MINISTERS IN ENGLAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 9 October 1916, Page 8

MINISTERS IN ENGLAND.

MR MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED.

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Received Oct. 9, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 8

Mr Massey, Premier of New Zealand, interviewed, said: We are here representing a. united community. Practically there are no differences of l opinion among New Zealanders regarding the duty of assisting the Empire in the crisis it is passing through, j New Zealand is not less Imperialistic than any other part of His Majesty's dominions, and is prepared to make any sacrifice required to carry the struggle forward to a sucdessful issue. Sir Joseph Ward, in endorsing these observations, remarked that their one •object was to co-operate with the centre in helping to strengthen the general position of the Empire as . a whole. There have been no dif- • ferences of opinion in New ' Zealand as to the imperative necessity of prosecuting the war to a victorious encL Anything in the shape of a premature peace would be regarded by the people as inimical to the-Empire's best interests. He concluded by referring to the success of the New Zealand war loan as a proof of keenness and that the-matter' was viewed from a practical standpoint. In a comparatively young country with important developmental work progressing, to have, asked the people before the war to lend the country such a sum would have been next to impossible. The result of the loan shows the depth- of feeling permeating the community m its desire to co-operate with and help the Motherland with the sinews,of war equally with men. It also proves that economy was' doing its share. New [ Zealand would continue right to the end to do its r»art. . The Ministers, in reply to questions, emphasised the absence of labor troubles. Mr Massey added there had been no difficulty whatever in. finding recruits for reinforcements as agreed fully eighteen months ago under the voluntary scheme . Sir Joseph Ward said the Compulsory Service Act is legally m .iorce, though so far as we are aware it has not yet been brought into actual operation. There has been no need to bring it into operation.-, - .: Asked regarding wages and/ the increased cost of living, Mr Massey stated the majority of employers from the Government downwards had met employees, and there had been.no occasion for the State to interfere. The couiltry as a whole was very prosperous.