"MAGNIFICENT"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 42, 18 August 1914, Page 8

"MAGNIFICENT"

NEW ZEALAND'S CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. Interesting statements on the subject of the war and preparations for war were made by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. I'\ Massey) in an interview with a Post representative this afterjioon. The ships which will convey the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to England, he said, are the Maunganui, Tahiti, Arawa, Athenic, Waimana, Star of India, Hawkes Bay, Ruapehu, Orari, and Limerick. All necessary arrangements were, being made on those ships for the reception of the troops, but ,it has not yet been decidd which ships will leave any particular port. "Simply magnificent," was Mr. Massey's reply to a question as to how the Dominion is responding to the appeal for funds. "Within the last ten minutes I have had cheques handed to me amonnting to close on £1000. The Croatians in the district of which Dargaville is the centre have cent in a, contribution of £560. Thb suggestion that hostile cruisers may r be ploughing the waters in the near ' vicinity of New Zealand led Mr. Massey to state : "The opinion of the Government with regard to hoetile cruisers may be gathered from the fact that we have given instructions for the light* to be lit at the entrances to the principal harbours." Asked as to what will happen when Parliament resumes on Wednesday of next week, Mr. Massey said there was a certain amount of business that must bo done, and that would have to be transacted.