MINISTERS IN ENGLAND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 1 June 1917, Page 4

MINISTERS IN ENGLAND.

MR MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH WARD. i | Writing from London on March -?7 the correspondent of the Post eayW Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward are, both much stronger in England to-day than they were three or four months; ago. In the early days of their stay they did a good deal of routine business, and it was not till November that they were at all free to go about thecountry making speeches. Nevertheless, they did very clearly and distinctly state the case for New Zealand in their nrst weeks in England, and thesuggestion that they did not speak out on the question of the Germans in the Pacific is quite false. This was one of the first claims they made, both in interviews and in speeches. As early ac October 25, Mr Massey said at thePilgrims' Club: "We took possession of bamoa, and we hold it for the Imperial Government, but we mean tokeep it. We do not want German neighbors in the Pacific any more." Close on the heels of that speech the* British Government, through Mr Walter Long, 6tated plainly that Samoa would not be given Back. WHO DEMANDED THE CONFERENCE?

Then it was undoubtedly the demand! made by Mr Massey and Sir Joseph* that led to the calling of the present conference. They had said clearly in October that the Dominions could, not be expected to wait 25 years for closer relations, and they based theirdemand on the fact that by the force of circumstances the Dominions are nowbeing heavily taxed without having any regular repeedntation in the councilswhich spend their money and their hves. That demand led up to the new (*overnment's announcement that an: Imperial Conference would be called and from that moment the New Zealand representatives loomed larger and larger in the public eye. They nor occupy the position of representatives who really represent their Dominion,, and who have put forward and proved the case for the Dominions. Ordinarily visiting Ministers would' have outstayed their welcbme in six: months, but there is no sign of that with our Ministers. On the contrary^, they hold a trueh stronger position now than they did before. They have survived the arrival of Sir Ro'bet Borden and of the attractive personality of General Smuts, and show no signs at all of going down hill. It is agreed! here that they have represented New Zealand in a completely satisfactory manner, and have been able by theInncrth of their stay to keep in touch with the British Ministers and departments, and to arrange many things which but for their presence would have been "impossible."