MR MASSEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 16

MR MASSEY.

HIS.RECENT ACTIVITIES. AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KIND. (Faoai Odb Own Correspondent.) LONDON. November 20. In obedience to the summons which he received from the King, Mr Massey attended at Buckingham Palace on Monday morning, and had an audience with his Majesty extend, ing to over half an hour. The same evening Mr Massey was one of the three principal guests at a dinner given by the Worshipful Company of Grocers in their beautiful hall. The master of the company is Sir E. Pollock, formerly SolicitorGeneral and now Master of the Rolls. The master proposed the toast of “The Guests. It is interesting to note, by the way, that Mr Massey and Sir E. Pollock have known each other for some considerable time, for they both represented the British Empire at one side of the Peace Conference in Pans, and they have been good friends ever since. They sat together on the commission deciding the responsibility for the war —sometimes known as the Hanging Commission and sometimes es the Atrocities Commission. Last nigiu, accompanied by bir James and Lady Alien, Mr F. D. Thomson, and Mr H. T. B. Drew, Mr Massey left for Ireland, where bo will for the week-end be the guest of the Bellas*. Corporation and the Government of Northern Ireland. While in Belfast Mr Massey will stay at Stormont Castle, Iho Chequers of Northern Ireland, and among the house party will be the Duke of kbercorn, who is Governor. During his stay in Belfast he will receive the honorary degree of LL.D. from Queen’s University. He will visit Lord and Lady Banfurly at Northland House, Dungannon. Limavady, the Prime Minister's birthplace, will, naturally, also claim a considerable amount of his attention.

On returning to London Mr Massey will set out almost immediately for Yorkshire, visiting successively Huddersfield (where he is to have a civic reception and a luncheon), Bradford (where he will be entertained by the Mavor, and will attend a meeting of tne Wool Exchange) and Hull. THE NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER’S GRAMOPHONE RECORD.

It will bo remembered that some weeks ago arrangements were put in train for Mr Massey to make, at the Hotel Cecil, a record for the Gramophone Company—popularly known as "HiS Master’s Voice”—of which Mr W. Manson date of Dunedin) is the manager of the English branch. It was not very easy lo obtain a thoroughly satisfactory result in London, however, and at Mr Mansou’s suggestion Mr Massey went down to the headquarters of the company, at Hayes, in Middlesex, and there, where the recording rooms are always kept at the required temperature, a much better result was achieved. Tiie chief impression carried away from Hayes by the New Zealand Prime, Minister was one of great wonder that a comparatively new industry such as is that of the Gramophone Company could boast an organisation so complete and vast as lie was pr.vileg.ed io see. Liko every other visitor to the factories, he was really amazed at the scale on which operations are carried out. He said that he intended to tell the people of New Zealand that having seen Brunm industry at work he realised that methods are second to none, and he congratulated the company on possessing so splendid an example of British manufacturing efficiency and enterprise. The tour was made under the guidance of Mr Manson, and Mr Massey was accompanied by his private secretary', Hr F. D. Thomson. Before leaving Mr Massey signed his name in the company s “Golden Book,’’ which contains the autographs of their Majesties the King and Queen, and other members of the Royal Family, as well as those of many public and professional celebrities. 1 am officially informed that Mr Massey has delivered a very fine utterance —a stirring call to all who value the great heritage of the British Empire, and who , desire to seo a still closer union lietween the Mother Country and her widespread dominions. it was a message from the chosen leader of a virile race, such as made one proud to claim kinship with the soldier sons of New Zealand —those big, keen-faced men wdlh whom the. British public became familiar during the years, of the war. This is the first gramophone record to be made of a dominions premier, and it forms a happy sequel to the messages carried by the Royal record earlier in the year. it is Mr Munson's intention to have on the reverse side of Mr Massey’s record one" of “God Defend New Zealand,’’ sung as solo | and chorus.