vehicles, gathered round the Alinisterial car, and gave hearty cheers for the Prime Alinister on his return from th© Imperial Conference. At Taihape, Alarton, Feilding, and Palmerston North, there were pleasant little welcoming speeches, to which Air. Alassey responded. On each occasion the Alayors and local members of Parliament took part officially in tho welcome ceremonies. By the way of commentary on the sweltering weather the Manawatu, in common with other North Island centres, was experiencing, Air. Alassey regaled his hearers at Palmerston North with stories of temperatures of forty degrees below zero on his way through Canada. In each of his impromptu speeches to residents and settlers along tho_ route he imparted the optimistic feeling he entertains about the. future of New Zealand, especially in regard to the buoyancy of its finances. At Thorndon Station. The Alayor of Wallington (Mr. R. A. Wright, AI.P.) was the spokesman of a goodly. gathering of citizens who gathered at the northern exit of Thorndon when the train arrived. He alluded to Mr. Massey as the “Father” of the Imperial Conference, and expressed satisfaction voiced at all the Auckland functions in regaid to his robust appearance. Just as was the ca se at the tion in the Auckland Town Hall, a Labour sympathiser chaffed Air. Alassey during his reply at Thorndon about the recent change in the political situation in Britain, but Air. Alassey once again assured the _ heckler that he would give the British Labour Government the same sporting chance that the British people would extend them in the serious task they had undertaken. New British Government Entitled to Fair Play. “Thev are entitled to fair play,” said Air. Alassey. ‘At the same time, there is no country in the world where Labour is so well off as in Kew Zealand. We ought, to thank Providence for the position we are in, especially when we compare , our economic condition with that of the people of Great Britain. When I came lack three years ago, the country was in the throes of depression, but we 1 tye left that behind, and . I believe the outlook is very good indeed, always remembering, however, that depression in England affects us as well in some measure. Our credit is even better than ever. We have money to fall back on to keep the. country going, and I hope that, as time goes on, it will be plentiful in England. We shall, then be able to get what we want, without any trouble.” (Applause.) Receptions in Wellington. There will be a civic reception at 3 o’clock this afternoon at the Town Hall, and a Reform League function will take place on Wednesday evening, February 6, also in the Town Hall.