SIR F. BELL HONOURED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 10

SIR F. BELL HONOURED.

WELLINGTON BANQUET.

TRUCULENCE OF RUSSIANS.

. —PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. Friday. A complimentary banquet was given to Sir Francis Bell last night by the citizens of Wellington. The Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, who presided, proposed the health of the guest, and was supported by Mr. Massey and Sir John Findlay.

Sir Francis Bell, who was warmly received, dealt with the Genoa and Hague Conferences, into which he had been suddenly switched. He mentioned that Dominion delegates had made it clear that Eijland's free trade policy was not suitable to them.

As showing that Dominion delegates were by no means silent listeners, he added that the conference broke up when the Russians gave their exhibition of truculence —such truculence as ha had never heard before. He also referred to his visit to the Somme, where he assisted in ' unveiling the New Zealand memorial at Longueval. Toward midnight Mr. Massey spoke in reply to the toast of the Dominion, but avoided all questions of policy. His remarks were on optimistic and Imperial lines. New Zealand's name, he said, stood high in the councils of the Empire, as proved by the fact that he had been offered a million loan at 3 per cent. "Let us continue to advance," he said, "and before long we will be able to look back over this period of depression."