RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 10

RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC SERVICE

THE EMPEBIaL CONFERENCE

C-NEED K)B PEEUE MINISTER TO '■■l ATTEND.

~O>T IHJJOIUPBi— PRESS ASSOCIA'. lOH-1 AUCKLAND, 24th May. The presentation of a public address ,'io the Prime Minister (Mr. Hassey), on ■behalf of the citizens of Auckland and ( 9istrict, took pla<:e at Albert Park at noon to-day in th c presence of a very large gathering. ]Mr. Massey advanced from the main entrance to the daia through lines of Territorials and Cadets, Ihe/first battalion of the Auckland Infantry and St. Stephen's Maori boys furnishing guards caf honour.

The Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson), in toaking the presentation, said that Mr. .Massey's work for N>sw Zealand and the ■'Empire had left on the history of the lountry a mark thuit could never be iffaced. We could ita-uly say that Mr. Massey was not only the first citizen of New Zealand, bui't was also one of the greatest'assets of the Empire. In-replying, Mr. Mussey said that the approaching Imperial ;nnd Economic Conferences ■ ought to ba among the most important of the kind yet held. , He felt, that.;by attending diffe rent Imperial Conferences he had gained', a certain amount of experience which si lould be of use at the next gathering. .He was the only Prime Minister of tho Empire still in the position he occuj lied. during the war. If he could do airy good he would be willing to attend, but it was for ■Parliament to decide, jl great deal had been done at the first \ imperial Conference. He was disappoin ted that it had not been allowed to devailop. He thought it should have been alb'.ved to continue as an; Imperial Cabinet or Council, because'by allowing it-to: lapse, a great deal "of valuable, work hac'l been undone.

In a brief reference U.v the selection of Singapore as a naval base in the Pacific, Mr. .Massey said; that this decision'was of the utmost.importance and .worthy of all possible Wtacouragernent on the part of countries -which were endeavouring' to firmly establish the Empire:in this part of the -world. Rather than being a possible causo of war', this decision would prove a great factor for the promotion of peaces. Warm cheering greeted 3 dr.. and Mrs. Massey, and the -Prime 1 Minister was again cheered at the conclusion. The address is contained in a casket of New Zealand woods fashioned to repLresent a Maori whare for censmonial purposes, a Runanga. This \vha-\re model is made of puriri, kowhai, mq itled kauri, „and other rarer New Zealand, woods, and ■is beautifully • chiselled in. knitation of the symbolical carvings am council houses. The. roof of . the whaire lifts on hinges and reveals the, ad&rsess ■ lying covers of polished Ne-iy Zealand ijwoods. The whare stands on' a pedesital, also of carved wood.

The address states, inter alia :—"The citizens of Auckland—in fact, wo feel we can include citizens of otheir parts of the Dominion —recognise and gratesfully appreciate your strength, fearlessness j and impartiality in the ad'.vocacy of all imattiers pertaining to the welfare of the people of the Dominion, who have jbeen inspired by your patriotism. They Congratulate you on the pre-eminence of your. position in Imperial affairs and re;call with feelings of pride the attention and weight giVen to the opinions you have expresst?d as a member of the inner councils di the Empire. They also remember with deep gratification and pleasure your services to the Empire and to New Zealand at the Peace Conference at Versailles in., the year 1919. They Recognise that ire the important service you have so loyoOly rendered to your country you have always had a devoted helpmate in your wife, and to her they desire"-also' to"'extiend their felicitations md best wishes."