NEW ZEALAND PRESS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 42, 17 August 1918, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND PRESS

LORD BURNHAM'S TRIBUTE

REPRESENTATIVES ENTERTAIN-

ED IN LONDON.

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND C'.GuE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received August 17, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 16th August.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand) entertained the New Zealand press delegates at dinner at Claridge's. Lord Burnham (proprietor of the Daily Telegraph), Lord Islington, Mr. R. E. Prothero, Sir Joseph Maclay, Mr. W. F. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Admiral Hgjsey, General Richardson, and the Australian Agents-General were present.

Lord Burnham proposed the health of the visitors, and said the New Zealand press was the most British of the press, not excluding that o£ Britain. He paid a; tribute to what the men of New Zealand were doing at the front. They had won golden opinions, being among the best troops of the Empire. He hoped to accept Mr. Masisey'6 invitation to hold an Imperial Press Conference in New Zealand after peace had been declared.

Mr. M. L. Reading (Lyttelton Times) responded. New JJealanders, he said; were delighted at the opportunity afforded of visiting Britain, to see the great things that were being done, and especially what had been done for the wounded. THe delegation hoped to acquire inside knowledge of post-war problems. Lord Islington proposed the health of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. The visit of the representatives of the overseas press, he said, could have nothing but good results, and would have its full effect ( in Europe. He hoped it was the starting point of a series of reciprocal visits, and that the meetings of the Imperial Cabinet's conferences would become permanent. He believed that one outcome of this year's discussions would be that the resources of the Empire would be -used to the Empire's advantage. It had been the absurd position that where Germany had been dependent on tho Empire for raw materials, the Empire was largely dependent on Germany for the manufactured product. States-, men would have to devise a scheme whereby the various parts of the Empire would share in the negotiations with foreign countries. If we were to have a cohesive Empire we must have common consultation by the various elements.

Mr. Massey, in replying, said that whop tire proceedings of the Imperial Conference were published ifc would be found that the scission had been productivo of much eoo-d.

bir Joseph Ward said it was a good thing for the Empire that tlic men from the younger countries should visit the Old. Country, wiili its centuries of traditions, behind it, to see for themselves what was being done £or the men from

overseas. The Dominions looked forward to the day when they would have a voice in all Empire matters and foreign policy. He-did not believe the War Cabinet was a machine to meet the views of overseas countries. It was impossible for the Dominions overseas to have a proper policy until the Motherland had defined hers.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie presented Captain Vercoe with a medal from the Maoris of New Zealand in recognition of his war services.

Captain Vercoe replied that the Maori* at the outbreak of the war felt it was their duty to do their little share in the great war.