Massey and Ward.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13537, 30 October 1916, Page 5

Massey and Ward.

STILL MAKING SPEECHES.

PLATITUDES AND FINANCE.

NEW ZEALAND'S SOUND POSITION. (Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Eeceived Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 28. The Colonial Institute gave a lunch to Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward at the Hotel Ceeil. Lord Plunket, presiding, referred to the heroic deeds of the New Zcalanders and the patriotic assistance which the Dominion had given before the war. He said their guests typified a strong north of Ireland man and an equally strong south of Ireland man uniting in a national crisis in the hope that Ireland would do similarly. Mr Massey, responding, said we had allowed German bounty-assisted goods to stifle our industries while she was preparing a great army and navy to smash us. She had financed these preparations partly from the. profits made from Australia, Canada and, other parts of the Empire. It was only by a miracle that her plans had proved unsuccessful. He hoped we should profit by the lesson. He trusted that every Empire legislature would make such folly impossible in the future. Our motto should bo "British trade for British people, always remembering to act considerately to the Allies. Another after-the-war problem was the amendment of the Constitution giving the Dominions a voice in defence and foreign affairs This entailed a great question for decision as to whether the present form of Imperial Parliaments should be continued. On that depended the form which the dominion representation should take. Ho outlined New Zealand's scheme to assist soldiers to go on the land. , Sir Joseph Ward said New Zealand would have a surplus of two milUons for the! current year. This would be invested in Imperial Treasury Bonds. They also hoped to repay some of the Imperial war advances. New Zea£K assets totalled £365,000,000a good set-off against her indebtedness of £110,000,000. We had provided a Binking fund for all war and general loans. Our finances were on the soundest basis. Britain, after the war, should consider some system of reconstruction to keep trade as far as possible within the Empire. Generous impulses in the past whereby Britishers had helped Germany to build up a great overseas trade should be directed to countries within the Empire to prevent Germany ever again winning out against Britain.