BRITISH FAREWELL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 48, 25 August 1921, Page 7

BRITISH FAREWELL

LORD MILNER'S COMPLIMENTS

CONTRIBUTION TO IMPERIAL 1 UNITY.

(BNIIBD PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTMSHf.)

(AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 23rd August.

Eight hundred people attended a reception tendered by Sir James Allen to bid farewell to Mr. Massey, including many Imperial notabilities, AgentsGeneral, and New Zealanders.

Lord Morris, on behalf of the Imperial Fleet Committee, presented Mr. Masse) 1 with a suitably incribed New Zealand flag to commemorate the presentation io New Zealand of the aeroplanes Britannia and Nottingham. .-

Sir James Allen said Mr. Massey represented New Zealand well at the Conference. He wished him God-speed. ■

Lord M ilner, in supporting the remarks of Sir .Tames Allen, said he knew Mr. Massey as the most staunch, sturdy, ami consistent of Imperial statesmen. One always knew where one could find him on fundamental questions. The direction of Mr. Massey's statesmanship had always been consistently, towards closer union of the Empire. Mr. Massey had powerfully contributed to its attainment. Amid many things,that were maddening and perplexing at the present time there was one thing that had gone eminently right. That was the recent meeting of the Imperial Conference. He could see in this meeting of the heads of the various nations within the /Enfpire, sitting with equal status, the germ of an Imperial constitution. That there must be a constitution was certain, but it need not be ,a thing deliberately framed br embodied in an Act of Parliament. Mr. Ma-ssey was a true interpreter of the spirit of New Zealand. Lord Miln'er added, that in no part of the. British world did the fire of- Imperial patriotism burn with a clearer flame than in that distant Dominion. He wished Mr. Massey many good years of service.

Mr. Massey, replying, said the results of the Conference had dispelled any anxiety about the Empire's future. The sentiment of British icitizenship was never stronger or more satisfactory than at present. The- Dominions had also given proof in the most practical form that it was willing to take a fair share of responsibility. The Empre was the \strongest factor for (peace. It was their business to see that its power for good was not.interfered with 1 but made ready to protect it. Citizens must ses that no injustice-was done to weaker nations.