PREMIER WELCOMED

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11738, 28 January 1924, Page 7

PREMIER WELCOMED

NEW ZEALAND'S PROSPERITY CROWD AT THORNDON STATION CHEERS} MR MASSEY. The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) arrived at Thorndon station by the Main Trunk express at midday on Saturday. With Mr Massey were Mr F. D. Thomson, his private seoretary, Mr C. A. Jeffery (assistant private secretary), and the Ministers who had gone to Auckland to -welcome their colleague and leader there. Among the large number of friends on the platform to greet the Prime Minister were the Mayor (Mr R. A. |Wright, M.tf.)', the Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister for Lands), the Hon. W. Nosworthy (Minister for Agriculture), Mr R. P. Hudson, M.P., the Hon. W. Earnshaw, M.L.C., the Hon. E. H. Clark, M.L.C., Mr J. Hislop (Undersecretary for Internal Affairs), Mr H. D. Thomson (Under-Seoretary for Immigration), Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor, Inspector W. B. Mcllveney, Councillor T.. Forsyth, and Messrs D. Hebenton (organiser), and E. A. James (secretary of the Reform League). A very hearty greeting was accorded the Prime Minister, who shook hands all round, with a pleasant word for each as he did so. A large number of people quickly assembled, and, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, the Mayor extended a hearty welcome to. Mr Massey, and cordially congratulated him on his safe return. The people of Wellington, said the Mayor, were very glad indeed that such good work had been done at the Imperial Conference. They had read with great interest of the very great work that New Zealand’s Prime Minister—“ Father of the Conference” by seniority—had done, not only at the Conference itself, but in every way during hi® stay in the Old Country. They were very glad that he had returned looking so strong and well, as compared with what he did when he left New Zealand. They cordially welcomed him back, and hoped that he would long he spared to guide the destinies of the Dominion. (Applause.) PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH. The Prime Minister heartily thanked the Mayor and all the others present for having come down to meet him. He had liardly expected it, he said, as the Mayor had done him the honour to ask him to accept a civic reception on the Monday, when he hoped to have the opportunity of meeting and addressing still more of the citizens of Wellington. “I am very glad to come back,” said Mr Massey. “I don’t need to tell you that; and I am coming back fitter and stronger than when I * went away. (Applause.) We had had a very strenuous session, with long sittings, and all that sort of thing; and I was’ very glad when I got on the boat the night we sailed- to' think that I would be able to sleep for a week if I felt inclined to do so. (Laughter and applause.) I must confess that I did sleep for two or three days—or nearly so. (Laughter.) However, I have done a lot of travelling since that time, and seen a good many interesting things, and I hope and trust that I have been able to do some little good for the country to which we belong, and, perhaps, for the Empire itself. That remains to he seen. Nobody can tell what will happen to the work we did. There was a lot of work done, but it is vain to predict the result. The future is in the lap of the gods. I only hope that Great Britain is going to get out of her difficulties. PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND WELL OFF. “As I have said on other occasions, and I want to take the opportunity of saying it again, the people of New Zealand do not know how well off they are.” A working man: AVhat about labour, Bill? Mr Massey: Well, I don’t know that my friend there has any authority to spoak on behalf of labour. His interlooutor: That tickles you up, Bill. (Laughter.) Mr Massey: Are 3’ou speaking of the position of the Labour Party m England ?

His interlocutor: lam speaking for myself. Mr Mussey: Very well; but I am nofi” quite sure that you are competent to speak for yourself. (Laughter.) I will say this, however, and I

would say it anywhere, that the Labour Government in England is quite entitled to fair play. (Applause.) But there is no country in the world where Labour is so well off as in New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) Don’t make any mistake about that. (Applause.) I have seen what is happening in the United States and Canada, and I have read of the condition of affairs on the Continent of Europe; and I 6ay again, we in New Zealand are very well off. We ought to thank Providence for the position we are in. I don’t know how long the 'prosperity is going to continue ; but it is quite evident that we are very prosperous. The country has never been so prosperous before. I remember when I came back three years ago the country was Tn the throes of depression. That ElSne made us very sad and sorry: but we threw it off, and we have left the depression behind us and are a prosperous people. I believe the outlook is very good indeed; and in saying that, I do not forget the position in England. We must remember that if there is depression in England it will ultimately affect us here; and that is what I am anxious about at the present time. NEW ZEALAND’S CREDIT GOOD 1 . “But our credit is as good as ever it was. I think it is even better. I know that if I asked for a loan in England to-day, I would have to pay more to get it than during the last two or three years; but we do not need to ask for a loan at the present time, ancT we need not do it for a considerable time to come. We have plenty of money to fall back upon to keep the country going for a long time to come; and I only hope that as time goes on money will get more plentiful and cheaper in England, and that we shall be able to get what we want without a great deal of trouble.” (Applause ) Tho Prime Minister again thanked all present for their very cordial reception. The Mayor called for three cheers for Mr Massey, which were given with a will, the passengers in a nearby suburban train joining in the cheers; and the Prime Minister then proceeded to his motor-car.