AT EMPIRE CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 73, 24 September 1923, Page 7

AT EMPIRE CONFERENCE

MR. MASSEY AS ADVOCATE

IMPORTANCE OF RAPID

TRANSIT.

(OHITSD PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRWHT.)

(ACSTBALI.IN - MEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

NEW YORK, 21st September.

On his arrival in New York, Mr. MasEey (Prime Minister of New Zealand) was interviewed by the Australian Press Association. He reiterated that preference, of which he declared himself one of the earliest advocates, would prove one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of the problems of the Imperial Conference. He said that despite the fixed agenda, there would probably be many important matters which were now unforeseen that v.-ould arise for discussion. He declared that members of the Conference reserved the light to introduce all problems they considered important, despite the limitations of a lixed programme. Mr. Massey smilingly refused to discuss Mr. S. M. Bruce's idea of a Pacific League of Nations, which he appeared to consider impracticable. He commented upon one important aspect of his journey thus far from New Zealand, declaring that the steamar Tahiti completed its trip to San Francisco in more than two and a half days less than the usual time, the captain and engineers being anxious to facilitate his speedy journey to England. Mr. Massey said that this demonstrated that the distance between' New Zealand, the United States, and England could be materially diminished trom tne viewpoint of time, proving a vast aid commercially. He said that it this improvement could be made permanent the benefit accruing to the Southern Hemisphere and the Dominions from improved postal facilities would repay the possibly increased