NEW ZEALAND MINISTERS IN BRITAIN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 9 October 1916, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND MINISTERS IN BRITAIN.

THEIR PROGRAMME OUTLINED

(Received Oct. §.- 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 8. ■ Mr Massey's and Sir Joseph Ward's ■quarters at the Hotel Cecil are already the centre of newspaper excitement, in--vdicative of the public interest when the news that they had; arrived became generally known. This had been kept secret, and even Angio-New Zealand<ers were not aware of the date or the •*ct that the Ministers wer© aboard the ''Sotorua. / Sir T. Mackenzie organised the welcome at Paddington at two hoxm-s 7 r *» notice. Mr- Massey, interviewed to-day, said he was delighted with his first impression of London. From the very first New Zealand had had good reason to be p|oud of her boys, and the , Dominion -was determined to send the needful reinforcements. He and Sir J™eph Ward were visiting Britain at the Government's invitation to discuss matters o,f a confidential nature, including important commercial problems such as th.c meat supply for troops, and future trading yritfn. Germany and Austria. No loan was in contemplation; New Zealand, fortunately, had all the money she required. He- intended to visit New Zealanders, -see the North Sea fleet, including the New Zealand, and visit the hospitals ■ m Britain. ' Mr Massey added that he would visit I i;h.e north of■■ Ire-land if possible to'see his birthplace, Derry. , , Their visit Would enable Sir Joseph Ward and himself to explain New Zealand's Military Service Rill to the British public. It was gratifying to remember that when lie and Sir Joseph Ward, left New Zealand; not.a man had been taken compulsorijy. .