POPULAR PREMIER

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6202, 6 October 1921, Page 5

POPULAR PREMIER

POLITICIANS WELCOME MR MASSEY. NEW ZEALAND LEADER CONFIDENT OF FUTURE. PESSIMISM” DEPLORED. WELLINGTON, Oct. -3. At a luncheon to Mr Massey, Sir Francis Bell, iri proposing Mr Massey's health, said it was as fellow members of Parliament they had met to greet a great Parliamentarian. Mr Massey’s personal popularity was such as they could join m wishing birn well, and that popularity had increased as tin,' years went on. It was now nearly 30 years since he first caine into Parliament. Speaking without any party or political relation, he thought they had all reason to be proud of the place Mr Massey had made for himself at the Imperial Gonierence. Mr Wilford, as leader of the Opposition, welcomed Mr Massey back as envoy ot the Dominion, in doing tio making it clear that there was no difference between the Liberals and Reform when it came to matters of loyalty and the welfare of the Empire. Personally he was perfectly satisfied that Mr Massey had worthily upheld our interests at the Imperial Conference, and he was perfectly satisfied to accept the decisions come to by Mr Massey a,s a result of hearing the deliberations and counsel of the keenest minds of the Empire. Mr Massey was loudly cheered on rising to reply. He said that his first duLv lay to Parliament. . He therefore" did ' not intend to touch upon the great Imperial questions discussed at the conference. He would give an account of his stewardship later on, when he would be pleased to discuss even the smallest detail if the House desired He expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the. public affairs of the Dominion ‘had been carried ori in his absence. He looked with .confidence to the future. Pessimism was never any good to an individual or a nation, and if the people only faced their difficulties cheerfully and courageously there was not the slightest doubt that ere long tlie Dominion could ho brought back as nearly as possible to normal conditions.

Speaking of bis experiences in Britain, Mr Massey declared that his reception everywhere . was most cordial, because he went as and was regarded as the representative of a Dominion which was universally regarded as second to none in loyalty to tlio Throne and fidelity to the Empire. Everywhere he went he preached “unity of the Empire.” That was the message lie carried from New Zealand, and he was pleased to find that sentiment .->o readily responded to by the people of the Old Country. He strongly 'appealed for the encouragement and propagation of this sentiment, which would enable the Empire to speak with one undivided voice. At the conclusion of his speech Mr Massey was accorded a great ovation.—P.A.