MR MASSEY IN LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 17731, 4 August 1921, Page 8

MR MASSEY IN LONDON

'A BUSY TIME. , CONFERENCE AND OTHER BUSINESS. [From the Official Cor respondent.] LONDON. June 20. With the opening of the Imperial Conic icnoe to-day, the work of the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) has become more directly concentrated noon 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 bo discussed—there lias 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 him to go to the Conference well-equipped, but each day, as the discussion progressed, and the views of the different Dominions are stated on the various subjects,_ will require its own study and preparation. Tire task is not a light one, and it has demanded the almost total seclusion of the overseas representatives from nil the numerous functions that hospitable Loudon has proffered them. The hospitality indeed has been particularly marked this vear. " THE DOYEN OF VISITORS. 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 ho has come in for a very large share of the honors. This token of regard has been shown particularly in the number of requests that have been made lo him to speak at public functions. The Prime' Minister, however, has been out very little, and has attended only' the most important of the gatherings. _ The work, apart from the Conference, has been heavy. Mr Massey left the Dominion with particular tasks besides attendance at tho Imperial Conference to fulfil, and what with tho 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. til! 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 matters to attend to, and though there are no developments yet to chronicle in regard to aiiy of them, much has been done.

WOOL PROFITS. In the wool profits matter, in the middle v negotiations an article appeared in leadi;;; London papers obviously inspired givag reasons why New Zealand should not ixpect a share of the earlier profits in dew of more recent losses ; and Mr Massey replied to this with, a full statement •if the transaction, and of the position now arising. There was no farther reply in the Press, and the private negotiations are proceeding. DINNER AT OXFORD. At the annual Rhodes Scholarship Trust dinner at Oxford, Mr Massey had. a mostpopular reception. It was a notable gathering, at which 300 students, besides visitors, were present. He sat on the immediate right of the chairman (Lord Milner), and was the chief overseas speaker. Mr Massey, in his speech, which he had been at some pains to prepare in view of the importance of the gathering, and which he delivered in his best form, dealt with the great ideal of Rhodes in the inauguration of his scholarships, the significance of his step in Empire building, and his hope that the British Empire, and perhaps the English-speaking peoples, would ultimately by their union and strength be able to preserve peace and serve humanity. He also briefly touched upon the business of the Conference. His remarks found considerable favor in the Press all over Britain, and some of the papers based leading articles upon them. The function was held on a Saturday evening, and Mr Massey journeyed to Oxford by motor car, and returned the same night, arriving in London at 2 a.m. Other functions which Mr Massey has attended as the chief guest have been a lucheon at the Baltic 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 of 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 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. EMPIRE 'DEVELOPMENT.

Another important function attended by the 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, a speech which pleased Mr Massey very much, as he said in public on a subsequent occasion, because of its straightforward, manly declaration of the duty of Britain to the Dominions, of the latter to the Motherland, and of the Empire to humanity. Mr Massey had only just begun to sneak when two divisions of the House of Commons, which were sitting,-following rapidly upon one another, and heralded by the usual ringing of the bells, interrupter] him and shortened proceedings. Ho, 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 the Dominions and Crown colonies. LUNCH WITH MR CHURCHILL.

On tho 15th inst. the Prime Minister lunched at Downing street with Mr Churchill, and also on another occasion attended the luncheon to Mr Hughes by the Australian nd New Zealand Club.

He was present as a special guest at the > Eoyal 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, epoko 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 Now Zealand artists and journalists who are at, present in London. Miss Rosin a Buckman was amongst those present. 'Mrs Massey was also there, and the gathering proved extremely pleasant. A PLEASANT SURPRISE. Sir Thomas Lipton entertained Mr and' Mrs 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 tho party were taken in two motor cars with 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 qui vive, rushed the cars and hung on to them until the latter were 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 was at one time expected that the Overseas Prime Ministers would attend opening of the Ulster Parliament.

Owing to Mr Lloyd George's illness, however, and tho consequent postponement of the Conference for a few days, the visit had to be forgone. 'Mr Massey has written a preface for a book by a'New Zealander, Mr Mouslcy, on the subject of Imperial Federation, and dealing ‘ more particularly with tho Imperial Conference. Ho has been requested to contribute similarly by other writers and authors—another department of work of a Prime Minister in London.