AT HOME AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1924, Page 6

AT HOME AGAIN

MR. MASSEY'S RETURN

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE CONFER.ENCE.

(BT mtURAm.--PRESS ASJOCIATIOM.)

„, _„ , AUCKLAND, This Day. The Right Ho,i. W. F. Massey arrived, to-day by the Makura, after a most enjoyable trip and looking the picture of health. He said that, whatever the political conditions in Britain it would be regrettable if, anything were to cause the failure of the promises made to the and thus, in effect undo the work of the Imperial Confer-' ence. lhe principal functions of the Conference were to consider the best methods of developing the British countries overseas; to 'assist in removing industrial depression in Great Britain; to consider the defence of the Empire, particularly naval defence; to assist irf arriving at a solution of the difficulties: in and, more particularly, to fix finally the amount of reparations to be paid by Germany; and finally, to strengthen the ties that keep together all the British countries. "I am of opinion," he said, "that .the Conference accomplished i something in the direction of each of these aims. The recommend-/ ations adopted will tend to strengthen' the ties that keep the Empire' intact. The present uncertainty as to the position shows t he need for placing the Imperial Conference, or what it; may be called in future, on a, more businesslike footing. ■ Whatever the outcome may be, there will be no question as to the loyalty of New Zealand." /

Mr. Massey said the fate of the decisions of the Imperial Conference depended on the 'imperial Parliament. The elections had altered the outlook considerably, and it was impossible to say what was going to happen. Parliament had the power to alter or.reject the recommendations.

Asked for his opinion of the probabilities under the new Labour Government, Mr. Massey said, "I am thinking of our own recommendations. Now we made certain recommendations, and these must be passed on to consider what will be done about them. If they are repudiated, it will be very foolish from the Empjre point of view.": Concerning Singapore, he. said "that: matter rests entirely with the new Government. ' Work has been commenced, but the Government may turn it down." ; , " ,