LATE AIR MASSEY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 May 1925, Page 5

LATE AIR MASSEY

WORLD-WIDE TRIBUTES

KTS WISE STATESMANSHIP.

VALUABLE SERVICE EULOGTSED

tBY TELEGRAPH — PH ESS ASSOCIATION.) W.ELLNGTON, May 12. Many hundreds of messages of sympathy continue to be received by Airs. Massey and members of the Government, including one ironii Air. Stanley • Baldwin (Prime Minister of Britain). From tin? Grovornor ot W cstoi n A,ustralia: “1 have been requested by ray Ministers to .send you the following message: “The Government and people of Western Australia, desire to oHer sineerest condolences to the Governjnenb and people of New- Zealand in the loss of their distinguished Prime Minister.” .From the Governor-General oi Australia: “i desire fully to associate myself with the Prime, Minister’s telegram of sympathy on Air. Massey’s death, and 1 shall be grateful to. Your Excellency if you will convey ray own personal sorrow and sympathy to Airs. Massey.” From the Governor of Newfoundland : “Aly Alinisters and people of Newfoundland desire to express their profound sympathy with the people of New Zealand on the passing of a great Imperial statesman/’ From the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa: “Aly Ministers have learned with deep_ regret of the death of the Rt. Hon. AY. F. Ala/ sey. Prime of New Zealand, and ask that a,n expression of heartfelt sympathy in their irreparable loss miay be conveyed) to his family and to the people of New Zealand. Aly Ministers recall the "great sendees rendered by Air. Massey "to, the Dominion of New Zealand and to the British Empire during-his long tenure of office, more especially at the Peace Conference in 1919, where his, wise statesmanship was of inestimable value to his colleagues. Please convey an expression of my personal regret and deep sympathy to the family of the deceased statesman.” _ The following telegram was sent to Airs. Massey by the Deputy-Grand Master of New Zealand Freemasons (Air. R. H. Richmond) : “Tlie craft throughout the Dominion 'and the Empire mourn with you the loss of one whose guiding hand and high example were an inspiration to us all. Alay you he comforted and helped to bear it by the solemn, pride which, must be ypurs that you were so closely united to a, man, so distinguished, so devoted to duty, a,nd so loved.” The Prime Alinister of Britain (Air. Stanley Baldwin) ’ has sent the following message through the Secretary of State for the'Colonies to the GovernorGeneral : “Aly colleagues and I have received the news -of Mr. Massey’s death with profound regret. Please convey our most deep sympathy to Mrs. Massey and her family and to the Government, and people of New Zealand. Ais Prime Minister Air. Massey guided the destinies of New Zealand through twelve most troublous and critical! years. Of his great service in fostering the growth and expansion of the Dominion others are, more qualified than I to speak, but those who, like myself, have had the opportunity and privilege of watching his work for the Empire, know how much we all have owed in these momentous years to his whole-hearted care for its honour, safety and well-being. “We gratefully remember his fortitude in every crisis of the war, hi s determination that New Zealand should piay ai part worthy of her destiny in helping the cause of the Allies, his own unsparing efforts in that cause, and the success which they achieved. At the Imperial War Cabinet of. 1017 and 1918 andl at the Paris Peace Conference he rendered conspicuous service, and successive ‘ Imperial Conferences since that time have profited by his wide human sympathy, his ripe' experience in affairs, and his sagacity in counsel. Air. Massey’s death will not be. ai loss to New Zealand only. The whole 'Etmpire • will mourn him. to-day both as a man and a statesman, and many of us here will long cherish the memory of a most genuine and lovable personality.”

TO-MORROW’S SERVICE. WELLINGTON. May 12. In connection with the funeral of the late Prime Minister, the late Mr. W. F. Massey, the Government desires that Ml shops and business' premises be closed on Thursday. The control of traffic during the progress of the cortege is likely to prove a troublesome matter owing to the narrow roadway alongside the water’s edge after passing the Miramar wharf. To obviate congestion it is being arranged that motor-cars will continue on from the point whereat passengers get out to go up the hillside and will travel round through Seatoun and back to the Evans Bay road, and so proceed a second time past the original stopping point to »pick up passengers after the graveside ceremony is completed.- Some relief of the congestion on the road will be afforded by ferry steamers making special runs to Point Hal swell. J

There will be no Masonic ceremony at the graveside, but a court of mourning will he held at the Town Hal) on Thursday forenoon in memory of Mr. Massey, who was Grand Master of the New Zealand constitution.

In, order to allow as many officers as possible to attend the funeral it has been decided to close the telephone exchange in Wellington and all post and telegraph offices in the city and suburbs from 1 p.m. to, 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Advice has been, received that on Thursday at noon a memorial service will be. held in Westminster Abbey, to he attended bv the •British. Prime Minister and Ministers. THE WREATHS. ONE FROM KING ANT) QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS. WELLINGTON, Mav 13 Among the wreaths for the funeral is one from the King and Queen of the Belgians. So many wreaths, have been ordered that it will require several large motor vans to take them all to the graveside. HOTELS TO CLOSE. WELLINGTON, May 12. Mr. Percy Coyle (president of the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers ■Association) states that it has been deoided to close hotels throughout the Dominion on Thursday from, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. out of respect to the memory of the late Prime Minister,