BUSY IN LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 29, 3 August 1921, Page 9

BUSY IN LONDON

WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

CONFERENCE AND OTHER BUSINESS

LONDON, 20th June.

With, the opening of the Imperial Conference to-day the work of the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Masse}') has become more 1 directly concentrated upon that particular and most important phase of his mission here. The time available on the journey from New Zealand enabled him to devote himself more than would otherwise have been possible to the various problems likely to be discussed—there has never been any fixed agenda issued, and there is not now —and to the reading of all obtainable views of other overseas and Imperial statesmen thereon, and all the published ideas of those who are not statesmen but writers of standing. This enabled hini to go to the Conference wellequipped, but each day, as the discussion progresses, and the views of the different Dominions are stated on the various subjects, will require its own study and preparation. The task is not a light one, and it has demanded the almost total seclusion of the overseas representatives from all the numerous functions that London has proffered them. MARKED HOSPITALITY. • The hospitality indeed has been particularly marked this year. That Mr. Massey is the doyen of the overseas Prime Ministers is now well- known in London, and as the Dominion is .also very popular over here he has come in for a very large share of the honours. -This token of respect lias been shown particularly in the number of requests that have been made to him to speak at public functions. The Prime Minister, however, has been out very little, and has only attended the most important of the gatherings. The work apart from the Conference has been heavy. Mr. Massey left the Dominion * with particular tasks besides a-ttendance at the Imperial Conference to fulfil, and'what with the business connected with this work, and the interviews : inseparable from a Prime Minister's life,! he has been kept to his office in the Hotel Cecil almost continuously from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m., and sometimes later. After dinner he usually prepares for next day's problems. There have been finance, shipping, freights, wool profits, immigration, and produce market matters to attejid to, and though there are no develcloments yet to chronicle in regard to any of them, much has been done. In the wool profits matter, in the middle of negotiations, an article appeared in leading London papers, obviously inspired, giving reasons why New Zealand should not expect a share of the earlier profits in view of more recent losses; and Mr. Massey replied to this with a full statement of the transaction, and of the position now arising. There was no further reply in the press, and the private negotiations are proceeding. A POPULAR RECEPTION. At the annual Rhodes' Scholarship Trust dinner at Oxford, Mr. Massey had a most popular reception. It was a notable gathering, at which three hundred students, besides visitors, were present. He sat on ■ the immediate x'ight of the chairman (Lord Millar), and was the chief oversea speaker. Mr. Massey, in his speech, which he delivered in his best form, dealt with the great ideal of Rhodes in the inauguration of his scholarships, the significance of this step in Empire building, and his hope that the British Empire, and perhaps the Eng-. lish speaking peoples, would ultimately, by their union and strength, be able to preserve peace and serve humanity. His remarks found considerable favour in the press all over Britain, and some of the papers based leading articles upon them. . . . , Other functions which Mr. Massey has attended as the chief guest have been a luncheon at the Baltic Exchange, the great centre of British shipping activities, at which he was entertained by Mr. R. J. Turner, a prominent member of the Exchange, and principal of the shipping firm of Turner, Davidson, and Co., to enable members of the Exchange to meet him; and the annual dinner of the Associated British Chambers of Commerce, an important function attended by delegates from the various chambers of commerce o£ Britain. This dinner always succeeds the annual conference. Mr. Massey was received with cheers on rising to respond to the toast of "the British Commonwealth," and his remarks, urging the greater development of inter-Imperial trade, illustrated with figures which showed the extent to which this development could take place, were well received. He also gave the delegates a brief outline of the^ trade s which New Zealand does with the' Empire in her imports, and exports, and supplied the sum of her war exports to Britain. These are all matters upon which the average person at Home is not exceedingly well informed. AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Another important function attended by tie Prime Minister was a dinner given by the Empire Development Committee of the House of Commons. The movement for which the committee stands has considerable possibilities, and the function attracted a good deal of attention. The chief speech of the evening was delivered by Mr. Winston Churchill. Mr. Massey had only just begun to speak when two divisions of the House of Commons, which was sitting, interrupted him and shortened proceedings. He, however, was enabled to lay stress on the possibilities of development of trade within the Empire, especially emphasising Britain's capacity to draw more upon the raw materials and produce of tie Dominions and Crown colonies. On the 16th inst., the Prime Minister lunched at Downing Street with Mr. Churchill, and on another occasion attended the luncheon to Mr. Hughes by the Australian and New Zealand Club. He was present as a special guest at the Royal Colonial Institute early in the month, when Sir John Findlay read a paper upon the Imperial Conference and Empire matters. Mr., Massey, in response to a request for a speech, spoka very briefly on lines he had previously, taken. An afternoon reception by .Sir James and Lady Allen at New Zealand House, .The Strand, enabled Mr. Massey to meet a large number of New Zealand artists and journalists who are present in London. Miss Rosina Buckman was amongst those present. CHOCOLATES FOR THE CHILDREN. Sir Thomas Lipton entertained Mr., Mrs. and Miss Massey on Sunday last at his home, just north of London. There were distinguished guests present, and one of the pleasant surprises was unfolded after dinner, when the party was taken in two motor-cars with two large sacks of boxes of chocolates. The object of the ride was shortly disclosed, for on reaching a village a number of small children, who were obviously on the qiiiver, rushed the cars and hung on. to them until the latter wr.ro pulled up. The chocolates were then distributed amongst them. This is one of Sir Thomas Lipton's weekly pleasures, and it was only just recently that the children have learned who he really is. It vii at cut time ejepaefcod thiA-tlis

Overseas Prime Ministers would attend the opening of the Ulster Parliament. Owing to Sir. Lloyd George's illness, however, and the consequent postponement of the Conference for a few days, the visit had to be foregone.

Mr. Massey has written a preface for a book by a New Zealander, Mr. Mousley, on the subject of " Imperial Federation," and dealing more particularly with the Imperial Conference. He has been requested to contribute similarly by other writers and authors, another department of work of a Prime Minister in London.